Urban legends, urban myths, and fake news. Whatever you call it, in our age of information, claims of spurious repute can go viral in minutes. Anyone with a computer can start a blog and offer up opinions on just about any subject, whether he or she is an authority or not. Sources? Who needs sources?

OK, there’s a bit of sarcasm in that last comment, but we think you know where we’re going.

When it comes to retirement, there are plenty of misleading thoughts, opinions and fake news floating around out there. This month, we’d like to clear up some misconceptions that surround the retirement years. With that in mind, let’s jump in.

1. Will I never see a penny of the money I put into Social Security?

If we had a nickel every time we heard someone utter that phrase. Sadly, if a 40-something says he is confident he will receive monthly checks, he sets himself up for ridicule among his contemporaries.

We wouldn’t disagree with the hypothesis that young people getting started in the workforce will receive a low return on contributions into Social Security, but that’s a completely different argument.

Back to the matter at hand. Social Security is not on the verge of bankruptcy, and we fully believe even those who are many years from retirement will be collecting monthly benefits when it’s their turn.

According to the 2017 annual report from the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees, Social Security “has collected roughly $19.9 trillion and paid out $17.1 trillion,” in its storied 82-year history, “leaving asset reserves of more than $2.8 trillion at the end of 2016 in its two trust funds.”

As an ever-larger number of Baby Boomers continue to retire and collect benefits, the trustees expect the trust funds to be depleted by 2034.

Thereafter, expected-tax-income receipts are projected to be sufficient to pay about three-quarters of scheduled benefits. Put another way, recipients of Social Security would receive about a 25% cut in benefits, if no changes are made to the current structure.

Of course, these are simply projections and much will depend on economic growth, job creation, and wages. Yet, it’s a far cry from, “I won’t see a penny of Social Security.”

We suspect politicians will eventually settle on some type of compromise that will extend the life of the current system.

That said, we recognize timing and strategies that can be implemented for Social Security may be complex. If you have questions, please give us a call or send us an email. We’d would be happy to discuss your options with you.

2. The stock market is too risky for me.

There’s no question about it, the bear markets that followed the dot.com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis were unprecedented, in that we saw two steep declines in less than 10 years.

Made fearful by what they see as too much risk, Millennials have shied away from stocks, according to a Bankrate survey. In what seems awfully ironic, they seem to be far more interested in investing in Bitcoin! The word speculative doesn’t even begin to describe Bitcoin. But let’s get back on topic.

There has always been a degree of risk in stocks, even with a fully diversified portfolio. Yet, a well-diversified portfolio is akin to a stake in the U.S. and global economy — both of which have been expanding for many decades. It may not be larger next year, but history tells us it will be bigger in 10 or 20 years.

When it comes to investing in stocks, we typically experience some resistance from folks who haven’t seriously entertained the idea before. We listen to their concerns, and answer with an array of factual data that’s not designed to win an argument, but to educate. When you have all the facts, you can make an educated decision about what’s best for you.

3. Medicare will handle all my healthcare needs in retirement.

It would be great if Medicare did cover everything. But then, the cost to finance it would be much higher.

Medicare doesn’t cover the full cost of skilled nursing or rehabilitative care, according to AARP. Yes, the first 20 days of a stay in a nursing home is covered, but you’ll pay more than $160 per day for days 21 through 100. And Medicare doesn’t cover stays past 100 days.

You may be paying out-of-pocket for personal care assistance, too. The same holds true for miscellaneous hospital costs, as well as routine eye exams, hearing, foot and dental care.

4. Why save today when you can start tomorrow? There’s plenty of time.

This section is designed for Millennials and those who are just beginning their journey in the workforce. There’s no better day to begin saving than today! We can’t stress this enough.

Here is a simple but telling example.

Susan invests $5,000 annually between the ages of 25 and 35 and earns 7% annually. She puts away a total of $50,000.

Bill invests $5,000 annually between the ages of 35 and 65 and earns 7% annually. He saves a total of $150,000.

When Susan reaches 65, she will have amassed $602,070, while Bill will have $540,741.

Lesson learned — the sooner you begin, the better off you will be as you approach retirement.

Take full advantage of your company’s retirement program. If your company doesn’t have a savings plan, there are many simple ways you can get started.

5. Retirement will be easy living.

Many look forward to the day when they will no longer prepare for Monday mornings at the office. For those who face the work challenges that crop up daily, retirement may seem like a welcome oasis in the distance.

But that oasis sometimes turns out to be a mirage. Often, the transition from decades of working to retirement isn’t so simple.

For a better retirement, set goals, and not simply financial ones. Can you transition to part time in your job? Consider part-time employment or consulting. It will ease the transition, keep you busy and extend your savings.

Volunteer with your local church or community organizations. Are you familiar with Meetup.com? Look for groups with interests similar to yours. You’ll not only derive an enormous amount of satisfaction from helping others, but you’ll meet like-minded folks and make new friends.

Keep up any exercise routine — and it’s never too late to start a new one.  Check with your doctor, who will be happy to prescribe a fitness plan that’s suited to you.

Have you ever considered taking a class? How about writing a book? Expanding your knowledge or sharing your ideas can be quite fulfilling.

The most important thing you can do to make retirement enjoyable is to stay active and keep your mind and body sharp.