4 Ways to Destroy Your Retirement

In 2008, the stock market had its worst year since 1931.Given that returns have remained brutal in '09, and considering the constant chatter about "the second Great Depression," it should surprise no one that many Americans are worried about retirement.

As it turns out, they should be. According to the 18th annual Retirement Confidence Survey, conducted in April 2008 (before this mess really got going), less than half of workers have attempted to calculate how much money they will need for a comfortable retirement. That means that more than half of the working population hasn't even attempted to run the numbers! Worse yet, the survey also reports that 46% of workers have a total savings of less than $50,000. And 22% say they have no savings at all.

In addition to their insufficient savings, future retirees will have to deal with rising health-care costs, unreliable Social Security benefits, and underfunded (or nonexistent) pension plans. In the face of these perils, Robert Brokamp, advisor of the Fool's Rule Your Retirement newsletter, warns against four common mistakes that can lead to a disastrous retirement:

1. Planning too late
Studies have shown that the length of time for which you invest has more of an impact than the amount you save. An investor starting in his or her 30s or 40s has to save significantly more to catch up. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, you'll need to save three times as much for every 10 years of delay.

Robert suggests calculating how much you will need in retirement according to inflation, your lifestyle, and any retiree benefits you expect to receive. Then calculate exactly how much you need to sock away per month to meet your goal.

2. Not saving enough
It's no secret that we have become a consumerist society, constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses. The average American currently saves about 3%, while other industrialized nations such as France and Germany have a savings rate of about 10%.Take a look at the eye-opening chart below, which Columbia Business School professor Bruce Greenwald recently shared during a talk at Fool HQ.

Clearly, saving is not a priority for Americans. But if you would like to retire, ensure the discipline to save by having your monthly contribution automatically deducted from your paycheck. The money is less painful to part with, and you'll never skip a month.

3. Investing unwisely
Asset allocation plays a very important role in retirement planning. The theory is simple: Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. This means diversifying your portfolio to include the five major asset classes (large-cap stocks, small-cap stocks, foreign stocks, bonds, and REITs). The amount you allocate to each will depend on your risk tolerance and number of years from retirement.

For example, Robert's "Fool's Rules for Asset Allocation" shows suggested allocations for conservative, moderate, and aggressive investors:

According to these profiles, large-cap stocks, which tend to be less volatile, should make up the bulk of your stock allocation. (As we've learned from the past year, though, "tend to be" is not the same as "are always.")

Small-cap stocks (companies with a market cap of less than $2 billion) offer higher potential returns, but they are a bit riskier and thus should make up a smaller percentage of your portfolio. International stocks can often help to limit your exposure to the U.S. economy. Exposure to REITs provides you with an asset that is not highly correlated with the stock market. Bonds, being a lower-risk investment vehicle, should make up an increasing percentage of your portfolio as you near retirement.

4. Cashing out too early
Dipping into your retirement savings might seem like a viable short-term solution if you're in a pinch, but there are so many reasons why you should avoid doing so if at all possible. First of all, you're undoing the magic of compounding interest. As mentioned, starting over can set you back years. Second, if you're withdrawing from a 401(k) or IRA, you'll face an automatic 10% tax penalty. So unless you're facing an emergency (medical or otherwise), cashing out is a costly mistake.

The Foolish bottom line
Avoid these four costly mistakes, and you'll considerably increase your chance of a comfortable retirement. Remember to plan early, save a sufficient amount, invest wisely, and, if you have a choice, never cash out your 401(k) or IRA ... until you're drawing it down in your golden years, that is.

Steering clear of the pitfalls of financial planning and staying disciplined can be difficult, especially when you're constantly faced with decisions. Robert and the Rule Your Retirement team aim to help the average investor with just such decisions. You can try the service free of charge for 30 days -- without obligation to buy a thing. You'll have full access to all back issues, as well as retirement planning calculators, model portfolios, and advice for surviving in today's economic climate.

Click here to give it a try.

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This article was originally published March 7, 2009. It has been updated.

Claire Stephanic owns none of the companies mentioned. Microsoft is a Motley Fool Inside Value recommendation, and Bare Escentuals is a Rule Breakers pick. The Fool has a disclosure policy.