Now that spring has sprung many of us are in spring cleaning mode, perhaps you are looking for a bit of motivation when it comes to your finances. Here are five wealth planning questions that may be answered by simple “rules of thumb.” These may spark meaningful discussions about wealth management, budgeting, or family and estate planning – or perhaps even help to motivate better financial decisions for you or others. Consider sharing these rules of thumb with younger adults who are just starting their wealth-planning journey to help inspire their own financial thinking:
1. How long will it take for my investments to grow?
The Rule of 72: In the investing world, we often use the Rule of 72 as a simple way to estimate the time it take to double an investment based on a constant rate of return. Dividing the number by 72 by this rate of return determines the approximate number of years it would take to double. For example, with a 6 percent rate of return, it would take approximately 72 / 6, or 12 years. The Rule of 72 can be a good reminder of the power of compounding and the importance of staying invested over the longer term. Indeed, the opportunity to build significant wealth is within reach for both young and old investors alike. Consider that at a rate of return of 6 percent, even if you’ve reached the respected age of 70, based on the average life expectancy, you are likely to see your funds double – and twice still if you become a centenarian.
2. Am I on track with my wealth accumulation?
The Net-Worth Indicator: This rule of thumb can be used to gauge your current wealth accumulation progress based on your household income, as developed by the authors of the book “The Millionaire Next Door.” Multiply your age by your realized pre-tax annual household income from all sources except inheritances. Divide by ten. The answer is your expected net worth. If your actual net worth is more than twice this figure, you are considered a “prodigious accumulator” of wealth. If it is below this figure, you are considered an “under-accumulator” of wealth.
3. What portion of my budget should go toward saving?
If you are an under-accumulator of wealth, perhaps there may be merits to engaging in budgeting to improve savings, control expenses, manage debt or instill discipline.
The 50-30-20 Budgeting Rule: This simple budgeting rule involves dividing after-tax income into three buckets: 50 percent to “needs,” 30 percent to “wants” and 20 percent to “savings.” Needs include housing, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, and childcare. Wants are non-essential, including memberships, entertainment, and fashion. Savings include investment and debt repayment; however, if you hold debt, it may be prudent to consider allocating a greater proportion to paying it down, given the higher costs of holding debt.
4. How much of much income should be put toward a house?
The “Rule of 30” for Home Purchases: In the past, there was a general rule of thumb that suggested the price of your home should be no more than three times your annual gross income. However, over the past decade, housing prices have skyrocketed in many metropolitan cities making this rule of thumb largely outdated. Instead, the “Rule of 30” may be a more practical replacement, suggesting that we should limit total annual housing costs, including mortgage payments, insurance, property taxes and maintenance, to 30 percent of gross income. This rule may be especially important to help younger folks frame a purchase decision. Overspending on a house can leave individuals vulnerable to financial instability, especially in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as job loss or economic downturns.
5. When should I be having discussions with elderly parents?
The 40/70 Rule for Aging: This simple rule of thumb encourages discussions about aging-related matters, suggesting that these conversations should happen between adult children and their aging parents once the child reaches the age of 40 or the parents turn 70. The rule is based on the premise that it is best to start these discussions when parents are still healthy and capable – well before any potential crisis forces decisions to be made. These discussions may include difficult topics such as future care, living arrangements, decision-making support, finances, and end-of-life decisions.
