What to consider when calculating your life expectancy
When you are deciding at what point you should start receiving retirement benefits, one important factor to consider is calculating your life expectancy. Life expectancy has increased substantially in the last 50 years. According to the National Institute on Aging, the 85-and-over population is projected to increase 151 percent between 2005 and 2030.
In the Life Expectancy table, you can see that there is a 50% probability today that:
- The 60-year-old man will live to age 80,
- A 60-year-old woman will live to age 83, and
- A 60-year-old married couple will have one spouse that lives to the age of 91. This data is referenced in the table below under the heading “Joint” (Life Expectancy).
Inevitably, time and inflation eat away at the value of your savings. This is a vital assumption to consider in your asset allocation strategy. Further, if you want to retire early, your portfolio may need to last longer than 30 years. What does this mean? Well, for one thing, your portfolio may need to last longer than you might have expected.
Click here to calculate your life expectancy.
