Overview: Planning for Retirement
In this assignment, to be completed individually, the objective is to make plans for your retirement. An annuity is a financial product that can be used to provide a regular series of equal payments for a fixed period. Annuities are a common type of retirement product. Retirees can purchase an annuity which guarantees payment of a fixed amount on a regular basis which can be used to provide income during retirement.
Based on the information provided, you will need to calculate: (i) the total savings you will need to accumulate by your retirement date in order to buy a retirement annuity and (ii) the monthly savings required to accumulate the amount necessary to purchase the retirement annuity.
Information to be used in your calculations:
1. Number of working years during which you will save for retirement: 25 years
2. Amount already saved for retirement at the time you begin your working career: $2,000
3. Amount of inheritance received 15 years before retirement which is added to your retirement savings: $20,000
4. Interest rate earned on savings: 9.5% pa, compounding monthly.
5. Number of years for which retirement annuity will provide equal annual payments to you: 40 years
6. Annual annuity payment: $100,000
7. Interest rate used by annuity provider to calculate the cost (present value) of the annual annuity payments: 5.5 pa, compounding annually.
A. Required Savings
You should use the information provided above to calculate the cost of the annuity product. This is the total amount of savings you will need to accumulate by your retirement date in order to buy the annuity. You must show the correct formula with the correct numbers in the formula.
B. Annual Savings During Working Life
Use the information on the savings already accumulated at the start of your working life and your inheritance to calculate the equal monthly savings you will need to make in order to accumulate the amount required to buy the annuity product when you retire. You must show the correct formulas with the correct numbers in the formulas. [Drawing a timeline will help you to organise the information and to select the appropriate formulas].
Comment on whether you believe your planned monthly savings are affordable, giving reasons for your answer. [1 mark]
Using Formulas in Your Presentation:
When using an annuity formula in your report you can copy the formula from the list at the end of this document and paste it into your Word document. To insert the relevant numbers click on the formula with the right hand mouse button and select "Equation Object" and then "Edit". You can then highlight the relevant item (e.g., FV or PMT) and type in the actual value. When you have finished editing press "ESC" twice. Please contact your tutor if you experience difficulties.
C. Risks
Because life includes many uncertainties you should also identify and discuss two risks faced by you in successfully financing your retirement. For each risk you should: (a) provide an illustration of how it could change your calculations; and (b) suggest actions that you might take to address the risk. Remember that risk is the possibility of something unexpected happening - which could include either positive or negative surprises.
D. Presentation of Report
Your report must have a cover sheet with your name, student ID, name of your tutor, time and day of your tutorial, and title of the report - including assignment number (A, B, C or D). You should also have section headings, including an introduction and conclusions, and page numbers. You do not need to submit your report to Turnitin, but evidence of copying material from other students could lead to loss of marks and charges of academic misconduct.