Blurring The Lines Of Retirement For Family Business Owners

By Tim Seckon


When you retire, what are your intentions? Will you teach part time, consult, or start a hang gliding business in Peru? Perhaps you want to stay involved in a organization and mentor the next generation of leaders. Or maybe you are aiming to turn a hobby into a part-time company. If so, you are not alone. 80% of baby boomers say they will work at least part time, in retirement, blurring the lines of work and leisure. This is according to recent AARP studies.

About 13% of 55 and older households without dependent children (nearly 5.3 million Americans) are currently moving in and out of retirement, according to SRI Consulting Business Intelligence. Because of poorly performing retirement investments, some are being forced to go back to work. They are living longer and healthier lives by staying active.

The average new retirement age is now 62. Due to this, your retirement years will need to be well-financed because retirement is a long horizon. We all want an abundant retirement, as a bottom line. However, you must have a well thought out plan if you want to retire earlier than usual. If you plan in advance and follow some basic steps, it still may be possible to leave the workforce early, or work less.

Think it through. Retiring is a change in life, and not just another part of your finances. You must decide what you want out of it. Do you derive a large part of your identity from your enterprise? Do you live to work, or work to live? Do you have any exciting interests outside your business that you like to do?

Know the rules. You can access 401(k) plan or IRA money for early retirement needs under certain situations, and avoid paying the 10% tax fees. So when accessing your money, be aware of the rules.

Plan for short-and long-term needs. Keep money for short-term needs in stable plans, and avoid selling more volatile plans when market values are down. Growth investments are a good choice for a better potential profit on long-term savings. But, they require more short-term risk.

Have a plan. Pulling out of retirement funds too early can make it impossible to make your investments last as long as you need it to. According to your life expectancy, lifestyle, inflation, and other influences, decide when you want to retire and how much money you will require. Plan your exit based on whether you want to sell the business, or transition the company to family members.

Look for product flexibility. Use accounts with more versatility, such as an annuity that offers flexible plans, if you are thinking about retirement. These plans allow you to adjust how much you put in monthly.

Seek help. If you are among the many people blurring the lines between business and pleasure, retirement planning can require specialized attention. When you own a company, things are even more complicated. Develop a comprehensive financial plan with your team of professionals, including protection planning, tax planning, business continuation, and then structure an appropriate plan for your present needs.

Protect yourself. Consider your protection plan, and don't put all your focus on investment plans. You may want to change your life, health and long-term care insurance needs to your current circumstances.




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