Working in retirement
Retirement doesn’t mean you have to stop working.
There are many reasons why retirees choose to work. Some do it as a way to stay active. Others work to supplement their incomes. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute®’s 2008 Retirement Confidence Survey®, two-thirds of current employees expect to work after retiring.
Whether you take on part-time work, start a second career or become self-employed, extra years of work can help extend your retirement savings.
Here are some things to consider if you're planning to re-enter the workforce:
Social Security
Returning to work after claiming Social Security retirement benefits may cause
a reduction in your payments if you haven't reached full retirement age. Full retirement age ranges from 65 to 67, depending on your year of birth.
For 2009, Social Security benefits are subject to an earnings limit of $14,160 if you're under full retirement age. Your payments are then reduced $1 for every $2 you make over the limit.
If you reach full retirement age in 2009, the payments will be reduced $1 for every $3 you earn over $37,680 until the month you reach full retirement age. You can then work without any reduction in your monthly benefits, no matter how much you earn.
Medical insurance and Medicare
If you retire before age 65, you'll need to cover your insurance costs until Medicare kicks in. A job in retirement may come with medical benefits, but if it doesn't, the extra income you're earning can help defray insurance costs.
Working after age 65 also has benefits, specifically when it comes to Medicare. If you're not working and you don't enroll in Medicare Part B (the medical insurance portion) when you're first eligible, your monthly premium increases by 10% for each 12-month period you were eligible but did not enroll.
However, you can avoid the 10% increase if you or your spouse is covered by a plan at work when you become eligible. In this case, you can enroll at any time while covered by your employer's plan or during the eight-month period that begins with the month your group coverage ends or the month employment ends (whichever comes first).
Taxes
If you're going back to work after retirement, plan carefully to minimize taxes. The combination of your salary and the income from Social Security or a retirement account may push you into a higher tax bracket.
Retirement accounts
If your new employer offers a salary deferral plan, take advantage of it. Even if you’re in your 60s or 70s when you go back to work, another 10 years of compounding gives you the opportunity to boost your retirement account.
Remember that many employers have a waiting period before you can contribute to a company-sponsored retirement plan. The plan may have a vesting schedule, as well.
Becoming your own boss
Are you considering going into business for yourself? Think carefully before using your retirement savings to fund it.
Taking out a lump-sum distribution to finance a business could push you into a higher tax bracket. You might also find yourself exhausting your retirement reserves.
Instead, consider looking for financial help from the Small Business Administration or other lending organizations. They may also be able to help you research your market and develop a business plan.
Talk with your financial professional to plan an effective use of your retirement assets while you go back to work.
Return to topInvestors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the American Funds. This and other important information is contained in each fund’s prospectus and/or summary prospectus, which can be obtained from your plan’s financial professional or downloaded and should be read carefully before investing.