How Much Will You Need to Save for Retirement?

Is there an easy way to figure out how much I will need to save for retirement? My spouse and I are both in our late fifties and want to figure out about how much we will need to retire comfortably.

How much money you need to retire comfortably is a great question all adults should ask themselves. Unfortunately, far too few are thinking about it.

Calculating an approximate amount to save for retirement is easy and does not take long to do. It is a simple, three-step process that includes estimating your future living expenses, tallying up your retirement income and calculating the difference.

Estimate Living Expenses

The first step is estimating your future retirement living expenses, which is often the most difficult step. If you want a quick ballpark estimate, figure around 75% to 85% of your current gross income. That is what most people find they need to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement.

If you want a more precise estimate, track your current living expenses on a worksheet and deduct any costs you expect to go away or decline when you retire, and add in new anticipated costs.

Costs you can scratch off your list include work-related expenses like commuting or lunches out, as well as the amount you are saving for retirement. You may also be able to deduct your mortgage if you expect to have it paid off by retirement, and any child’s college expenses. Your income taxes may be reduced.

On the other hand, some costs will probably increase when you retire, like health care. Depending on your interests you may spend more on travel, golf or other hobbies. If you are going to be retired for 20 or 30 years you should factor in some occasional big budget items like a new roof, heating/air conditioning system or vehicle.

Tally Retirement Income

Step two is to calculate your retirement income. If you or your spouse contribute to Social Security, go to SSA.gov/MyAccount/ to get your personalized statement. The statement estimates what your retirement benefits will be at age 62, full retirement age and when you turn 70.

In addition to Social Security, you or your spouse may have income from a traditional pension plan from an employer. Contact the plan administrator to find out how much you are likely to receive when you retire. Add in any other income from other sources you expect to have, such as rental properties, part-time work or investments.

Calculate the Difference

The final step is to do the calculations. Subtract your annual living expenses from your annual retirement income. If your income alone can cover your bills, you will be in a good position for retirement. If not, you may need to tap into your savings, including your 401(k) plans, IRAs or other investments to make up the difference, or adjust your budget.

For example, if you need around $60,000 a year to meet your living and retirement expenses and pay taxes, and you and your spouse expect to receive $35,000 a year from Social Security and other income. That leaves a $25,000 shortfall that you will need to pull from your nest egg each year ($60,000 – $35,000 = $25,000).

Depending on what age you want to retire, you need to multiply your shortfall by at least 25 if you want to retire at 60, 20 to retire at 65 and 17 to retire at 70 – that would equate to $625,000, $500,000 and $425,000, respectively.

Why 25, 20 and 17? Because that would allow you to pull 4% a year from your savings, which is a safe withdrawal strategy. In most cases, this allows your money to last for your lifetime.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

WCCF Donors Award Grants to Local Organizations

The generous donors of the Washington County Community Foundation awarded grants totaling over $25,000.00 to non-profit organizations serving Washington County in the Spring 2021 grant cycle. Grants are awarded from the Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow funds.

Englishton Park has been awarded a grant to assist with tuition and fees for a 10-day overnight summer camp assisting at-risk youth from Washington County. The camp is an intensive, high-touch, positive reinforcement experience for children that display disruptive class behavior, low self-esteem, and mild depression.

A grant to Adult Protective Services will provide funding for Project Lifesaver. The grant will be used to purchase four initial starter kits for a search and rescue program for at-risk individuals who are prone to wandering. If the individual should wander, the caregiver will be able to call 911 and the individual can be located via a tracking device worn on the wrist or ankle.

The City of Salem will be utilizing grant funding to aid in the education and training of employees that will be certified to run the Water Treatment Plant. The training and certification will balance staff shortages for the improved water infrastructure serving City of Salem water customers as well as East Washington Water Corporation and Town of New Pekin customers.

Tri-Kappa will be keeping the Salem Walking Trail cleaner with a grant for the installation of animal waste bag stations. The stations will provide bags with easy access along the trail so pet owners can utilize them, creating a clean walk for all to enjoy.

“Annie” will be in theatres this summer thanks to a grant to Pied Piper Productions. The play will include students from all three county schools as well as home-schooled. This will be the first production since the pandemic.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

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Medicare Coverage Options for Retirees Eager to Travel

What are the best Medicare coverage options for COVID-vaccinated retirees who are eager to travel? My wife and I will both turn 65 over the next few months and would like to know which Medicare plans are best for extensive travelers.

