Ask Liz Weston

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retirement savings

Q&A: Using retirement savings to pay down debt is risky business. Do this instead

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Dear Liz: I’m way behind on retirement funds. I did get pension funds from my employer after 25 years of service but used a large portion to pay debt that was crushing me. I’m widowed, age 62 and work full time as a nurse. I rent my place. How do I catch up? I have $200,000 in an IRA.

Answer: This answer comes too late for you but may help others who are overwhelmed by debt as they approach their retirement years.

People understandably want to pay what they owe, but bankruptcy is sometimes the best of bad options. This is particularly true as you approach the end of your working years and don’t have enough time to replenish your savings. The typical bankruptcy filing can erase debt while protecting the retirement funds you’ll need for the future. Before using your lump sum pension payout to pay debts, you should have discussed your situation with a bankruptcy attorney.

At this point, your best options may be to work as long as possible, save as much as you can and figure out a smart Social Security strategy. As a widow, you may qualify for Social Security survivor benefits as well as your own retirement benefit. You can’t receive both simultaneously, but you would be allowed to switch between benefits. For example, you could start survivor benefits and then switch to your own when it maxes out at age 70, if that amount is higher. Typically you would want to wait until at least your full retirement age to start benefits, because otherwise you’ll face the earnings test that reduces your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn over a certain amount, which in 2024 is $22,320. Paid services such as Maximize My Social Security or Social Security Solutions can help you determine the best approach.

This week’s money news

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This week’s top story: Congress delays shutdown again, extends funding to March. In other news: What to do about debt in retirement, 4 strategies for using side hustles to fund retirement savings, and ‘enormous’ savings for Americans by limiting overdraft fees.

Congress Delays Shutdown Again, Extends Funding to March
On Jan. 18, Congress approved yet another stopgap that will avoid a possible government shutdown until March.

What to Do About Debt in Retirement
From taking on side work to strategically downsizing, here are ways to help you tackle retirement debt.

4 Strategies for Using Side Hustles to Fund Retirement Savings
Side hustles can be used to pay for everyday expenses, but they can also help fund your retirement goals.

CFPB: ‘Enormous’ Savings for Americans by Limiting Overdraft Fees
With billions in revenue at stake, banks are lining up against the proposal.

 

Q&A: Where should you put your extra cash? Here are some ideas

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Dear Liz: At 82, I am selling my house and moving to a senior community. For the first time in my life, I will have a substantial amount of cash. Given my age and the fact that certificates of deposit and savings accounts are currently paying more than 5% interest, does it pay for me to start investing in other ways?

Answer: How you figure out what to do with your money is mostly the same whether you’re 28 or 82.

You start with your goal and your time horizon, or how long you have until you need the money.

For example, you may have to put aside some of the home sale proceeds to pay capital gains taxes if your home has appreciated more than the $250,000 that’s normally exempted from tax. Since the tax bill will be due within months of the sale, you shouldn’t take unnecessary risks with this cash. A high-yield savings account would be a good solution for any money you need to keep safe and liquid.

You also may want to earmark some money for long-term care. This goal is much more ambiguous, because it’s impossible to predict how much you’ll need or when. You may want to consult an elder law attorney, who can discuss your options.

Once you settle on a figure, you’ll want that money to be somewhere safe and readily accessible. Certificates of deposit that mature at different times could be an option, as could the high-yield savings account mentioned above.

If you have a goal that’s many years in the future, you could consider a mix of stocks and bonds. Stocks in particular offer long-term returns that historically beat inflation.

Most working people who want to retire will need to invest in stocks to accumulate and maintain a sufficient nest egg. They can take the risk of losing money in the short term because they have many years ahead for their investments to recover.

And that’s where your situation differs from that of a 28-year-old. The average life expectancy for an 82-year-old male is about eight more years, while the average life expectancy for an 82-year-old female is around nine more years, according to the Social Security Administration.

You may have enough time left to ride out a bad market. But if you don’t have to take such risks to achieve your goals, consider playing it a bit safer.

This week’s money news

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This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on data breaches, and catching up on retirement savings. In other news: How airline elite status saved the day when airline delays and cancellations strike, which airline elite status should you go for in 2023, and how pay transparency may affect your job search or next raise.

Smart Money Podcast: Data Breaches, and Catching Up on Retirement Savings
This week’s episode starts with a primer on what to do if your data is breached.

I Flew During the FAA Fiasco — and Elite Status Got Me Home
Happily for this Nerd, airline ultra-elites get preferential treatment when delays and cancellations strike.

Which Airline Elite Status Should You Go For in 2023?
Do the math and consider personal preferences when choosing an airline elite status program in 2023.

How Pay Transparency May Affect Your Job Search or Next Raise
As states and cities add rules about disclosing salaries, job seekers and workers can put the data to use.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: What Equifax’s credit score miscalculations mean for consumers. Also in the news: 5 ways to feel richer (even if you’re not), mortgage rates to stay high in August, and who should consider a spousal IRA.

What Equifax’s Credit Score Miscalculations Mean for Consumers
Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus, announced that a computer coding error resulted in the miscalculation of credit scores for consumers in a three-week period between March 17 and April 6.

5 Ways to Feel Richer (Even If You’re Not)
In some ways, feeling “rich” is less about how many zeroes you have in your bank account and more about knowing how to use them to get what you want out of life.

Mortgage Rates Unlikely to Cool in August
Mortgage rates will likely rise in August as the Federal Reserve continues to yank interest rates higher.

Who Should Consider a Spousal IRA, According to a Financial Planner
You should try to find new ways to save for retirement. For some people, a spousal IRA is an option.

Q&A: IRS changes on required withdrawals

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Dear Liz: When informing me of my required minimum distribution for 2022, my brokerage has apparently used a distribution period that differs from the one used in past years. This results in a distribution amount that’s noticeably smaller. I recall there was some talk of revising the IRS tables, but has this been done?

Answer: Yes. The IRS has updated the life expectancy tables used to calculate how much people must withdraw from their retirement accounts to reflect longer lifespans. That’s good news for people who withdraw only the minimums each year, since their required distributions will be smaller and the rest of their balances can continue to grow tax deferred.