'Lucent employees need to plan carefully for retirement to optimize housing costs, healthcare and investment decisions to protect their financial security,' said Brent Wolf, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group.

'Lucent employees should protect their retirement from common financial pitfalls like scams and poor investment decisions,' said Kevin Landis, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group, which suggests consulting a financial advisor to make sound retirement decisions.

In this article we will discuss:

1. Housing and living situation optimization for retirement.

2. Healthcare management & avoiding financial scams.

3. Making good decisions about Social Security & investments.

Retiring from Lucent is a new phase of life where you have more freedom and dreams come true. But be smart with your money to ensure a comfortable retirement without stress. This article will discuss five of the biggest ways baby boomer retirees waste money and suggest steps to take back your finances.

Housing:

Optimizing Your Living Situation Housing is the largest expense in retirement at 33.8% of spending (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Downsizing or moving requires considering other costs besides home prices such as upkeep, taxes, insurance and utilities. Downsizing can cut housing costs by average of 30% (Center for Retirement Research at Boston College). As such, weigh your budget carefully and find affordable housing that fits your needs and ambitions.

Healthcare:

Financial Scams:

Protection of Your Assets Many retirees fall for financial scams - beware of con artists. The scammer targets the vulnerable with unrealistic returns, soliciting donations to fake charities or claiming to represent legitimate organizations like the IRS. In , people over 60 reported over 1.4 million fraud cases, a USD 966 million loss (Federal Trade Commission). Never give out your private or financial information to anyone outside of your organization and never send money unless you do some research first. Do your due diligence, consult a financial advisor and contact authorities directly if you suspect fraud.

Social Security:

Optimizing Benefit Claims Missing out on Social Security benefits can mean missed opportunities and reduced long-term payments. Some retirees have to claim benefits early out of necessity, but you should still evaluate your situation and look into options that could maximize your income. Delaying benefits until full retirement age of 70 can increase your monthly payments by 8% each year (Social Security Administration). See a financial planner to determine if you qualify to wait to claim Social Security.

Investment Decisions:

For baby boomers on Lucent, retirement should be a time for financial security and pursuing lifelong dreams. Retirement funds should support aspirations and avoid common money-wasting traps. These are housing overspending, healthcare overspending, financial ripoffs, Social Security underpayment decisions and bad investment choices.

And inflation affects retirement finances too. The average annual inflation rate in the last 20 years was about 2%, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means inflation can quickly reduce the purchasing power of retirement savings. The erosion of inflation requires inflation-adjusted investments and strategies in retirement planning. This keeps money moving up with inflation and enables financial security through retirement (Bureau of Labor Statistics, ).

To surmount these hurdles successfully, people like baby boomers with ties to Lucent should assess their own situation, get professional advice and read about best practices for retiring financially sound. By planning and managing money properly, people can retire comfortably and safely.

Retirement is like cruising the seas. Just as experienced sailors know to plot a course and navigate well, baby boomers retiring need to plan their finances accordingly. You could compare overspending on housing to sailing on a yacht without thinking about maintenance costs. Managing health care expenses is like packing your ship with a medical kit for when the going gets tough. Avoiding financial scams is like securing your Jolly Roger against sly pirates. Optimize Social Security benefits like you were adjusting your sails to catch the wind. Finally, making sound investment decisions is like choosing the right crewmates to sail you through retirement safely.'

A Roth IRA conversion decision hinges on your full tax picture, including the employer benefits Lucent provides. For retirement planning purposes, Lucent maintains a defined benefit pension plan that has been frozen to new benefit accruals -- meaning the plan no longer accumulates future benefits for most employees, but those who were already vested may still be entitled to receive the pension benefit they accrued prior to the freeze, subject to the vesting requirements described in their plan documents, meaning the plan no longer accumulates future benefits for most employees, but those who were already vested may still be entitled to receive the pension benefit they accrued prior to the freeze, subject to the vesting requirements described in their plan documents. Lucent does not appear to offer a formal retiree healthcare program, making healthcare coverage planning an important consideration if you retire before age 65. Because the specifics of your pension benefit, retiree healthcare eligibility, and any matching contributions depend on your individual employment history and plan documents, We encourage you to review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or speak with Lucent's HR or benefits team for the most current details.

Sources:

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Consumer Expenditures in . U.S. Department of Labor, .

3. Federal Trade Commission.  Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for January – December . FTC, .

4. Social Security Administration.  Benefits Planner: Retirement . Social Security Administration, .