The best Medicare plans for retirees who plan to travel will vary depending on your destinations. Before you book a trip, make sure you know the current CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations (see CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers). Research your destinations so you know what restrictions apply wherever you are going.

Medicare Review

Before we dissect how Medicare works for travelers, let us start with a quick review of your different Medicare options.

One option is original Medicare, which covers hospital services under Part A and doctor's visits and other medical services under Part B.

If you choose original Medicare, you may also want to get a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) to cover your medications. A Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy may help pay for things that are not covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

You may want to consider a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan instead, which is sold through private insurance companies. Part C covers everything original Medicare covers, plus many plans also offer prescription drug coverage and extra services like vision, hearing and dental care.

To help evaluate your options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see ShiptaCenter.org), which provides free Medicare counseling.

You can also shop and compare Medicare health and drug plans and Medigap policies at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan.

If you find the Medicare plan you enroll in is not meeting your needs or your needs change, you can switch to a different plan during the open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7.

U.S. Travel

If you and your wife are planning to travel domestically, original Medicare may be the better option for you. Original Medicare provides coverage everywhere in the U.S. and its territories as long as the doctor or hospital you visit accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, have become very popular among new enrollees and may restrict your coverage when traveling throughout the U.S. This is because most Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs or PPOs and require you to visit doctors, hospitals and pharmacies that are in the plan's network. These plans may have some restrictions within a service area or geographic region. If you are traveling outside that area, you may need to pay a higher fee or your services may not be covered at all.

If you do decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to check the benefit details carefully to see what costs and rules apply when traveling outside your service area.

Traveling Abroad

If you are planning to travel abroad on a regular basis, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a better option. Many Advantage plans today offer emergency care coverage outside the U.S. Be sure to check before you choose a plan because not all plans offer it.

Original Medicare, on the other hand, does not provide coverage outside the U.S. and its territories except in rare circumstances (see Medicare.gov/coverage/travel). Medicare drug plans will not cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S.

If you choose original Medicare, you can still get some coverage abroad through a Medigap policy. Plans D, G, M and N may pay for 80% of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. to new enrollees, but coverage is only for the first 60 days of the trip and you must first meet an annual $250 deductible. There is also a lifetime limit of $50,000, so you would need to cover any costs above that amount.

Some individuals, regardless of their Medicare coverage, purchase travel medical insurance for trips abroad, which you can shop for online. Check for exclusions prior to purchasing travel specific insurance.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published May 14, 2021

How Older Adults Can Learn New Technology Skills

Can you recommend some good technology classes or online learning resources for inexperienced adults? I have a computer and a smartphone, but my knowledge and skills are limited.

There are many technology teaching tools available to help older adults learn new tech skills and better utilize their devices. Here are some good options to consider.

Local Classes or Workshops: There may be community classes for older adults who are new to technology. These classes may be available online or in person. To find out what is available in your area, contact your local public library, senior center, college or university, or local stores that sell computers. Your Area Agency on Aging may also be able to help you. Visit the Eldercare Locator at Eldercare.acl.gov or call 800-677-1116 to get your local number.

Try an Online Learning Website: Some online learning websites partner with guides to provide training on tech devices for older adults. These services provide online classes taught in real time by retired educators and tech industry experts in a way that lets older adults learn-by-doing, versus just watching a video.

Classes may cover topics like learning how to use a smartphone and tablet, setting up and using video conferencing, utilizing email features, recognizing online scams, selling your personal items online and more.

Some of these services also offer discussion groups at various times throughout the year where you can ask questions as well as share your struggles and experiences. If you ever have a technology question that pops up, often you can call the service's hotline for tech help. Sometimes these classes are free, however others cost a fee.

While some of these services focus on helping older adults with classroom-style instruction, other services offer tech concierges who will work with individuals one-on-one. Some concierge services may include teaching you how to use your devices, fixing what is not working and installing software. They may also show you how to set up and use email, video chat, social media, online shopping, entertainment and ride-sharing services.

Try a Nonprofit: Some nonprofit organizations provide online computer, internet and mobile technology courses for beginners. Many will resume offering classes live as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published May 7, 2021

Should You Pay for Your Funeral in Advance?

