New model of retirement, aka working forever. Americans woefully underprepared to face retirement and half of households have zero retirement plan.

Most Americans are incredibly unprepared when it comes to retirement.  The goal posts keep shifting.  Now for full retirement under Social Security people will need to retire at 67 versus 65.  What is rarely discussed is that rising Medicare premiums are being taken out of monthly payments so the amount being received is already shrinking while the cost of living is going up.  One startling piece of information that came out this year was that half of Americans are one tiny emergency away from being flat out broke.  No wonder why we have a record 47.6 million Americans now on food stamps.  When pensions were phased out starting in the 1980s many thought that the 401k or IRA would be the new way to save.  Hey, Americans will stuff their money into the stock market casino and after 30 years, they would have a million dollar nest egg thanks to compounding.  How did that work out?  Let us take a look at where things stand today.

The net worth of Americans

First, it is important to note that most Americans derive their net worth from real estate.  More to the point, the equity they have in their homes.  The stock market is largely a side show for most especially in today’s market where profits are being driven by overseas profits and cost cutting at home.  While the stock market is nearing its peak, real estate is still a long way from recovering all the losses that occurred:

net worth and real estate

This is problematic for two reasons. The first one is that real estate values are down by nearly 30 percent from their peak but Americans are still paying mortgages that reflect inflated values.  Second, the stock market recovery has been driven by hot easy money from the Fed versus organic growth to households wages.  As we’ve discussed before, the vast majority of financial wealth (i.e., stocks, bonds, etc) are held by the top 10 percent in the US and do not accurately reflect the health of the majority in the country.

Half of the country has no retirement plan.  That is, many will simply depend on Social Security to get by.  This is a startling fact given that we are seeing many baby boomers reach retirement age.  Since the press rarely covers the other half, let us take a look at those that actually do have a retirement plan.  How is the 401k and IRA model working out?
net worth figures

The above data is interesting.  This is only looking at people 55 to 64, supposedly those that were given the 401k and IRA path to success back three decades ago.  As they near retirement, how do things look?  Over half of this group has no retirement plan!  Keep in mind this is the baby boomer generation that lived with one of the biggest bull stock markets and also, a very strong real estate market.  Even with that said, the median net worth nearing retirement age is $120,000 for those with a 401K or IRAs.  At a safe withdrawal rate of 4 percent we are looking at $400 a month for those that actually planned or had the ability to save, let alone the other 52 percent that have no IRA or 401k.  Even the “planners” are planning on Social Security as the main source of their retirement funds.

Looking closer at the data, you will realize that many of those even with 401ks and IRAs are woefully unprepared.  What the three decade experience has taught us is that the 401k and IRA model really hasn’t worked well for most people.

Household net worth has been crushed for most families:

us household median net worth 2012

While the stock market is rallying and now the housing market is up, early signs show us that the housing market is being crowded out by investor money.  So local families are now competing with large investors that are buying up properties chasing higher yields.  Then those that rent, are having to dish out more of their disposable income simply for shelter.  No inflation?  Only if you are sticking your head in the sand and ignoring reality.

The fact of the matter is retirement has become a distant dream for most.  A mirage in the fast money nation where Congress has mostly millionaires looking out for one another.  Nothing wrong with making money but do not think that you have a chance gambling in this casino where short-term gains are rewarded via cutting profits or betting on the short side.  Now that millions have lost their home via foreclosure, you have Wall Street, primarily the system that created the housing bubble, diving back in to pick up properties on the cheap.  They’ll rent these out to you or sell it back to you but for a big profit.  Those retirement plans are going to be put on a permanent hold for many.  In other words, you are going to work forever.

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4 Comments on this post

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  1. LEMA LUNTADILA Lemos said:

    Hi,

    In Africa specially in DRCongo my country people want to immigrate in the U.S.A. It’s very sad because people in DRCongo don’t know the reality going on in the U.S.A. You can see the young people and the young couples. There is lottery the American embassy is doing every year to get them online. After that the America embassy will call one who has been selected to get a visa.

    Lemos,

    March 1st, 2013 at 2:37 pm
  2. John said:

    Work forever? After 45, more than 75 % of men become automatically unemployable by employer’s choice and consensus, and for most women after 50 is about the same.Who is hiring “know it all 20th Century super experts” that will demand solid health benefits, high wages and paid vacations.Hardly anyone….So, is either the Wal Mart greeter situation, or the Chase can food card reality to millions until they pull the plug on that too.

    March 2nd, 2013 at 12:03 am
  3. Robert said:

    When I left a job in 1982, I rolled over my 401K into a well known mutual fund. It was worth $10,000. At the highest, it was around $30K. Today, it is worth $16,000.
    I should have gone to work for the state government, like the rest of my family. They retire at 95% of final salary, free health insurance, for life, and cost of living raises every year.
    They actually will make more money in retirement than when they were working.

    March 2nd, 2013 at 9:04 am
  4. chris said:

    Historically, retirement is a relatively new phenomenon. A lot of people retire at 62. With people living so much longer, maybe most should be working until 66 or maybe even 70.

    March 28th, 2013 at 6:33 pm

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