![\"senior](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/senior-couple-reviewing-finances-shutterstock_211206406.jpg\")
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\n Federico Marsicano \/ Shutterstock.com <\/p>\n
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GOBankingRates’ editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> and our products and services review methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n 20 Years Trusted by Retirement is supposed to be a relaxing time where you can enjoy the money you\u2019ve saved<\/a> and live out a life of leisure. Unfortunately, that plan can all fall apart if the right financial moves aren\u2019t made. Here are the most common, yet destructive\u00a0mistakes retirees make early on and the best ways to avoid them<\/a>, according to experts.<\/p>\n Underestimating the Cost of Lifestyle<\/p>\n Because retirees have more time on their hands, they\u2019ll be able to do more. However, the activities they choose to do might cost more than they\u2019re budgeting for. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIndividuals anticipate their costs to decrease upon terminating work, however, travel, eating and home renovations tend to increase during the initial years,\u201d said Yad Senapathy, founder and CEO of Project Management Training Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n Senapthy suggested that before retirement, couples track their spending for at least six months to get a really clear idea of how much they\u2019ll need after they stop working.<\/p>\n Not Accounting for Inflation<\/p>\n Retirees\u2019 money should last them for at least a couple decades. However, Senapathy said that sometimes, those planning for retirement don\u2019t factor in the fact that prices will rise in that time period. He suggested that there be savings on hand to help cover rising costs. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is easy to establish a variable withdrawal plan and set up a cash reserve to cover one or two years,\u201d Senapathay said. \u201cThis will relieve the pressure on markets and will decrease the temptation to over spend in bad times.\u201d<\/p>\n Only Using One Investment Account <\/p>\n Matthew Koppelman, co-founder of Precision Wealth Planners<\/a>, said he frequently encounters retirees who are only utilizing one account for their money. Koppelman said it\u2019s better to spread your retirement savings among multiple investing accounts. <\/p>\n \u201cThis can help mitigate something called sequence of returns risk,\u201d Koppelman said. \u201cIn plain English, sequence of returns risk means the order of your investment ups and downs matters when you start taking money out. If the market drops early while you are withdrawing, your account can shrink faster and may not recover.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n No Tax Planning <\/p>\n Taxes work a lot differently in retirement<\/a>, but some people don\u2019t know or plan for that. It\u2019s important to know the tax implications of withdrawing<\/a> and using retirement accounts before they\u2019re used. <\/p>\n \u201cMany retirees do not develop a plan for how each asset class will be spent and what the tax picture will look like throughout their lives, which can be very costly when compounded over time,\u201d said Brendan Keating, wealth advisor. \u201cThe retiree may want to look at Roth conversions<\/a> \u2014 the act of converting traditional pre-tax assets to after-tax assets \u2014 in order to smooth out their tax brackets during retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n Forgetting About Healthcare Costs <\/p>\n Like taxes, healthcare also works differently in retirement and many retirees don\u2019t fully account for that before they stop working. <\/p>\n \u201cFor those who retire before 65 and have to resort to Marketplace Healthcare plans, this can be expensive and most likely will cost more than their old employer plan,\u201d Keating said. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.gobankingrates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/icon-20.svg?webp=1&quality=75\"){kind=icon}
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