My wife and I have been thinking about preplanning our funerals now so our kids will not have to later, but we would like to find out if it is a good idea to prepay. What can you tell us?

Planning funerals in advance is a smart move. Not only does it give you and your wife time to make a thoughtful decision on the type of service you want, it also allows you to shop around to find a good funeral provider. Additionally, it will spare your family members from making these decisions at an emotional time.

Preplanning a funeral does not mean you are required to prepay. In fact, the Funeral Consumer Alliance, a national nonprofit funeral consumer protection organization, does not recommend it unless you need to spend down your financial resources to qualify for Medicaid.

Preneed Arrangements

Most funeral homes today offer what is known as "preneed life insurance plans," which allow you to arrange for the type of funeral services you want and prepay with a lump sum or through installments. The funeral home either puts your money in a trust fund with the payout triggered by your death or buys an insurance policy naming itself as the beneficiary.

If you are interested, make sure you are being guaranteed the services you specify at the contracted price. Some contracts require additional payments for final expense funding, which means that if the funeral home's prices increase between the time you sign up and the time you pass away, somebody will have to pay the difference. Here are some additional questions you should ask before committing:

Can you cancel the contract and get a full refund if you change your mind?
Will your money earn interest? If so, how much? Who gets it?
If there is an insurance policy involved, is there a waiting period before it takes effect? How long?
Are the prices locked in or will an additional payment be required at the time of death?
Are you protected if the funeral home goes out of business or if it is bought out by another company?
What happens if you move? Can the plan be transferred to another funeral home in a different state?
If there is money left over after your funeral, will your heirs get it, or does the funeral home keep it?

If you decide to prepay, be sure to get all the details of the agreement in writing and give copies to your family so they know what is expected. If your family is not aware that you have made plans, your wishes may not be carried out. Make sure you inform your family that you have prepaid for your funeral costs, so they do not end up paying for the same arrangements.

Other Payment Option

While paying for your funeral in advance may be a convenient option, there may be other options available.

For example, if you have a life insurance policy, many policies will pay a lump sum to your beneficiaries when you pass away, which may be used for your funeral expenses. The payment is made soon after you pass away and does not have to go through probate. Any excess funds not used for funeral expenses will be part of the inheritance to your heirs.

You could set up a payable-on-death (POD) account at your bank or credit union, naming the person you want to handle your arrangements as the beneficiary. POD accounts are also called Totten Trusts. With this type of account, you maintain control of your money while you are living, so you can access the funds in an emergency, collect the interest and change the beneficiary. When you pass away, your beneficiary collects the balance without the delay of probate.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published April 30, 2021

Could You Have Prediabetes?

What can you tell me about prediabetes, and how can you know if you have it? My 62-year-old husband, who is in pretty good shape, was surprised when he was recently diagnosed with prediabetes. Could I have it too?

Underlying today's growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes is a much larger epidemic called prediabetes. Prediabetes occurs when an individual's blood sugar levels are higher than the normal range but are not high enough to be called diabetes.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 84 million Americans today have prediabetes. Untreated prediabetes frequently leads to type 2 diabetes within 10 years. If you have prediabetes, long-term damage to your heart and circulatory system may have already started.

The good news is that if you are diagnosed with prediabetes, it does not mean you are destined to become diabetic. Prediabetes can be treated and potentially reversed by making some simple lifestyle changes. Suggested lifestyle changes include losing weight, exercising, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on carbohydrates. You should consult with your physician to determine safe diet and exercise options for your circumstances. If you need more help, oral medications may be an option.

Get Tested

Because prediabetes typically causes no overt symptoms, most people who have it do not realize it. The only way to know with certainty is to get a blood test.

Everyone age 45 years or older should consider getting tested for prediabetes, especially if your body mass index (BMI) is above 25. See CDC.gov/bmi to calculate your BMI.

You should get checked for prediabetes if you are younger than age 45 and are overweight, have high blood pressure or a family history of diabetes. Individuals who are of Latino, Asian, African or Native American descent may also be at higher risk for diabetes and may benefit from early testing.

To help you determine your risk of diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has a quick online risk test you can take for free at DoIHavePrediabetes.org.

Diabetes Tests

If you are at risk for prediabetes, there are three different diagnostic tests your doctor can use. The most common is the "fasting plasma glucose test," which requires an eight-hour fast before you take it. There is also the "oral glucose tolerance test" to see how your body processes sugar, and the "hemoglobin A1C test" that measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. It can be taken anytime regardless of when you last ate.

