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Your Retirement Could Last Decades—We'll Help You Plan For It
Everyone has different dreams and goals, but there's one dream we all share: having the financial means to live comfortably during retirement, no matter how long that retirement may be.

Living independently and comfortably in retirement requires a sound retirement planning strategy—one that continues throughout your retirement years.

A solid retirement plan helps ensure you that don't outlive your assets and that you have the income to meet the most important essential expenses in retirement. You may not be able to rely on investment income alone, because market volatility can impact your retirement savings. 

When you're involved in retirement planning, your goal is to ensure that you have a reliable source of income for the rest of your life.

Work with a Professional

You can't know for sure how long you're going to live, but you should put a plan in place that will help you live comfortably throughout a 15-, 20- or 30-year retirement. Take these steps with your financial advisor:

• When figuring out how long you might live, use your life expectancy at 65-not life expectancy at birth-as a starting point. The Centers for Disease Control's Web site can give you these statistics.
• Give yourself lots of "wiggle room." Once you have your starting point, make conservative adjustments based on your own personal health and habits, as well as your family's medical history, then add 5 to 10 years just to be safe.
• Consider financial products that offer you lifetime income, no matter how long you live. You have a variety of products from which to choose; your financial advisor can help you pick the one that best suits your situation and your budget.
• Protect against the uncertainties of a long life. The longer you live, the greater the odds you'll experience a serious health problem that could drain your assets. Consider insurance products that can help defray the costs of a chronic illness.
• Protect your legacy by helping to preserve your assets for your heirs.

To prepare for your conversation with your advisor, learn more about The Hartford's suite of financial products, including:

• Annuities 
• Mutual funds 
• Retirement plans
• Life insurance 

Don't Forget Insurance

Understanding your insurance needs is another important part of retirement planning. For example:

• Life insurance: Make sure that your life insurance coverage is appropriate based on your retirement needs and wealth transfer objectives.
• Auto insurance: Retirement is a good time to reevaluate your auto insurance needs. For example, you may use your car less than when you were working, which could lower your premiums. You may qualify for discounts  if you have more than one car or if you complete a driver safety course. Also, you want to ensure that your liability coverage protects the assets you've spent a lifetime accumulating.
• Homeowners insurance: If you've downsized your living space, you may be able to reduce your homeowners insurance premiums. Also, if you're running a home-based business during retirement, make sure you're adequately covered.