That’s the advice that experts typically play on repeat at times like these, when stock prices are volatile or falling — as they did Thursday, when the S&P 500 dropped nearly 5 percent, its worst decline since the pandemic in 2020.
It is wise counsel for most people, since no one knows for sure which way the market or the economy will end up this year, and missing out on stock gains, even briefly, can put a big dent in your retirement savings. What’s more, over periods of 10 to 20 years or more, stocks have always bounced back handily after downturns, leaving investors who remained steadfast with far bigger balances than they had before the turmoil.
But what if you don’t have a decade or more to wait out a recovery?
For anyone who intends to leave the work force in the next few years or who has recently retired, the current financial environment is perilous. If you’re still working, a recession could push you out of a job earlier than planned, cutting short the time you have left to save and extending the period you need those savings to last. And for both near and recent retirees, a big drop in stock prices increases the risk you’ll eventually run out of savings.
“What happens to the market and the economy in those near and early retirement years matters disproportionately to the success of your entire retirement plan,” said Wade Pfau, a professor at the American College of Financial Services and author of “Retirement Planning Guidebook.”
That’s why financial experts often refer to this period — roughly the five years before or after you stop working — as the retirement danger zone, and urge people in it to be proactive about reducing their risks. Here are five steps they recommend taking now.
Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