Most private health insurance plans and Medicare cover diabetes tests. You can also purchase a blood glucose meter and test yourself at home. They cost approximately $20 at most drug stores.

If you find that you are prediabetic or diabetic, you should see your doctor to develop a plan to control it. The ADA recommends losing weight and moderate exercise, such as 150 minutes a week of brisk walking. When lifestyle changes alone do not work, medication might be helpful. The ADA recommends the generic drug metformin, especially for very overweight people younger than age 60.

For more information on diabetes and prediabetes, or to find help, join a lifestyle change program recognized by the CDC at CDC.gov/diabetes/prevention. These programs offer in-person and online classes in more than 1,500 locations throughout the U.S. Over the course of a year, a coach will help you learn how to eat healthy, increase your physical activity and develop new habits.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published April 23, 2021

County School Corporations Receive $61,000.00 for Summer Remediation Assistance

Donors to the Washington County Community Foundation along with a grant from the Indiana Association of United Ways have issued a grant of over $61,000.00 to our county school corporations. The funds are being used to provide summer remediation within all three school corporations to help students catch up on missed days and remote learning challenges during the COVID pandemic.

West Washington School Corporation will be utilizing grant funds for teacher stipends for their “Back on Track” Summer Program and will focus on Math and English throughout grades K-12 and will focus on working intensively to build foundation skills based on individual student needs.

East Washington School Corporation and Salem Community Schools are working collaboratively on a grant to assist in addressing learning gaps and the social and emotional needs of students in grades K-12 in both corporations. Their instructional plan will have a two-fold system of intervention for closing the gaps. The first is small group intervention focusing on academic gaps identified and are open to both traditional and virtual students. The second step is to focus on Reading and Math in grades K-8 and all subject areas in grades 9-12.

All three county schools developed programs that will ensure success for all students and meet their needs.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

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ROI offering Career Coaching Fellowship

ROI has opened the application window for their first cohort of Career Coaching fellows. The Fellowship will span August 2021 through May 2022 and will include professional development sessions about once per month (8-9 sessions total). Their hope is to activate a region of individuals passionate about career coaching who can be part of an ongoing regional network.

Fellows will also learn from state partners and be connected to resources. They will have regionally specific career connections with employer partners as guests or who will serve on panels so that fellows can learn about what's in-demand and how to connect clients/students to the many high opportunity careers right here in the region.

More details can be found at Career Coaching Fellowship page, including the button to complete a brief application through the online portal. Applications are being accepted through May 7th.

You might know of passionate individuals who are ready and positioned-well for this type of opportunity. Please feel free to pass this information along to high school counselors, adult education providers, or really anyone in the role of working with clients/students in their pathways and next steps. Interested individuals can go straight to the site to apply.

ROI has a proven track record of providing excellent educational openings. There is no limit to the number of people that can participate from our county.

The Most and Least Popular Ages to Claim Social Security

How much does your claiming age affect your Social Security benefits, and what are the most popular ages people start taking their retirement benefits?

You can sign up for Social Security at any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. This adds up to around 6% to 8% higher payments every year you delay.

To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, visit Social Security's Retirement Age Calculator at SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html. This tool provides your official full retirement age (FRA), which is between ages 66 and 67 depending on your birth year. The tool shows you how much your benefits will be reduced or increased if you take payments before or after your FRA.

In the meantime, here is the rundown of when most people start receiving retirement benefits (according to 2019 SSA statistics), and how signing up at each age impacts your payout.

Age 62: This is the earliest you can sign up for Social Security and the most popular age to start taking benefits. Around 29% of women and 26% of men signed up for Social Security at age 62. If you sign up at this age, your payments will be 25% lower if your FRA is 66 and 30% lower if your FRA is 67.

Age 63: About 6% of all workers start drawing benefits at this age. Monthly payments are reduced if you sign up at age 63, but by a smaller amount than if you claim at age 62. A worker with an FRA of 66 will see his or her benefits reduced by 20% by signing up at age 63. Workers with an FRA of 67 will receive 25% less.

Age 64: Around 7.1% of women and about 6% of men claim benefits at age 64. Social Security payments are reduced by 13.3% for those with an FRA of 66, and 20% for people whose FRA is 67.

