How different categories of pensioners can increase their income: expert advice

The average pension that Russians would like to receive when they retire is 47,000 rubles a month. This is evidenced by the data of a recent opinion poll conducted by a well-known employment portal. This is 2.6 times more than the amount that the average domestic pensioner actually receives. But if the state cannot currently provide the citizens of the country with such payments, then there are ways to approach them on their own. Anastasia Tarasova, a financial expert, head of the Maerli Capital investment fund, told MK about what needs to be done in order to receive a larger amount of income in retirement.

– Judging by the opinion poll, only in very rare cases, Russians will be able to receive the desired income in retirement. What needs to be done so that the dreams of citizens of a comfortable old age still come true?

– Indeed, you should not hope for a pension – not because it may not be, but because with a high degree of probability its size will not suit you, which was confirmed by this study. Given the size of the average pension in Russia, it turns out that older people who want to maintain a decent standard of living will have to work. Only then can their monthly income come close, and not in all cases, to the amount that the survey revealed – 47 thousand rubles. Of course, this is an average. According to the study, Muscovites and St. Petersburg residents have the biggest wishes: they would like to receive pensions of 51.3 thousand rubles and 48.7 thousand rubles, respectively. And the residents of Yaroslavl and Izhevsk have the most modest requests: about 42 thousand rubles would be enough for them to live a happy life. It is quite understandable that young Russians dream of a higher pension: they have more requests simply because of their age. The study showed that citizens under 34 years old would like to receive 47.6 thousand rubles, and people over 45 years old – 44.3 thousand rubles as a pension. But in most cases, modern pensioners will not be able to achieve this level of income without going to work. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the pension for working pensioners is not indexed.

By the way, the wishes of Russians are not limited to money alone. So, according to a survey of another major employment service, 46% of Russians would like to move to another city in Russia (25%) or even a country (21%) in retirement. This desire is understandable, given the seasonal temperature fluctuations in our regions: citizens simply want to retire in a more comfortable place, in comfortable and beautiful cities. But to fulfill this desire, money is also needed. And if the Russians want to realize their dreams, then they should think about the future as early as possible.

– What do you need to do?

– Firstly, to get into the habit of not just saving money, but investing. Suppose you have already learned to save at least 10% of your income to a special bank account. But this is not enough. Learn to invest the right way. The principle here should be this: the younger you are, the greater should be the percentage of risky assets in which you invest. At 30 years old, 30% of your funds should be kept in conservative assets and 70% in moderate and aggressive ones. Conservative assets are various types of investments that bring little profit, but are well protected, with a guaranteed income. A typical example of such an asset is a bank deposit. Assets with a moderate risk of non-return on investments include shares of “blue chips” – large companies that occupy a dominant position in the market, which can always be bought or sold on the exchange, everyone appreciates them, they pay out good dividends. A striking example here is the shares of large state-owned banks or state-owned companies in the energy sector. Aggressive assets, on the contrary, have a high level of risk. This can already include shares of various small but promising companies, exchange futures (a type of security that is a contract for the future supply of some asset, for example, for future supplies of grain after harvest, oil after its extraction, etc. – author .), the acquisition of currency. And the older you are, the more conservative your individual investment portfolio should be, for this you can use bank deposits at a good interest rate, purchase of real estate, bonds, various types of investments in gold.

– Well, if you put aside only 10% of income, then Russians will save money very slowly, given the average salary in Russia. For example, in February it amounted to just over 56 thousand rubles.

“Fast is slow, but constant,” that’s what the Japanese say, and they’re right. The sooner a worker starts saving for his old age, the better. Even if these are small amounts, compound interest will work for you over the years. Use it.

Is there any way to increase the pension of those who have already retired?

“One of the most effective ways to increase the income of working pensioners is to quit, get all the previously accumulated payments and get a job again. This option can be discussed with the employer in advance, and then, perhaps, the pensioner will be able to return later even to the same vacancy. Unemployment in Russia today is at its lowest historical values. There is a shortage of personnel in our country, so employers are likely to be ready to take older people – especially qualified and significant for the team – back to work. But even if something does not work out, pensioners today will easily and quickly find other options.

– This scheme will allow adding to the stable salary the pension already indexed for several years, right?

— Yes, but this applies specifically to working pensioners. It so happened historically that for them the insurance pension from year to year remains the same – almost the same size as it was first appointed. The indexation of this category of pensions has been canceled since 2016. Deputies from different parties periodically, mostly before elections, try to make proposals to change the situation. But also regularly the government rejects them. This is explained by the fact that there may not be enough budget money for such an increase in pensions for all older workers. In addition, it is believed that working pensioners receive a salary and can support themselves, while the state helps those who are not working. As a result, the pension for those who continue to work does not grow with inflation and, as a result, every year it can buy less and less goods. However, if a pensioner officially leaves, then after the employer sends information to the Social Fund of Russia (Social Fund of Russia, former PFR – Pension Fund) that the person has left work, he will receive an increased pension. This will not happen immediately, but because of the complexity of the procedure only for the fourth month: for example, if a person quit at the end of March, then all the money due to him for the past indexation will be credited in July. But indexation will be done “retroactively” from the month following the month of dismissal. That is, in the fourth month a “large” pension will come with a recalculation for three months. In the example I described, since April. Well, then the pensioner can return to work again.

– And if you do not quit your job, can you somehow increase the income of pensioners?

– Can. I’m talking about tax deductions. On April 28, the President of Russia just signed a decree on increasing social tax deductions, they are made, among other things, for the cost of treatment, for example, but there is a whole list that I advise you to study and draw up. It’s just that pensioners are not entitled to tax deductions, since they do not pay personal income tax, but for working pensioners – completely.

– Is there a way to increase the pension of ordinary, non-working pensioners?

– Certainly. The main advice here is to make the most of all the benefits that they are entitled to: transport, medicines, compensation for utility bills, and so on. And if you collect in a year all the money that a person previously used to pay for public transport and other purposes, then you get a tangible amount that can be spent on savings. And then proceed according to the same scheme with compound interest, which I spoke about: over time, they will work for you.