Planning for retirement? Consider these key risks

Retirement should be a time of financial freedom, enjoyment and spending more time with your family and close relatives, but without proper financial planning it can come with serious risks and consequences.

Stian de Witt, head of financial planning at advisory firm NMG Benefits, shares five critical risks retirees face.

#1: Liquidity risk One of the biggest challenges in retirement is maintaining a stable income, especially when markets fluctuate, De Witt says. "Liquidity risk arises when retirees need cash for daily expenses but find themselves forced to sell investments at a loss during market downturns. To avoid this, it is important to maintain a portfolio with a Money Market or Income Fund that can weather temporary market dips without affecting long-term investments."

#2: Inflation risk Inflation eats away at purchasing power over time, making it essential for retirement income to grow beyond the inflation rate, especially after taxes and fees, he warns.