Age 65: This is the FRA for people born before 1938 and the enrollment age for Medicare. Around 10.5% of workers begin their retirement benefits at age 65. By starting at this age, you will see your monthly payments reduced by 6.7% if your FRA is 66, and by 13.3% if it is 67.

Age 66: This is the FRA for people born between 1943 and 1954. If you fit into this age group, you are eligible to claim unreduced Social Security benefits. Nearly 29% of men and 22% of women sign up for benefits at age 66. If your FRA is 67, you will receive 6.7% less if you sign up at age 66.

Age 67: People born in 1960 or later will be able to claim unreduced Social Security payments starting at age 67. Individuals born between 1943 and 1954 will receive an 8% increase if they wait to claim their benefits at age 67.

Age 68: Those with an FRA of 66 will receive 16% more if they claim Social Security payments at age 68, while those with an FRA of 67 will receive an 8% increase.

Age 69: Those with an FRA of 66 will receive a 24% boost in benefits by waiting until age 69. While those with an FRA of 67 will increase their benefits by 16%.

Age 70 and older: Waiting to receive Social Security payments until age 70 offers the biggest possible payout. Around 7.2% of women and 5% of men sign up at this age. Those with an FRA of 66 can increase their benefits by 32%, while those with an FRA of 67 will receive a 24% increase. After age 70, there is no additional increase for delaying your payments.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published April 16, 2021

How to Help a Parent with Finances

What tips can you offer on helping a parent with his or her finances? My 84-year-old father is having trouble keeping up with his bills and insurance, and I just found out that he has been making contributions to a suspicious charity.

Many adult children serve as financial helpers to their elderly or ill parents. They help with paying bills, handling deposits and investments, filing insurance claims, preparing taxes and more. Here are some tips and resources that can help you help your dad.

Start with a Conversation

Taking on the task of helping a parent with finances can be a sensitive and difficult topic. The first step in helping your dad is to have a respectful talk with him expressing your concerns and offering to help with his financial chores. If you have siblings, it can be a good idea to get them involved too. This can help you head off any possible hard feelings. Plus, with others involved, your dad will know everyone is concerned.

Get Organized

If your dad is willing to let you help manage, monitor or take over his financial affairs, your first order of business is to get organized by making a list of his financial accounts and other important information. Your list should include his:

Contact list: Names and numbers of key contacts like his insurance agents, financial advisor, tax preparer, family attorney, etc.
Monthly bills: Phone, cable, water, trash, gas, electric, credit card accounts, etc.
Financial accounts: Including bank accounts, brokerage and mutual fund accounts, safe-deposit boxes and any other financial assets. Make sure to get usernames and passwords for online financial accounts.
Company benefits: Any retirement plans, pensions or health benefits from his current or former employers.
Insurance policies: Life, home, auto, long-term care, Medicare, etc.
Taxes: Copies of your dad's income tax returns over the past few years.

Locate Important Documents

This is also the ideal time to find out if your dad has the following essential legal documents: a will; an advance directive which may include a living will and health-care proxy and will allow you or another family member or friend to make medical decisions on his behalf if he becomes incapacitated; and a durable power of attorney, which gives you or a designated person similar legal authority for financial decisions, if needed.

If he does not have these important documents prepared, now is the time to prepare them. If they are prepared, make sure they are up-to-date and you know where they are located.

Simplify Financial Tasks

The quickest way to help your dad simplify his monthly financial chores is to set up automatic payments for his utilities and other routine bills and arrange for direct deposit of his income sources.

If your dad has savings and investments scattered in many different accounts, you should consider consolidating them. You can also set up your dad's bank system and investment accounts online, so you can pay bills and monitor his accounts anytime.

Set Up Protections

To guard against scams and risky financial behaviors, consider getting your dad a prepaid credit card. With a prepaid credit card your dad would have access to money, but with restrictions on the amount he can spend. Some prepaid cards allow you to block certain types of unwanted transactions, such as wire transfers or online purchases. Additionally, some web-based services allow you to automatically monitor your dad's accounts, track suspicious activity and alert you when a problem is detected.

Seek Help

If you need help or live far away, consider hiring a daily money manager who can come in once or twice a month to pay bills, make deposits, decipher health insurance statements and balance his checkbook. Fees range between $60 and $150 per hour.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published April 9, 2021