Retirement Income

Retirement Income refers to a series of payments provided to employees after retirement, derived from the savings accumulated during their working years. The main objective of this income is to offer financial support to individuals aged 50 and above during their retirement period.

The concept of retirement income was introduced in Germany during the 19th century. Subsequently, in 1920, federal employees began receiving civilian pensions as post-retirement income. This financial stream was designed to sustain them throughout their lives and acted as a safeguard against financial inflation. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that taxes may be applicable during the withdrawal of these funds.

• Retirement income is money received by individuals who have reached retirement age, which can vary depending on government regulations, employer policies, and personal choices.
• The primary purpose of retirement income is to provide financial support during old age, often with considerations for inflation.
• Various financial instruments, including social security benefits, defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, home equity, and individual retirement accounts (IRA), offer options for individuals to invest their savings for retirement.
• A commonly recommended guideline is to follow a minimal average withdrawal limit of 4%, known as the 4% rule, to help ensure sustainable income throughout retirement.

Retirement income is a pivotal aspect of financial planning that holds significant benefits for individuals entering retirement. It enables the creation of savings, collectively amassed during one's working years, serving as a source of passive earnings post-retirement. For those considering retirement at the age of 55, allocating savings to reputable retirement income funds is advisable. The accumulated amount then functions as an annuity payment, providing a regular income stream for the retiree. It's essential to establish a standard percentage when planning for retirement income.

Determining a savings rate across various instruments is essential in calculating retirement income, often contingent on the retirement income replacement rate. While some individuals save 75% of their income, others may opt for rates ranging from 70% to 90% upon retirement. 

For instance, one has savings of 75% of $1,000,000, resulting in an average pension income of nearly $75,000 plus interest, available as an annuity for withdrawal during retirement.

The withdrawal rate, typically set at 4% of the total amount, plays a pivotal role in determining the duration of retirement income. For an initial balance of $2,000,000, an individual can withdraw $80,000 annually, sustaining this process until the balance is depleted. Additionally, retirement income earns a specific rate of return, though various factors may influence it.

Estimate retirement income, including the employee's age, Medicare, tax rates, retirement age, inflation rate, and annual contributions. When a person's combined income, comprising 50% of benefits plus other income, exceeds $25,000 during filing (or $32,000 in joint filing), it results in taxes. Similarly, on annuity withdrawal, retirees may incur a standard federal rate on the withdrawn amount. However, if the entire pension income is withdrawn, taxes apply to the total amount.

For planning retirement income, individuals must distribute their savings in different funds. Some of them are popular retirement funds prevailing in the United States. Let us look at them:

#1 - Social Security benefit 

One of the popular retirement plans in the United States is social security benefits. These benefits are usually for qualified retired adults and disabled persons. Later, it is further transferred to their children, spouses, or family members. However, to qualify for this plan, an employee must pay into a social security program during their work tenure. Also, they must earn 40 credits for this benefit. These credits increase when a person receives $1,640 as earnings (in 2023). Thus, on retirement, this amount gets adjusted as per inflation and later given to the retiree. 

#2 - Defined benefit or employer-sponsored plan

A defined benefit plan refers to a company-sponsored retirement pension that pays a lump sum or annuity amount upon retirement. In this case, the plan is already decided in advance. It includes the pension income, which depends on the length of employment and salary earned. Thus, using this formula, the income gets finalized. This investment is usually made by the employer (or company), and they also bear the investment risk arising from it.

Here, government employees' pensions differ from those of corporate persons. They may have to contribute after-tax earnings to such plans. Also, the payout period is usually 20 to 30 years, compared to the standard retirement age of 65. 

#3 - Defined contribution plan

As the name suggests, a defined contribution plan also accepts contributions from employees. So, along with the employer, employees deposit a part of their income into this plan. Compared to the previous plan, it offers quicker, instant, and any vesting rights on contributions.

#4 - Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

The IRAs are most popularly used in the federal state for retirement benefits. Individuals who do not receive any workplace perks can benefit from this plan. In short, it is for self-employed individuals with several tax advantages. If a person adds $4000 (up to $6500 annually) to an IRA, the taxable amount decreases. Here, the minimum age for receiving contributions is 73 in 2023. And if they fail to withdraw any, a penalty of 10% is applicable.  

#5 - Home equity 

Here, home equity refers to the proceeds received from the sale of a home. If a person decides to sell their house, they may invest some of the proceeds for their retirement. They may also apply for a reverse mortgage. They are also known as home equity conversion mortgages, which direct home equity to mortgages. So, individuals can convert their sale proceeds to a series of payments after retirement.  

#6 - Other financial instruments 

Apart from the above discussed, an individual can also rely on their other investment accounts. It includes savings accounts, brokerage accounts, unsold equity shares, bonds, certificates of deposits (CDs), and others.

Let us look at some examples of how to calculate retirement income to comprehend the concept better:

Example #1

Consider Carl, an employee at a well-known retail fashion company, with two children and Harry as her husband. Over approximately ten years, Carl has been faithfully contributing to her retirement savings, a process she intends to continue until her retirement. On average, the company deducts 10% of her salary for the defined contribution plan, and the firm makes a matching contribution. If Carl's salary is $20,000, her annual contribution amounts to $4,000. This practice has persisted for about 35 years, resulting in an accumulated retirement fund of over $140,000 by the time of her retirement.

At the age of 55, Carl's retirement account had grown to $200,000, including any accrued interest or returns. At this juncture, Carl decided to opt for an annual payout of 6%. Consequently, she received $12,500 per year as her average retirement income, an arrangement that continued for the subsequent 16 years.

Example #2

In accordance with recent federal updates, effective in 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has increased the contribution limit for individuals to $22,500 for 401(k) plans, up from $20,500 in 2022. Additionally, the annual contribution limit for those aged 50 and over, known as the catch-up contribution, remains at $1,000 without being subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment.

The IRS has introduced a retirement income plan named the Thrift Savings Plan, allowing participants in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government plans who are 50 and older to contribute up to $30,000 starting in 2023.

It is important to note that the Thrift Savings Plan is not exclusively for senior citizens but rather for eligible participants aged 50 and above. The information should accurately reflect that the increased contribution limit of $30,000 applies to those individuals in the specified retirement plans who meet the age requirement.

Although retirement income is a collective sum of the current income, they do have differences. Let us look at them:

This article has been a guide to what is Retirement Income. Here, we explain the concept along with its sources, examples, and comparison with current income. You may also find some useful articles here -

• Retirement Income Calculator
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