23 July 2012

Horsing Around with Retirement

Charleston, S.C.

You could tie a horse to a horse, of course.

In other news... I had a conversation with my daughter on our vacation about pensions and retirement. It hadn't dawned on her that working as I do in a non-profit hospital, I don't have a pension. We are encouraged of course to set money aside into managed accounts and a tiny portion is matched by the health system. She has worked for the county and now is in a university position. I explained that she may well be able to retire before I do.


Just for fun I plugged some numbers in one of those nifty and depressing retirement calculators. What a relief to discover that it will all work out after all as long as I follow their advice:


  • Increase contributions to 132.89% of your income
  • Increase your rate of return before retirement to 26.58%.
  • Reduce your required income at retirement to 41% of your final year's income.
  • Delay your retirement until age 94.

Oh. That should work.

23 comments:

Rick said...

Talk to Joe next door to your office. He'll help you fix up a plan. He helped me. I had no plan until 2001. I'm enjoying my retirement but I don't know that you would be happy away from St Francis.

chuckography said...

That's funny.
In a scary and sad sort of way.
Yikes.

Pixel Peeper said...

You forgot about ALL THE MONEY you'll be making off the retirement home for men...you know, the one with the boat landing and men fishing and the peach pies and catfish for dinner!

Kate said...

Non-profits are the pits when it comes to retirement! I know all about it as I taught in a private, independent school for years.

Gotta invest, and that's the pits now, too.

Kate said...

PS. Your photo today is terrific...A horse, a horse...my kingdom for a horse!

Anonymous said...

Oh phoooooey! That calculation kind of knocks the wind out of your sails huh? From following your blog for the past several months I would say that the community would be at a loss without you! Hey, maybe reduce hours to 4 days a week taking a Monday or Friday off each week, then you would have a long weekend, and you might just be ready to go back to work after that? Here's hoping you find lost money in an old jacket... LOTS of it... Say enough to retire?? ;)

Charlestonjoan said...

I do. I try to shovel as much money into it as I can.

Charlestonjoan said...

Heheh....the "work until you are 94" cracked me up. My life expectancy calculator tells me I could live until I am 97 so I should have a few good years of retirement.

Charlestonjoan said...

That's true! And I'll have all the male companionship a girl could dream of ;)

Charlestonjoan said...

Amen. I do tuck as much cash away as I can but it doesn't seem to be growing much.I have however downsized and have simplified my life so I am on track for that.

Charlestonjoan said...

Heheh...maybe! I think I'd be pretty good at staying busy in retirement.

Anonymous said...

That's what is the problem with many states. One group of people are paying taxes for the others to receive high dollar pensions. Not fair is it? I think we are paying our fair share, Mr. President.

Lowandslow said...

Self employment might possibly be worse. At one time I had a tidy sum stashed away, but after the economy collapsed I keep what's left in an old fish bowl in the closet. I probably should research the "best tasting dog food". ;).

S

Holy City Sinner said...

LOL I'm too scared to put my information into one of those calculators!...yikes!

Anonymous said...

Not too long ago nonprofits (such as Catholic hospitals) had a DEFINED retirement benefit as well as a voluntary contribution plan (the voluntary contributions were stock or guaranteed fixed interest - as you chose). A few things changed in labor and finance law and voila... whatever you can scrape by without goes into your self-financed retirement account. However, the top of the heap (certainly the CEO) sees riches undreamt of by an earlier era of CEO's.

Unknown said...

That is a great photo! I love the foliage surrounding the horse. The caption is comical as well. I hope you find what you needs. A pension is always nice to have. I am currently saving up for a nice house in Charleston. I put a little away everyday, and everyday I take a little more. How is the Charleston real estate market right now? The amount of great eateries and friendly people keep drawing me in. When I move, I hope to see more of these interesting pieces along the walkways. Thanks for posting.

Charlestonjoan said...

Right. I got a few years in before the switch so I will get a small amount that was in a frozen account. I expect it to cover lunch and a movie when I retire. I like lunch and movies.

Charlestonjoan said...

I think you have more time to work on it than I do now. I'm on the right track though. Downsizing and aiming decrease my expenses. Little house paid off, little car paid off. Yipee!

Charlestonjoan said...

I know. Hard to catch up from Ye Olde Crash.

Charlestonjoan said...

I am amazed to hear of anyone with a pension anymore. It is a rare and precious thing.

Charlestonjoan said...

Moving to Charleston is a great goal! Keep saving the pennies!

Rick said...

There's gonna be peach pie? I'm in!

Rick said...

I cut way back and pured a boatload in during those 10 years. I'm still cut back but quite satisfied with what I have. So far SS has been sufficient for my needs. The retirement fund is there but haven't had the need to dip in yet. One day in the next few years I will want to return to England to just wander around the country. It will be there, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, when that day arrives. So sounds like you got a plan.