What advice would you give to Merck retirees that are currently surviving a bear market?

Dear Soon-To-Be Merck Retiree,

Thank you for your question. Merck employees that are making the decision to retire right now are having a difficult time as they are caught in a declining market. Numerous Merck clients have been confiding in me about their concern of losing their savings if the market doesn’t start to do better. It can be a challenging thing for a retiree to make the most of their assets for however long they need, particularly during a time when the market is performing poorly in the beginning years of their retirement.

Although working hard and saving ensures an individual is taken care of during their retirement, the reality is that it’s only half of the contribution. The rest of it derives from possessing a well-built investment strategy and being able to adapt the strategy based on how the market is.

The main thing in surviving for retirement assets will always come down to being developed for the worst case scenario. Two things that can help retirees be more prepared in regards to their assets and income streams enduring a declining market and having enough funds through the remainder of their retirement are cash flow projections and a proper asset allocation. As many retirees are in a declining market right now, they have to review their retirement plan and perform modifications that essentially safeguard and supplement their current and future income streams.