The Retirement Labyrinth: Navigating Challenges for Gen X and Y

For many, the road to retirement is paved with uncertainties.

This is particularly true for Generations X and Y. Caught between the Boomer behemoth and the enigmatic Zoomers — these generations face unique challenges.

In contrast to their predecessors who rode the wave of economic prosperity, Gen X and Y encounter choppy waters: stagnant wages, rising healthcare costs, and unstable job markets. This blog post, however, delves into the specific challenges these generations face and offers practical strategies for navigating toward financial security.

The Generation X Sandwich

As a generation born between 1965 and 1980, Gen Xers experienced the economic turmoil of the 1970s and 1980s first-hand. In addition, they were part of the workforce during the Great Recession of the late 2000s, during which they faced stagnant wages and student debt.

“Most Gen Xers don’t have a pension plan, they’ve lived through multiple economic crises, wages aren’t keeping up with inflation, and costs are rising,” said Dan Doonan, executive director of the NIRS. “The American dream of retirement is going to be a nightmare for too many Gen Xers.”

But that’s not all.

Additionally, they must support their children while caring for their aging parents. As a result of this financial pressure cooker, there is little room for saving or planning for the future.

As such, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Gex X believes retirement is a long shot. A Prudential Financial study found that over half of Gen X have little or no retirement savings. Among the 65 million Gen Xers in the US, 35% have less than $10,000 saved, while 18% have none.

Gen Y: The Debt Generation

In the shadow of the Great Recession, Generation Y, aka millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, grew up. Student debt burdens have reached unprecedented heights, and job markets are precarious, resulting in delayed career advancement.

Researchers at the Center for Retirement Research found in the Millennials Readiness for Retirement study in 2021 that millennials had a lower net wealth-to-income ratio between 28 and 38 when compared to previous generations.

Furthermore, 40% of millennial households between the ages of 28 and 38 had student loan debt exceeding 40% of their income.

In addition, 401(k)s, which require a substantial personal investment, are increasingly replacing traditional pension plans. As a result of this financial instability, many people prioritize immediate needs over long-term security.

In fact, according to a National Institute on Retirement Security survey, millennials are falling behind in retirement savings because they are switching from defined benefits plans, like pensions, to defined contribution plans, such as 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts.

Specific Retirement Challenges for Gen X and Y

As already mentioned, these generations face a labyrinth of retirement planning challenges. This, in turn, leaves them wondering if retirement will ever come. However, let’s examine their specific challenges and what can be done to address them.

The looming retirement age cliff.

With rising life expectancy and a changing social security landscape, the retirement age cliff looms large for Gen X and Y. Social Security benefits are projected to decrease in the coming years, forcing individuals to rely more heavily on personal savings and investments.

The current retirement state in America is called the “Retirement Cliff.” Why? Well, there are several factors.

According to estimates, more than 20 percent of the total U.S. population will be over 65 years old by 2029, when all the baby boomers will turn 65. As a result, this could decrease Social Security benefits. According to reports, retirement pensions will only be paid at 77% of their full value in 2034.

Also, there is the aforementioned shift from traditional pensions to 401(k)-type plans since the 1980s, as well as the minuscule retirement savings and rising debt. In addition to this, a lack of adequate financial knowledge and increasing life expectancy are significant issues.

Clearly, this shift in responsibility significantly strains their ability to accumulate sufficient wealth to retire comfortably.

Think long-term.

To prepare for this, you can take advantage of catch-up provisions to maximize tax-advantaged savings options, save more outside of retirement accounts, and delay retirement. However, as many people cannot or will not be flexible, it is not always ideal to sacrifice comfort today for comfort tomorrow.

To address this, try reining in your budget now – learning to spend less before you retire can make managing your finances easier after you retire. It’s also good to check your tax-deferred funds to ensure you’ve maximized your opportunities.

Other options for saving and investing, such as real estate or commodities, may yield higher financial rewards but also carry risks. It is just as easy for investments to backfire as for them to succeed.

Many investors and savers are searching for annuities that guarantee lifetime income because of the longevity concern. Funding them either with personal savings or by rolling over retirement funds is possible. There are, however, different types of advantages and disadvantages associated with annuities.

Stagnation of wages.

Since the early 1970s, wages in the U.S. have stagnated. There was an increase of 17.5% in wages between 1979 and 2020, compared with a rise of 61.8% in productivity.

