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Will Your Money Last? The Signs to Watch - And What Boomers’ Gains Say About Markets
Wondering if your money will last as long as you do? If you read one thing this week, make it this: the biggest risk to your retirement isn’t the market - it’s running out of money because of a few fixable mistakes. We’ll flag the warning signs, unpack why the boomer generation's rising wealth is shaping housing and stocks, and decode the ongoing debate over “alternative” options in 401(k)s so you can act with confidence.
By RetirementRedFlags.com
September 5th, 2025
This week’s signals point to what lasts and what doesn’t - and how to keep your money in the first camp.
1. “Will my money last?”: red flags from the nest-egg checkup
A widely shared list of “signs you’ll run out of money in retirement” spotlights practical pitfalls: no plan for long-term care costs, underestimating longevity, ignoring healthcare inflation, relying on illiquid assets, and setting unsustainably high withdrawal rates. The theme is less doom, more “here’s what to fix while there’s time.”
Action Steps:
✔ Price long-term care scenarios. LTC can exceed $100k per year; insure, pre-fund, or earmark home equity accordingly.
✔ Stress-test withdrawals. Model bear markets, higher inflation, and big one-off expenses; adjust spending or asset mix if the plan breaks.
✔ Boost liquidity. Too much tied up in property or private investments can force selling at bad times. Keep an adequate cash buffer.
2. Boomers’ wealth keeps climbing - why that matters to retirees of all ages
A new analysis this week highlights that Americans 75+ (older boomers) have seen wealth rise sharply compared with younger cohorts, driven by high homeownership, larger stock holdings, and low mortgage debt. Boomers own roughly ~40% of U.S. homes and hold a majority share of U.S. equities; median home prices notched new highs this summer. Expect a gradual surge of listings over the next decade as older owners age out - potentially easing inventory - but for now, housing equity remains a core wealth driver for retirees.
Action Steps:
✔ Portfolio check: If your equity exposure has drifted too high after the market’s run, re-balance deliberately (don’t let a bull market choose your risk).
✔ Housing as a tool: Downsizing or tapping equity can fund longevity and LTC needs—just run the numbers on taxes, fees, and local prices first.
3. Social Security: the real cost of claiming at 62
You can file as early as 62, but doing so permanently reduces your monthly benefit - by as much as 30% if your full retirement age is 67. Delay past full retirement age and you earn delayed retirement credits that boost your check up to age 70. In July 2025, the average retired-worker benefit was $2,006.69 per month; where you land relative to that depends heavily on when you claim.
Action Steps:
✔ Waiting isn’t always possible - but if you can bridge the gap (part-time work, cash savings), the math often favors delaying for a larger, inflation-adjusted base benefit the rest of your life.
✔ Rules of thumb: early claiming (62) locks in the largest reduction; benefits generally increase ~8% per year between FRA and 70 via credits. No credits accrue after 70.
4. 401(k) “alternatives” get a policy push but savers aren’t buying it (yet)
A recent survey shows only 34% of retirement savers support adding alternative assets (crypto, private equity, certain real estate) to 401(k)s; nearly half oppose it outright. An Aug. 7th executive order directed regulators to outline a path for plan sponsors to offer such options, but ~80% of respondents said they’re not likely to opt in. Why? Concerns about fees, liquidity, and transparency.
Action Steps:
✔ Start with the Summary Plan Description. Identify structures (e.g., interval funds, CITs), lockups, and all-in fees (expense ratios, performance fees, spreads).
✔ Cap your risk. If you dabble, think single-digit % allocations and rebalance rules. Many retirees are better served by a diversified core of low-cost index funds and bonds.
✔ Know the tradeoffs. Alts can diversify, but they’re not magic. For most savers, traditional stock/bond mixes remain the backbone.
5. Mistakes you’ll regret in retirement
The biggest retirement regrets don’t stem from wild market swings—they come from permanent decisions made too quickly and plans built on best-case assumptions. The pattern is familiar: locking in a move before you’ve tested the true cost of living, banking on the idea you can work indefinitely, turning on Social Security because a birthday arrived rather than because the math works, tapping retirement accounts for short-term cash, and postponing long-term care planning until options are limited. In other words, it’s less about beating the market and more about sequencing and safeguards.
Action Steps:
✔ Ask yourself: Am I making choices today that my future self will regret?
✔ Write a one-page Investment Policy Statement (IPS). Define your target mix, rebalancing bands, and withdrawal rules so emotions don’t drive decisions.
If you have any questions about the headlines that hit the news this week, we are answering questions in our free Facebook group The Retirement Red Flags Community. Click below and we will make sure you get added.
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