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Four Ways We Boomers Ruin Our Retirement Lives

November 17, 2019 by Linda Vaughn

The takeaway: There are four ways we Boomers ruin our retirement lives. The only time we really hear about these four ways is when a pro athlete makes the news for squandering millions and being broke.  Bulletin: We Boomers are just as capable of squandering our lifetime earnings and ruining our retirement lives.  Avoid these pitfalls!

(Updated November 2019.)

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Quarterback Bernie Kosar had an amazing talent for football.  In 1983, while majoring in finance and economics, he led the University of Miami to its first national championship. 

He was subsequently drafted by the Cleveland Browns, where he now ranks third in team history for passing yards.  He ranks fourth for passing touchdowns. 

During the course of his career, he earned about $19 million.

Thirteen years after he retired, he filed for bankruptcy.

Bernie Kosar, you, me:  we’re all vulnerable.

The very same things that destroy the pros financially destroy Boomer retirements. Star sports agent, Leigh Steinberg, tells Forbes that the four main reasons so many pros go broke is due to:

  1. failure to realize how rapidly a career can end;
  2. giving away too much money to family and friends;
  3. divorce; and
  4. lack of competent financial planning advice.

It’s the same way for us.

Four ways we Boomers ruin our retirement lives.

Green arrow showing the four ways boomers ruin their retirement lives.

#1.  Failure to realize how rapidly a career can end.  According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, in 2019, 40% of workers left the workforce sooner than they expected. (p.37)   

The two most common reasons were:

  1. changes in worker health and
  2. changes to company staffing, like downsizing.

Both proved to be career ending.

Boomer, I don’t know about you but, off the top of my head, I can instantly think of four friends who had unexpected career-ending job losses.  They occurred when:

  • Nissan decided to move its North American headquarters from California to Tennessee and one friend couldn’t move;
  • State government privatized two friends’ high level civil service positions;
  • Memorial Hospital wouldn’t accommodate a friend’s absences for her chemo—despite her excellent performance evaluations.

Careers can end before we’re financially (and psychologically) ready.

Green arrow showing how giving too much money to family and friends can ruin your retirement life.

#2.  Giving away too much money to family and friends.  Let’s face it.  Most of us know people who are helping pay the rent, mortgage, and/or car payment for their adult kids—and even their grandkids. 

Before I knew better, I myself kicked in mortgage payments, bought a new roof, and gave away a perfectly good car to a family member who had unending needs for a bail out.

I speak from experience when I say, “Don’t do it!”  As I discuss in Seven Simple Ways to Not Outlive Your Money (available in green sidebar), research shows that, with few exceptions, we’re turning these people into financial underachievers when we “help.”

One day we may not be here.  Then what’ll they do?  Boomer, I know it’s hard, but just say no.

Green arrow showing how divorce can ruin a retirement life.

#3.  Divorce. Research shows that while the divorce rate for most age groups has stabilized, Boomer divorce has doubled since 1990. 

With each divorce, assets are cut in half—and so is net worth.  (This is such a major wealth killer for Boomers that I covered it here.)

Green arrow showing the four ways boomers ruin their retirement lives.#4.  Lack of competent financial planning advice.  Like pro athletes, most Boomers’ education did not include any classes on personal budgeting or financial planning.  All of us are vulnerable to unscrupulous advisers who want to “help” us with our assets.

Beware!  Ask!

The New York Times chronicled a couple in their seventies who were afraid they’d outlive their money.  They paid a visit to their friendly US Bank branch, where they’d had accounts for decades. 

Staff knew them on a first name basis and happily sold them an annuity.  The annuity came with hidden fees of $26,000 a year. 

Boomer, with annual annuity fees of $26,000, they could have bought a new car each and every year.  They’re stuck unless they want to pay more than $45,000 in surrender charges to get out of the annuity.  

Know this:  not all financial “advisers” are legally bound to put your interests before their own. 

To avoid ruining your retirement life, always ask these two question.

  1. Are you legally bound to put my financial interests above your own? 
  2.  Are you a fiduciary?

When you ask question #2, you’re essentially rephrasing question #1.  You’re giving them two chances to tell you the truth.

Knowledge isn’t the only power.

Boomer, let’s face it.  We’re not that different from Bernie Kosar.  Our jobs could end before we expect them to.  We could overspend on family and friends.  Financial jackals could relieve us of our lifelong earnings.  We could go through a bad divorce.  

So be vigilant, Boomer.  Avoid these popular pitfalls.

Knowledge may be power, but so is money.

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Posted in: Don't Outlive Your Money Series, Money Thoughts Tagged: Annuities, Bernie Kosar, Boomer advice, Boomer divorce, Boomer financial advice, Boomer money, Boomer retirement, NFL retirement
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