Wise Choices

Spring is a time of new beginnings. Flowers bloom, trees grow new leaves and farmers plant their crops. Spring can also be a time to take a fresh look at the financial preparations you are making for retirement. Here are some tips on what you can do now so that you can enjoy a more secure retirement later.

Prioritize saving
Save a percentage of your earnings each month no matter what. Whether that percentage is 5%, 10% or 15%, focus on making steady, uninterrupted contributions to your retirement plan.

Reach for the max
Aim to contribute the maximum amount your plan allows, especially if you got a late start saving for retirement. You may want to increase your contribution percentage gradually until you reach the maximum.

Check out catch-up contributions
If you are age 50 or older, your plan may allow you to contribute more than the standard limit through what’s known as “catch-up” contributions. Consider taking advantage of this opportunity to save more for your retirement years.

Review your investment mix
Review your mix of investments to be sure it is appropriate for the number of years you have left until retirement and your ability to handle investment risk.

Like many people, you may only glance at your plan statement to see if your balance has increased and by how much. But you may be missing some helpful information by not digging deeper. A closer look at your statement and any additional information your plan provides can help you answer these important questions.

1. How well did your investments perform?
Did your plan investments go up or go down in value during the statement period? Compare their performance to an appropriate benchmark. Don’t panic if you see that an investment underperformed its benchmark. Instead, compare your returns for longer time periods (e.g., one, three, five and 10 years) before you decide to change your investment lineup.

2. Is your portfolio adequately diversified?
Not all securities respond in the same way when market conditions are changing. That’s why investing in a variety of securities and types of securities generally helps to lower overall risk in your portfolio.* Avoid duplication, since owning different funds that have similar holdings lessens the potential benefits of diversification.

3. Are you contributing enough to ensure retirement security?
How much you contribute to your plan has a major impact on how much you will have available to fund your retirement years. Look at what you currently contribute to your plan and determine if you should increase your contribution rate.

*Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against losses.

Retirement expectations versus reality
The Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2022 Retirement Confidence Survey examined workers’ expectations for sources of income in retirement versus the actual income sources of retirees. The figures in the chart relate to what survey participants identified as a “major” income source.

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UBS Financial Services Inc.
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2023-1116559
Exp.: 03/31/2024, IS2301743