5 key risks to retirement income

Inflation is the single biggest risk for retirees, with 58% of pre-retirees and 45% of retirees worried about the potential for rising prices to erode purchasing power.

By Staff | June 24, 2015 | Last updated on June 24, 2015

1 min read

Inflation is the single biggest risk for retirees, with 58% of pre-retirees and 45% of retirees worried about the potential for rising prices to erode purchasing power, finds a Fidelity Investment survey.

“Inflation hurts retirees more than any other group,” says Peter Drake, vice-president, retirement and economic research, Fidelity Investments Canada. “In retirement, you have to plan for inflation because it can do a lot of damage over the long term.”

Read: Help clients nearing retirement

Additional risks include:

healthcare (53% of pre-retirees are concerned vs. 42% of retirees);
asset allocation (46% of pre-retirees vs. 31% of retirees);
running out of money (46% vs. 30%); and
longevity (49% vs. 33%).

The survey also found that 62% of pre-retirees expect to continue working in retirement, and 54% of those that work do so for financial reasons. Meanwhile, 27% of retirees are currently working at least part-time.

Read: The true cost of retirement

Still, 85% of retirees have a positive outlook on retirement.

Drake cites three key observations on retirement from the last decade.

1. Working in retirement is not a retirement plan.

2. Inflation is a risk to retirement income.

3. Financial advisor is key to retirement fulfillment.