An important step to gearing up for retirement is figuring out all your sources of income. And being realistic. Here’s a checklist of things to consider when preparing for retirement:

• The current mix of investments in your portfolio
• Your current assets
• Your anticipated future assets vs. income
• When you want to start receiving Social Security
• How you’ll pay for health care costs
• The tax impact of drawing down your assets over time

After taking inventory of your income, if you’re not sure there’s enough in savings to retire — don’t worry, you have options.

Health care and Social Security are also probably top of mind right now. There are some important factors you should consider.

Now is also the time to make sure you don’t have all your eggs in one basket and you’re investing more conservatively overall.

Here are some more considerations as you prepare for retirement. And once you retire, there are things to think (or not think) about.

Preparing for retirement: the 3 biggest retirement income factors

As you near retirement, it’s important to keep in mind three factors that can have a significant effect on your retirement income:

Paying for health care in your 60s

We all know health care is expensive. And the costs continue to rise faster than inflation.

That’s why it’s crucial that you factor in enough in these costs in your retirement income budget — and be aggressive in how much you save for your future health care. You may also want to ask a financial professional about long-term care alternatives.

Your Social Security benefits

When should you take Social Security? This is an important decision that will affect your retirement income for years to come.

A financial professional can help explore your claiming strategies, and you can also check out your Social Security benefits information at ssa.gov. Take the time to evaluate when you’d like to start receiving benefits.

Account for inflation

This is the tendency of prices to increase over time, which can have a big impact on your purchasing power and lifestyle in retirement. It’s also unpredictable and erodes the value of your assets, especially if those assets earn less than the rate of inflation.

Over the last two decades, inflation has trended around 3 percent. It’s wise to add a margin of 1 percent to that for your income strategy plan.

Ways to increase your retirement savings

Even though retirement is right around the corner, it’s never too late to save, save, save! Continue to increase your saving — with a goal of contributing at least 15 percent, or more, of your earnings.

• If you own a home, try to pay off your mortgage before you retire.
• Don’t take money out of your retirement savings to pay for your children’s education.
• Pay attention to the amount of debt you take on and pay it off before retirement.
• Review your current life insurance coverage — do you need more?
• Invest the maximum amount in your employer-sponsored 401(k), as this will likely fund a big part of your retirement. These plans typically allow you to save on a pre-tax basis while your assets grow tax-deferred. Income taxes are due when you begin taking withdrawals.
• Consider an annuity.
• Consider a Roth or traditional IRA to invest above the amount allowed in your retirement plan.
• Review your diversification. And know your risk tolerance. Diversification does not prevent loss, but it is a method used to manage risk.

Calculating your retirement income needs

How much income do you need? Typically, you’ll want to save about 75-85 percent of your pre-retirement income. Since it’s hard to predict your spending, add 5-10 percentage points to that just to be safe.

Working longer — or part time

You can delay retirement or continue working in retirement to boost your retirement income.

If you choose to do this, you’re not alone. According to Gallup, 74 percent of Americans plan to work past their retirement age — and 63 percent say they’ll work part time in retirement.³

Working longer can provide both financial and social benefits. If you do decide to phase into full retirement while collecting Social Security, your benefit may be subject to income tax depending on your total household income.

Tips for living in retirement

Congratulations! The golden years are finally upon you. Now you can enjoy spending your nest egg you’ve worked so hard to build. And that’s worth repeating. Enjoy yourself!

When and how much to withdraw

How much you decide to withdraw and how frequently you make your withdrawals is one of the biggest challenges of a successful retirement income strategy.

In the past, experts who study the long-term sustainability of withdrawals rates had recommended a “safe” withdrawal rate of 4 percent. However, this is a “rule of thumb.” Your own withdrawal rate needs to be customized for your income and when your various income sources start.⁴

Your rate also needs to be adjusted along the way based on fluctuating markets and how the economy is performing. It’s important to get it right — especially in the first few years of your retirement. Your long-term financial security depends on it.

Enjoy your time and don’t worry

No matter what, stop worrying about the things you can’t control — like market returns, taxes, or legislation that could affect your savings or benefits.

Instead, manage your emotions and stay true to your investment strategy. Consider working with a financial professional who can coach you through volatile markets. 

Consult a financial professional

Wondering if you’re on track for the retirement you want? There are plenty of online resources, including personalized retirement calculator tools. It’s always a good idea to talk to a financial expert too.

If you’re retired and not sure what percentage you should be withdrawing from your retirement account, a financial professional can also help. You don’t have to navigate retirement all on your own.