In other words, during the relatively flat wage growth era, Gen X and Y entered the workforce. Compared to Boomers, Gen X, and Y have experienced wage stagnation, which has made saving for retirement more difficult. Due to the wage squeeze and rising living costs, less disposable income is left to save.

Getting through the stagnation vortex.

• Embrace side hustles. Discover other ways to earn income besides your primary job. You can provide an extra cushion for your finances by freelancing, running an online business, or consulting.
• Live below your means. Be mindful of your spending and prioritize needs over wants. Make a budget, track your expenses, and identify areas to cut back.
• Invest early and consistently. By compounding interest, even small contributions can grow significantly over time. It’s important to start investing as early as possible, even if it’s just a small amount every month.

The student loan albatross.

Gen X and Y are saddled with a staggering amount of student debt. There is an average debt of $37,338 per borrower for federal student loans. But, borrowers with private student loans average $54,921 in debt.

In addition, the Great Recession has delayed career milestones, further eroding their ability to save for retirement. Having so much debt can weigh heavily on their shoulders, making their progress toward financial freedom difficult.

Tackling your student loans.

You can reduce the total payoff time by making larger payments if you can afford it. Reducing the principal balance minimizes the duration of the loan and the interest charges. In addition, refinancing your student loans can help you pay down your debt faster by lowering your interest rate or reducing your repayment period.

Also, employers can “match” employee contributions to retirement accounts with student loan payments starting in 2024. As a result, employers can contribute up to $5,250 annually, tax-free, to their employees’ retirement funds. In addition to helping employees pay off their student loans faster, this incentive can also help them save for retirement.

Last but not least, forgiveness programs can help you repay your student loans in full or part. Each program has its own requirements and approval criteria.

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Applicants must be employed full-time in a government or nonprofit organization in a public service position, have Direct Loans, or have consolidated other federal student loans to qualify and be able to make 120 qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan to qualify for the PSLF program.
• Teacher Loan Forgiveness. You must teach full-time for five consecutive years in a low-income school or educational service agency to qualify for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Income-driven repayment forgiveness. Students on income-driven repayment plans may also qualify to have a portion of their student loans forgiven.

The healthcare cost Kraken.

Healthcare costs are rising, especially for Gen X and Y, as they approach their peak earning years and may face their parents’ aging care needs. Retirement savings can be wiped out as healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise.

In fact, healthcare costs are expected to rise from $4.7 trillion in 2023 to $7.2 trillion by 2031, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Taming the Kraken.

• Explore high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Take advantage of HDHPs with lower premiums and tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for out-of-pocket expenses.
• Research long-term care options. Prepare for potential long-term care needs as early as possible. Find out what options are available to you, such as long-term care insurance, assisted living facilities, and government assistance programs.
• Focus on preventive care. To avoid costly health problems in the future, prioritize healthy habits and regular checkups.

The erosion of traditional pensions.

Historically, pension plans have been a reliable and stable source of income for generations. These days, though, most workers are more likely to encounter defined contribution plans, such as 401(k), which place the responsibility of retirement planning on them. In fact, Clever conducted a survey that found just 26% of retirees receive their retirement income from employer-funded pension plans.

As a result, it may have been difficult for Gen X and Y individuals to develop the skills necessary to save and invest with this shift in responsibility.

Pension-free retirement.

You can save enough to fund a comfortable retirement despite not having a pension. It’s up to you to create enough retirement income if you’re among the many Americans who rely on 401(k)s and 403(b)s rather than pensions.

• Take a look at annuities. FIAs, or fixed index annuities, can provide you with a continuous income stream for the rest of your life, similar to a private pension.
• Don’t put all your money in one place. Diversifying your investments and income sources can help you spread out your risk in retirement and create multiple income streams.
• Focus on tax strategies. Putting money in your 401(k) may take decades, but if you end up owing 25% on your withdrawal, you’ll barely be able to live off it. When planning for retirement and considering how you will withdraw money, keep taxes in mind.
• Maximize your Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits aren’t meant to cover your entire retirement. However, without a pension, your benefits can help bridge the gap. If you wait until age 70 to claim, you will receive 8% more every year.

There’s also a silver lining when it comes to pensions. There is much speculation that other companies will follow IBM’s recent example and resume offering pension plans to their employees.

