Investors must adjust plans in retirement, study shows

The majority of investors (92 percent) have to adjust their retirement income plans after entering retirement, and most are doing so in order to meet necessary expenses, according to a recent survey by Sun Life Financial.

The Retirement Income Pulse Poll of Financial Advisors, a national poll of nearly 500 financial advisors, found that most investors aren’t adjusting their retirement plans to accommodate lifestyle choices; rather, they’re trying to meet basic, non-discretionary costs or avoid running out of income. Specifically, of financial advisors who have clients who changed their retirement plans, 34 percent did so as a result of non-discretionary expenditures such as unexpected health costs, and 43 percent did so to avoid outliving their income. Only 21 percent changed their plans to have more discretionary income.