What is a phased retirement?

In its broadest sense, a phased retirement is a gradual change in your work patterns as you head into retirement. Specifically, a phased retirement usually refers to an arrangement that allows employees who have reached retirement age to continue working for the same employer with a reduced work schedule or workload.

A phased retirement has advantages for both employees and employers. Employees benefit from the opportunity to continue active employment at a level that allows greater flexibility and time away from work, smoothing the transition from full-time employment to retirement. And employers benefit by retaining the services of experienced workers.

There may be other advantages attributable to a phased retirement. When you work during retirement, your earnings can be applied toward living expenses, allowing you to spend less of your retirement savings and giving them a chance to potentially grow for future use. You may also elect to work for personal fulfillment–to stay mentally and physically active and to enjoy the social benefits of continuing to work with the same co-workers.

Not all employers offer a phased retirement option, but if it’s available, you may want to consider whether you’ll still have access to affordable health care during this period, especially if you aren’t old enough to qualify for Medicare. Also, some employer-sponsored pension benefit formulas may place a higher weighting on earnings during the final years of employment. If you’re lucky enough to have an employer-sponsored pension plan, will working a reduced schedule with presumably reduced pay negatively affect your pension benefit? Some employers offer life insurance to their full-time employees. However, this benefit might be reduced or eliminated if you work fewer hours, which can affect your dependents at your death.

Will a phased retirement affect your Social Security retirement benefit? The Social Security website, http://www.socialsecurity.gov/, provides some calculators that can help you determine the impact a phased retirement may have on your benefits.

Before enrolling in a phased retirement program, consider its impact on your entire financial picture.

If you have questions, contact the experts at Henssler Financial:

• Experts Request Form
• Email: experts@henssler.com
• Phone: 770-429-9166

Disclosures: The following information is reprinted with permission from Forefield, a division of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. This article is meant to provide valuable background information on particular investments, NOT a recommendation to buy. The investments referenced within this article may currently be traded by Henssler Financial. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing. Henssler is not licensed to offer or sell insurance products, and this overview is not to be construed as an offer to purchase any insurance products.