June 17, 2019

Planning for your own future is one component of setting up your retirement plans. But have you also thought about how the assets you own will be passed on to future generations? Retirement is a two-way street.

According to a new study shared on CNBC.com, around 100 million Americans are currently covered by defined contribution plans. These assets are growing in value and are now worth more than $7.5 trillion. Most of this money is stored in 401(k)s.

What’s troubling about that study, however, is that the size in the accounts is small, especially when the age category is broken down to older Americans. Older Americans not only need to worry about living longer, but about having enough assets to protect them in the event of a long-term care problem.

The median amount in those retirement accounts was just over $58,000. The good news is that even with some drops in the economy, the average defined contribution plan increased by as much as 4 percent, since most people were putting aside more money. Furthermore, plenty of people are now choosing to automatically enroll in retirement plans than before, which experts believe is a key sign to increasing total retirement account amounts in general.

In general, the amount of money being saved is not enough to support people in their own retirement given some of the complexities of saving and living longer. Think ahead about what other strategies can be used to support your retirement savings and whether risk mitigation like long-term care insurance can help.

Speaking with an estate planning lawyer, a CPA, and a financial expert can all help you plan ahead for your own future.