The key to a secure retirement is having a plan and sticking with it, particularly when the market goes down. Our advisors are committed to helping you develop a retirement investing plan that is aligned with your needs and priorities.

Rule 2: Focus on income-generating investments.

Secure Your Retirement with Investments, it may be helpful to have a greater allocation to stocks (and potentially bonds) to guard against the risk of outliving your savings. Later on, however, it may be more important to prioritize income generation and preservation in your investment portfolio.

This can be accomplished by diversifying your portfolio with income-generating securities such as dividend-paying stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and short-term treasury securities. While these types of investments won’t deliver the same growth potential as your stock and bond portfolio, they can provide steady income to help cover expenses in periods of stock price volatility.

Rule 3: Don’t forget about inflation.

The biggest threat to a secure retirement is not stock market volatility or even economic downturns, but inflation. Rising consumer prices can erode the value of your savings, even as it swells your income from Social Security, pension checks, rental properties and other sources.

One way to address this risk is by boosting your savings contributions, especially through salary deferrals and IRA contributions. It’s also a good idea to regularly review your retirement strategy with an experienced financial advisor. That will allow you to ensure that your savings and investments are on track with your long-term goals.