Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

  • Home
  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

11 Ways to Improve Your Finances Before You Retire

April 8, 2021 · Personal finance
A couple walking on a beach at sunset, representing long-term retirement security.
A senior couple with backpacks walks along the beach at sunset, securing their financial future together.

Review Your Investment Portfolio

Ah, the dreaded investment portfolio…

The general rule is that you should have a conservative approach the older you are. Though a lot of people think that the stock market is going up, that’s not historically true. Make sure you have enough fixed-income assets so that if the market does drop 20% or even 25%, you’ll be covered. Now’s not the time to make big plays- keep it safe!

But how do you balance your portfolio? Use the 120 rule. Subtract your age from 120 to figure out how much of your portfolio should be in equities with the rest in safer assets. 120- 55 (if you’re 55) means that you can afford 65% in equities with the remaining 35% in fixed income.

You may have heard that you should actually subtract your age from 100 instead, but that number has shifted to account for longer life expectancy.

Worried about low-interest rates that are stifling returns for fixed-income investments like treasuries, CDs, and bonds? Welcome to the club, sadly. One ‘fix’ for this is setting up an income annuity instead!

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • Senior couple examining a wooden dining table in a sunlit garden center patio furniture clearance section. 7 Store Sections Where Seasonal Markdowns Hit Hardest
  • An older couple sitting at a wooden table looking anxiously at paperwork spread out next to medication. 10 Things That Happen When Medical Debt Follows You Into Retirement
  • An older man and woman seated at a wooden table reviewing printed documents together in a sunlit living room. 9 Signs You Should Talk to an Elder Law Attorney
  • An older man and woman sit at a wooden table reviewing financial paperwork and using a calculator. 10 Reasons Retirees Are Keeping a Mortgage on Purpose
  • A senior couple walks along a brick garden path outside a craftsman-style house in warm morning sunlight. 10 Reasons Retirees Are Reconsidering Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Senior man with grey hair sitting at a wooden table reading paperwork beside a steaming mug and notebook. 8 Things That Automatically Change the Year You Turn 73
  • Older man in a blue sweater reviewing paperwork at a table with eyeglasses and a steaming mug nearby. 11 Things Retirees Wish Their Bank Had Told Them
  • Older adults dancing and sitting at tables in an outdoor courtyard with string lights during an evening concert. 9 Great Communities for Retirees Who Are Social Butterflies
  • A man stands in his kitchen looking down at an open laptop near a calendar and bills on the counter. 12 Warning Signs You'll Actually Need to Unretire Soon
  • Smiling older park guide handing a trail map to someone against a sunny mountain lake backdrop. 8 Charming Resort Towns Perfect for Retirees Who Enjoy Seasonal Work

Newsletter

Get retirement planning tips, savings strategies, and lifestyle insights delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

14 Things To Sell When You’re Ready To Retire

Old Computers – If you still have your first Macintosh, there are pretty high chances it’s…

Read More →
An older woman smiling and laughing while talking on her phone at a sunlit kitchen table with a mug of tea.

Telephone Reassurance Programs: Getting Paid to Chat With Seniors

Discover how telephone reassurance programs offer flexible remote jobs by paying you to chat, verify…

Read More →
A female retiree sitting at her sunlit dining table with a health planner and pen, reflecting on her retirement healthcare plan.

The Medicare Preventive Services Most Retirees Never Use

Discover the hidden $0 Medicare preventive care benefits and free screenings most retirees overlook, plus…

Read More →

Should the Rich Fix Our Social Security?

The Payroll Tax Cap Hasn’t Kept Pace With Earnings Growth at the Top You may…

Read More →
An older couple sitting at a wooden kitchen table reviewing Medicare booklets together in warm morning light.

9 Signs You Should Compare Medicare Plans This Fall

Explore the 9 clear signs you should compare Medicare plans this fall to protect your…

Read More →

7 Important Changes to Social Security in 2022

The bar to qualify for a retirement benefit has been raised  The final big Social…

Read More →

20 Essential Tax Breaks Every Senior Should Know About

Maximize your retirement income by exploring 20 essential tax breaks, deductions, and financial strategies specifically…

Read More →

11 Retirement Facts You Need to Take Seriously

Don’t be too conservative Just how much money do you really need to save up?…

Read More →
A retired couple reviews tax paperwork and financial statements together at their kitchen table in warm, natural morning light.

9 Signs You’ve Underpaid Estimated Taxes and Should Adjust Immediately

Learn the 9 warning signs that you have underpaid estimated taxes in retirement and discover…

Read More →
Retired in America

Your Guide to a Confident Retirement

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@retiredinamerica.com

Trust & Legal

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertiser Disclosure

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Disclaimer

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Subscribe

Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Personal finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in America. All rights reserved.