The gig economy enigma.

Traditional employment and independent work have blurred due to the rise of the gig economy. Although it offers freedom and flexibility, it also lacks stability and benefits like employer-sponsored retirement plans. Consequently, securing a secure financial future is even more challenging for Gen X and Y.

Alternatives for self-employed and gig workers to retire.

The good news? You can open the following retirement accounts if you don’t have access to 401(k)s or 403(b)s:

• SIMPLE IRA. Self-employed individuals can benefit from two types of IRAs, including SIMPLE IRAs. A SIMPLE IRA is a retirement plan that offers savings incentives to employees. For 2023, the SIMPLE IRA contribution limit is $15,500, with a catch-up contribution limit of $3,500 for those over 50.
• SEP-IRA. Unlike SIMPLE IRAs, SEP-IRAs allow higher overall contribution limits but have rather complex contribution caps. In addition to being considered employer contributions, contributions to a SEP-IRA can reach 25% of total compensation. Self-employed individuals are exempted from contributing more than 20% of their net self-employment income.
• Solo 401(k). An individual 401(k) is specifically designed for self-employed workers. Solo 401(k)s are also known as one-participant 401(ks). Due to their large contribution limits, solo 401(k)s come with a higher paperwork requirement (especially as the account grows) than the other two types of accounts.

Navigating the Retirement Labrinth

There is still hope for Gen X and Y, despite these daunting challenges. Listed below are some strategies they can use to make their way through retirement planning:

Early birds catch the worm.

• Start saving early. You should never underestimate the power of compound interest. A small contribution over a long period of time can snowball into a substantial nest egg.
• Estimate your retirement needs. Take into account your desired lifestyle, healthcare costs, and inflation potential. You can estimate your retirement income with tools such as retirement calculators.
• Diversify your investments. Make sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. To mitigate risk, spread your savings across different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate.

Know your resources.

• Maximize employer benefits. Take advantage of company-matched retirement plans such as 401(k). Consider profit-sharing or stock purchase plans if they are available as well.
• Explore government programs. Social Security will provide some income, but it may not be enough. To boost your savings, consider IRAs and tax-advantaged accounts.
• Consider alternative income streams. Consider hobbies or skills that could lead to income in retirement, such as consulting or freelancing.

Lifestyle adjustments.

• Reduce expenses. Find ways to save on everyday costs by downsizing your living space and canceling unnecessary subscriptions. Saving now means more security in the future.
• Pay down debt. Your interest on high-interest debt can eat away at your retirement savings. Free up cash flow by paying off loans and credit cards first.
• Stay healthy. The cost of healthcare is a primary concern for retirees. To minimize future medical expenses, focus on preventive care and healthy habits.

A Call to Action

In addition to being a personal challenge, retirement planning is also a societal issue for Gen X and Y. Achieving a secure future begins with acknowledging and advocating for the unique challenges Gen X and Y face. As we recognize their struggles, we can prepare them for a more fulfilling retirement.

It doesn’t matter how small the steps you take now are; they will make a big difference in the future. The challenges of today should not overshadow the opportunities of tomorrow. You can plan for a secure and fulfilling retirement today by taking control of your retirement planning.

FAQs

Why should I start planning for retirement so early?

You can increase your nest egg dramatically over time by starting early, even though retirement may seem far off. Savings can also be disrupted by unexpected life events, which makes it imperative to plan ahead.

How much should I be saving for retirement?

It’s difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer, but a general rule of thumb is to save 15-20% of your income each year. It is important to consider factors such as your desired lifestyle, age, potential inheritance, and debt. You can estimate your needs with many online calculators.

I haven’t saved enough; what can I do?

Don’t panic!

If you can, increase your savings rate even by a small amount. You may wish to delay retirement, work part-time in retirement, or downsize your living expenses.

To develop a customized strategy, seek professional financial advice.

Where should I invest my retirement savings?

To minimize risk, ensure your portfolio is diversified across different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. Your investment strategy should be aligned with your risk tolerance and time horizon.

A well-rounded plan should be created with the assistance of a professional.

How should Gen X and Y approach investing differently?

Market downturns might be more challenging to recover from for Gen X, so stable investments with lower risk may be a better choice.

On the other hand, millennials may be able to afford higher risk tolerance due to longer investment horizons.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Polina Tankilevitch; Pexels

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