The Biggest Risks You’ll Face in Retirement and How to Prepare

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While nothing in life is certain — well, except death and taxes — as you enter your retirement years, you’ll face more uncertainty than ever before.

While retirement’s a time to relax, before you get there you’ll face risks that could derail your plans.

What if you outlive your money? What if you come down with a debilitating, and expensive, illness? Will your income keep pace with inflation? Will you have enough to live the life you want? If you choose or need to work, will you physically be able to? What if taxes go up? What if Social Security goes down? Will you have enough to pay for a nursing home?

Unless you’re very rich, these risks could threaten a comfortable retirement and impact the amount of money you’ll need.

So a large part of retirement planning is about confronting risks: considering potential problems in advance and preparing as best you can, mentally, physically and financially.

And that’s what this week’s “Money!” podcast is about. We’re going to talk about the biggest retirement risks and how to prepare for them. Because while it’s true that the only thing in life that’s certain is uncertainty, it’s also true that forewarned is forearmed.

As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman.

Sit back, relax and listen to this week’s “Money!” podcast:

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Listen on Google Podcasts
• Listen on Spotify

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You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

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Show notes

Want more information? Check out these resources:

• Vanguard: 5 risks you face in retirement
• Investopedia: Common Post-Retirement Risks You Should Know
• Forbes: How to Beat the Three Greatest Retirement Risks
• Subscribe to the Money Talks News newsletter
• Take our course The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need
• Take our course Money Made Simple
• Miranda Marquit’s website