Many hard-working Americans dream of a retirement with no stress, no daily commute and no demanding boss. Life will surely be better with the freedom to do what you want, when you want… right?
Even if you have a decent nest egg of $1 million, there are potential downsides to retirement that you’ll want to consider before heading into your golden years. Here are three of them:
Don’t miss
- I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
- You’re probably already overpaying for this 1 ‘must-have’ expense — and thanks to Trump’s tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here’s how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now
- Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
1. The IRS doesn’t retire when you do
Most retirees believe their tax rate will drop substantially in retirement, but that’s not always the case. After all, if you aim to live off 80% of your current income and your retirement income is entirely taxable, you may end up paying close to what you did in your working years. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid this.
The key to paying less tax in retirement is to incorporate tax planning into your pre- and post-retirement planning. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t do this. A 2024 survey by Northwestern Mutual found that only 30% of Americans have a plan to minimize their taxes in retirement.
Prior to retiring, work with a financial advisor to invest in a mix of traditional and Roth 401(k)s and IRAs. The right mix will depend on your current and expected tax rates, among other factors.
Withdrawals from Roth accounts are generally tax-free in retirement. If you have a high deductible health plan (HDHP), consider contributing to a healthcare savings account (HSA), which will also have tax-advantaged withdrawals.
Also talk to an advisor about permanent life insurance policies such as universal, whole or variable life. These policies build a cash value that you may be able to borrow against to provide a source of tax-free income. Annuities are another insurance product that could be part of your tax planning.
Once retired, it’s important to have a clear, tax-conscious plan for when you’ll withdraw from your various accounts. Considerations include any employment income you’ll receive in your first year of retirement, when you decide to start collecting Social Security, which accounts have required minimum distributions, which income streams are tax advantaged and which are fully taxable.
Strategies that can be used once retired include making qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) or investing in a qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC).
With multiple sources of income and different tax treatments, some retirees find their taxes are more complex to calculate than they were during their working years.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
2. Your health may not be what you hoped
Many of us have a vision of an active retirement — spending our days playing golf, gardening, volunteering or traveling.
However, most of us will experience declines in cardiovascular health, muscle mass, bone density and cognition as we age. About 44% of people 65 and older report having a disability and about one-third of those 85+ have some form of dementia.
Deteriorating health might force us to rethink how we’ll spend our retirement days, but it could also influence how we spend some of our retirement dollars. In all, a 65-year-old may need $165,000 in after-tax savings to cover healthcare expenses — and as you age these costs will make up an increasing portion of your total expenses.
Between ages 55 and 64, healthcare costs will make up about 7% of your expenses, but this rises to 12% between ages 65 and 74 and 16% when you’re 75 or older.
A person turning 65 today has about a 70% chance of needing long-term care during their remaining years and about 20% will require care for more than five years. The costs for this can range from an annual national median cost of $26,000 for adult day care to a median of $75,504 for homemaker services — and a whopping $127,750 per year for a private room in a nursing home.
Preparing for these costs starts before you retire and may even influence when you retire. For instance, if you retire before you qualify for Medicare, you’ll need to plan for bridging the gap in healthcare coverage. A financial planner can help you estimate your expected medical costs, including premiums for Medicare and other insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. Incorporate these costs into your planning and saving.
3. You might find retirement boring
A 2019 survey of British retirees found that the “average retiree grows bored after just one year.” This is partially why 20% of retirees surveyed by T. Rowe Price in 2022 were working either full- or part-time and another 7% were looking for work. While almost half (48%) of respondents were working for financial reasons, almost as many (43%) were working “for social and emotional benefits.”
It turns out that for some people retirement can be boring and lonely. It’s a big adjustment to move from the purpose, structure and social interaction that comes with working every day. Like much else around retirement, this can be eased with some prior planning.
Before retiring, take time to think about what’s important to you and how you could incorporate this into your golden years.
For example, that might mean working part-time in a similar field or volunteering for a cause you believe in, or maybe even going back to school and studying something you’re passionate about.
It may take some trial and error, but retiring well involves more than just planning your finances — it involves planning your new life.
What to read next
- Don’t have the cash to pay Uncle Sam in 2025? You may already be eligible for a ‘streamlined’ handshake with the IRS — here’s how it works and how it can potentially save you thousands
- Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
- Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
