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5. Co-Signing for a Child or Grandchild
They are just starting out and don't have much of a credit history. Or they want to take out private student loans, and all that's standing between them and next semester is your signature. The car they are financing, the lease they are signing … if your signature is on it, you are on the hook. If they pay late, your credit could be affected. And should you need a loan, this obligation will count as your debt for purposes of determining eligibility. Student loans can be particularly risky. In many cases, they can't be erased in bankruptcy. If you have already co-signed on a loan, it's important to check your credit regularly to see how it's affecting your credit. You can get a credit report summary updated every 30 days on Credit.com to watch for important changes.
6. Failing to Have a Plan B
You probably hope or assume your good health (and that of your spouse, if you are married) will continue. You may be planning to stay with your current employer until you reach full retirement age. But people fall ill, or they get laid off before they planned to leave the workforce. Do you have a reserve parachute? Your standard of living won't be as high, but knowing that you have a plan can make the situation a little less worrisome.
7. Poor Investment Choices
Even if you've managed to sign up for the 401(k) at work or to open an IRA for yourself, choosing the wrong funds or failing to diversify can set you up for failure. A target-date fund can be useful, but only if you choose the appropriate target. (If you're in your 50s and choosing a 2050 target retirement date, you may get really lucky and see big gains — but you could also see big losses and not have much time to recoup them.) Likewise, it's smart not to put all your nest eggs in the same investment basket. Do your own research or find a planner to find a mix you are comfortable with and that is appropriate for your age and goals.
8. Not Making Changes When Needed
Are your investments changing with your goals? And are you keeping track of all of your investments? If you've had several jobs (and several 401(k)s), it's a good idea to do some consolidation. Keeping track of funds in several investment houses can make figuring out minimum withdrawals much more difficult once you are retired. Keep accounts organized.
9. Taking Social Security As Soon As You Can
In many cases, it's better to wait. Your payment will be higher, although if you take it younger, you will get it for more years. Claiming it the minute you can may be tempting, but if you come from a family with a history of people living well into old age, consider whether you think the smaller checks will be worth it. (You can calculate a "break-even" age of how long you would have to live to collect as much as you would have had you started younger — so that checks from then on truly are additional money.) Conversely, if no one in your family has ever turned 80, you may want to opt for the earlier payout. And, of course, your financial situation when you retire will have a say. If you can't make ends meet without Social Security, then you should take it.
Another mistake? Making all your plans — including retirement — for later. A life of sacrificing for a "later" that may or may not come is not much of a life. They key is balance. We're not suggesting you never take a vacation, never give to a cause that is close to your heart or buy the car you've desperately wanted (and can now afford) so that years of self-denial will pay off someday … maybe. But it is good to know that if you live a long life, you'll have the financial resources you need.
They are just starting out and don't have much of a credit history. Or they want to take out private student loans, and all that's standing between them and next semester is your signature. The car they are financing, the lease they are signing … if your signature is on it, you are on the hook. If they pay late, your credit could be affected. And should you need a loan, this obligation will count as your debt for purposes of determining eligibility. Student loans can be particularly risky. In many cases, they can't be erased in bankruptcy. If you have already co-signed on a loan, it's important to check your credit regularly to see how it's affecting your credit. You can get a credit report summary updated every 30 days on Credit.com to watch for important changes.
6. Failing to Have a Plan B
You probably hope or assume your good health (and that of your spouse, if you are married) will continue. You may be planning to stay with your current employer until you reach full retirement age. But people fall ill, or they get laid off before they planned to leave the workforce. Do you have a reserve parachute? Your standard of living won't be as high, but knowing that you have a plan can make the situation a little less worrisome.
7. Poor Investment Choices
Even if you've managed to sign up for the 401(k) at work or to open an IRA for yourself, choosing the wrong funds or failing to diversify can set you up for failure. A target-date fund can be useful, but only if you choose the appropriate target. (If you're in your 50s and choosing a 2050 target retirement date, you may get really lucky and see big gains — but you could also see big losses and not have much time to recoup them.) Likewise, it's smart not to put all your nest eggs in the same investment basket. Do your own research or find a planner to find a mix you are comfortable with and that is appropriate for your age and goals.
8. Not Making Changes When Needed
Are your investments changing with your goals? And are you keeping track of all of your investments? If you've had several jobs (and several 401(k)s), it's a good idea to do some consolidation. Keeping track of funds in several investment houses can make figuring out minimum withdrawals much more difficult once you are retired. Keep accounts organized.
9. Taking Social Security As Soon As You Can
In many cases, it's better to wait. Your payment will be higher, although if you take it younger, you will get it for more years. Claiming it the minute you can may be tempting, but if you come from a family with a history of people living well into old age, consider whether you think the smaller checks will be worth it. (You can calculate a "break-even" age of how long you would have to live to collect as much as you would have had you started younger — so that checks from then on truly are additional money.) Conversely, if no one in your family has ever turned 80, you may want to opt for the earlier payout. And, of course, your financial situation when you retire will have a say. If you can't make ends meet without Social Security, then you should take it.
Another mistake? Making all your plans — including retirement — for later. A life of sacrificing for a "later" that may or may not come is not much of a life. They key is balance. We're not suggesting you never take a vacation, never give to a cause that is close to your heart or buy the car you've desperately wanted (and can now afford) so that years of self-denial will pay off someday … maybe. But it is good to know that if you live a long life, you'll have the financial resources you need.
