Many people yearn for a comfortable retirement with fewer worries. Achieving that takes some effort of careful planning and preparation. Unfortunately, most people do not make the necessary steps needed to prepare for their retirement. They end up desperate and playing the retirement savings catch-up game in the process. But whether you prepared well or not, there are some things that you need to bear in mind a year or so before your retirement. What you do during this time may have a significant effect on your impending retirement. Here are some of the tips you need to know.
Take a closer look at your planned budget for retirement.
One of the costly mistakes pre-retirees make is the failure to review their planned retirement budget before they put it in practice. Some of these planned budgets may have been developed several years ago and may be in need of certain changes. People should also try to check into their retirement cash flows to see if they remain correct. An overlooked error can be costly. It pays to review and ensure that the planned retirement budget and income sources are still viable.
Make sure your life and health insurance are updated.
As you grow older, your concern for your health and welfare also grows. That is why you need to make sure that your life and health insurance are properly updated. Bear in mind that Medicare starts coverage at the age of 65. You need to make sure that you are properly covered from the time of retirement until you reach that age. Make sure that you bridge the gap between coverages in case you avail of early retirement.
Schedule your Social Security filing.
Some people pondering retirement cannot wait to file for Social Security once they do. But people should also be wary of trying to file for Social Security early. While people can file for it at any time after 62, delaying the filing can mean getting more in terms of the benefits. Delaying your filing of your Social Security until the time you really need it the most may be the smartest retirement move you can make. If you have other income sources to depend on during your early retirement years, it may be wise to use them before filing for Social Security. This can mean adding thousands of dollars more into your expected Social Security payments later on.