You’re in your 30’s or 40’s or 50’s and work very hard. You support a family lifestyle that’s expensive! High taxes, private schools, homes, cars, toys, vacations, all consume a large part of your earnings. On average you save 9% of your income when you should be saving 30%. Statistically, the data is frightening: 87% of 45- year-olds earning $250K today will be forced to cut their retirement standard of living annually by $72,000 or be out of money in the 13th year of retirement.
Source 1: US Census Bureau Data
Source 2: CNBC, Apr 30, 2019 Study
In 2020, the top 10% earners ($250K+) paid 74% of all personal income taxes in the U.S.A. In addition, state, local, sales, and other use taxes can push your total tax bill to 50% of gross income. You are being asked to “pay your fair share” but you feel that you are already doing so. And you don’t feel guilty when you take advantage of every legal tax strategy that’s available to you.
Source: National Tax Payers Union Foundation, Washington D.C.
Federal contribution limits to your 401K prevent you from saving enough in tax qualified plans. Socking away $22,500 annually may be adequate for people earning up to $100K, but it’s not enough to reach your retirement goals. You have created a more expensive lifestyle now and therefore, will need to save more tax-deferred dollars in order to live that lifestyle throughout retirement!
Your most valuable financial asset is your ability to earn income. Your unexpected death or chronic illness could ruin your family’s financial plan. However, costs to cover such risk events are expensive, and most family providers are uninsured or critically underinsured for unexpected interruptions to earned income. In addition, you wonder how will you transfer wealth to next generations without paying confiscatory estate taxes?
Source: IRS, Statistics of Income
Source: Career Addict, The top 10 most important things in life.
Providing a 401K, an annual bonus and health insurance benefits is typical among your peers and does not differentiate you from other employers. Today’s highly mobile and talented workforce knows they can get the same benefits anywhere and are poised to jump ship for little more than a higher bonus. However, to attract and retain top talent you will need a highly compelling package of benefits; one that’s affordable to provide and one that contains multiple key features, critical to every comprehensive financial plan.