Investment Opportunities
The trick to securing good investment opportunities before and during your retirement years is to keep a balanced portfolio of assets. You'll want most of your assets to be "safe" assets, like bonds, your IRA, and your 401K.
Other investments, like the stock market and real estate, can be a bit more volatile, depending on the status of the market. You can have some of these types of investments in your portfolio, but you don't want them to be the bulk of it. Finally, a visit with a financial advisor can help you decide on what kinds of investments would best serve you in your retirement years.
Find Good Insurance
Just because you've stopped working doesn't mean you stop needing insurance. As we age, we often acquire age-related diseases, which require long-term care and insurance to pay for it. Fortunately, seniors have quite a few insurance options, including Medicare/ Medicaid.
Some seniors also buy supplemental insurance. If you're in that boat, then you will want to keep your eyes open for signs of insurance fraud while you look for the right insurance for you. Don't be pressured into buying coverage that you don't need. You may also want to check your insurance bills to see that you aren't paying for services you don't want. It's best to read the fine print on new policies and review your policy statements regularly to avoid getting scammed.
Pay Off Debts
When you retire, you go from having new income coming to living on a combination of your pension, social security, and savings. Most people take a pay cut during these years. It's for this reason that carrying debt into your retirement years is so dangerous. In the event that you need to to enter an assisted living facility, then your retirement fund will be key to affording a retirement community that suits your needs.
Debt at your previous income may have been manageable, but debt on your reduced income may not be. In light of this, your goal should be to achieve debt-free status before you officially begin your retirement.
The best retirement planning includes provisions for investments, insurance needs, and debt-reduction. If you get a handle on these three things, then you stand a far better chance of having a retirement that you enjoy. Ignore them, and your retirement years may become far more challenging than they need to be.