Inflation can be defined as an overall upward price movement of goods and services in our economy as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). When planning for how much money you will need for retirement, it is important to consider the impact of inflation on your assets and your goals. Ongoing inflation takes away the buying power of your money, meaning you will need more money to live on in the future than you need currently.
Have you heard of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment conducted in 1972 by a Stanford University psychologist? In this experiment, children are given a marshmallow and told they would receive a second marshmallow if they could resist eating the first. Scientists studied how long each child resisted the temptation to eat the marshmallow. A long-term study of the children who participated in this experiment showed those who were able to wait for the marshmallow – to defer gratification - were most successful in life.
Time is money—literally. For a recent graduate, time might also seem like an abundant resource, with many thinking they have plenty of time to save for their future – later. The traps of bad credit and debt snare many unsuspecting young adults and cling to their financial history for years.
Very few people could “save” enough for retirement with today’s long life expectancies and earlier retirements. If you just “save” – yet do not have growth that exceeds both income taxes and inflation, you are more likely to run out of money.
Many people don’t realize the importance of building and maintaining a good credit score to their overall financial well-being. Before you make any buying decisions involving credit, think about your overall financial situation and the long-term impact of living “outside your means.” The cost of bad credit may be more than you realize.
Are you holding one or more 401(k) plan accounts from former employers? You have several options:
1. Leave the money and do nothing
2. Roll it into your new employer’s 401(k), if allowed.
3. Cash it out.
4. Roll it into a self-directed IRA.
5. Convert it to a Roth IRA account.