You likely assume that people with monster retirement nest eggs got them by having a monster income. Well, while a big income certainly helps, it’s not the only way to retire rich — or, at least, richer.
Little things you do now can lead to lots more money down the road.
For example, here are several simple things successful retirees do, which you should be doing today, that will lead to a richer retirement tomorrow.
1. They make sure they’re on the right track
When you’re about 10 years out from your planned retirement date, it’s critical to ensure you’re on the path to accomplish your goals.
How? By enlisting the help of a knowledgeable professional. Even if you’ve managed your finances your entire life and consider yourself an expert, getting feedback from an objective observer is always a good idea.
Even doctors go to doctors for periodic checkups.
The value of working with an adviser varies by person, but according to one independent study, people who work with a financial adviser feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.
And while there’s obviously no guarantee, if an adviser can increase your returns, it could make a big difference. Consider this: if you save $500 a month for 40 years and earn an average annual return of 5%, you’ll end up with nearly $725,000. Double that return to 10%, and you’ll retire with almost $2.7 million.
That’s a life-changing difference.
But who can you trust for guidance? In the past, you’d have to turn to a stranger and take your chances. But that was then.
These days there are no-cost online services that make discovering your ideal financial adviser a snap.
You fill out a short questionnaire, then get matched with up to three local fiduciary financial advisers, each legally bound to work in your best interests. The process only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you can be connected instantly with an expert for a free retirement consultation.
Use this free matching service to connect with three qualified financial advisers in your area in five minutes. It’s a great way to replace uncertainty with peace of mind.
2. They cut their bills to the bone
Take advantage of historically low interest rates, and refinance your mortgage!
Companies like Rocket Mortgage make the process quick and easy. Rocket Mortgage was rated highest in customer satisfaction from JD Power, and there are simple calculators on its site that can tell you exactly how much you’ll save by refinancing.
If you’re currently paying 4.75% on a 30-year, $300,000 mortgage, refinancing to today’s 2.75% could mean saving $340 every month and thousands over the life of your loan.
Spend a few minutes on Rocket Mortgage and see what you can save.
Then there’s insurance.
Most people probably spend more time price-shopping milk than they spend price-shopping the truly expensive things in life, like insurance.
According to one survey, 49% of Americans think they pay too much for car insurance, but only 40% periodically shop for better rates. And 22% never do.
Insurance companies love this, since it allows them to jack up your rates year after year while you stand like a deer in the headlights.
Don’t get played; especially now that new technologies make shopping these things a snap.
Car insurance: Sites like The Zebra allow you to shop car insurance in minutes, and, according to its site, save you up to $440 per year.
Home insurance: One new and popular entrant is Lemonade, whose homeowners insurance starts at $25 a month. (Note, however, Lemonade is only available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.)
If Lemonade doesn’t work for you, try another popular comparison site: Policygenius. Within minutes, you’ll either save a ton of money, or you’ll gain peace of mind by discovering you’re already getting the best possible deal.
3. They manage their credit and their debt
You should always do the best you can to pay off as much debt as possible and to keep your credit in tip-top shape. Remember, even if you don’t intend to borrow, insurers, employers, landlords and others might check your credit for all kinds of reasons, so you want to keep it pristine.
What’s the best way to tackle debt and manage credit? One modern solution is to use free services like Credit Sesame. It only takes a couple of minutes to sign up and doesn’t cost a dime.
Credit Sesame will give you an organized list of every debt you have, along with the balance, interest rate and monthly payments. They’ll also provide specific recommendations on the fastest methods to destroy your debts, as well as tips on finding extra money in your budget.
In short, Credit Sesame is a free place to keep track of your credit and to build a plan to crush your debts. You should use it. It only takes a couple of minutes to sign up, costs nothing and puts you in greater control. Check out Credit Sesame.
4. They invest to beat inflation
Earlier in this article, I explained how earning 10% versus 5% over time can make you millions richer. But how the heck are you supposed to earn 10%?
One proven way to do it is by investing part of your long-term savings in stocks. Stocks have averaged 10% returns over decades, and they’re one of the few investments that have historically beaten the retiree’s worst enemy: inflation.
In the past, investing in stocks was time-consuming and complicated. Nowadays, thanks to a slew of new investment apps, it’s a walk in the park. One example: Robinhood. This app is a great way to invest because it has no minimum balance, a simple-to-understand interface, allows the purchase of fractional shares and doesn’t charge commissions or fees.
In addition to individual stocks and funds, Robinhood also allows you to invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
How do you learn more about investing? What thousands of successful retirees do is …
5. They get paid to stay informed
More than a million Americans have reported saving an average of $991.20 each simply by reading the totally free Money Talks Newsletter.
Our newsletter gives you a daily dose of specific advice to help you make more, spend less and invest like a pro.
It takes less than 5 seconds to subscribe and, if you don’t like it, less than 5 seconds to unsubscribe. Sign up for our free newsletter right now and see what you’ve been missing.
6. They squeeze as much as possible from their savings
What if you could earn seven times more on your insured savings with no effort? That’s free money.
The national average interest rate on savings accounts is currently 0.06%. But you can easily get many times more than that amount, while staying in an insured savings account.
CIT Bank is offering a high-yield savings account with one of the highest rates out there. Money Magazine recently selected it as the best in its category, not only for its high interest, but also for its account options.
CIT Bank's Savings Builder highlights:
- Offers up to 0.40% APY (as of August 2021)
- Interest compounded daily
- $100 minimum to open an account
- No account opening or maintenance fees
- Open your account in as little as five minutes
See for yourself: Check out CIT Bank's Savings Builder today.
Getting seven times the return with no additional risk? That’s how rich retirees get richer.
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