Freelance Switch

Start Now, Planning for a Freelancer’s Retirement

Posted: 01 Mar 2011 04:00 AM PST

Credit: Alan Cleaver/Flickr

Retirement is a topic that freelancers shy away from. Bring it up with your fellow freelancers and you’ll probably hear at least one person proudly proclaim that they plan to work until the day that they die.

There’s a certain sense among many of us that we actually enjoy what we do. Since we don’t have a boss to drive us crazy, why would we want to ever retire?

That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t mean that there’s not a value in planning for retirement. The simple fact is that none of us know what’s in store for the future and having a little money set aside will make it easier to take a break from freelancing to play with the grand kiddies.

You can also get some benefits in the here and now from saving for retirement — like a break on your taxes. Why hand a bigger chunk of your income to the IRS than you have to?

Start Thinking About Retirement Now

Whether you’re fresh out of college or a little closer to an age at which you would like to retire, you need to start thinking about retirement today. Nora Dunn, a financial planner turned professional hobo and freelance writer, points out:

Whether you’re a freelancer or not, it pays to think about retirement sooner than later. A small amount of money invested early on in life can grow and compound into a much larger amount of money when you need it. By waiting even 10 years to start saving for retirement, the amount of money you need to save to achieve the same goals can easily triple. Freelancers have the added special consideration of an unsteady (and often unpredictable) income to manage. This makes money management and saving for retirement especially tricky, but not unmanageable.

Retirement planning requires a certain mindset — just as growing your freelance business does. Dunn suggests thinking about retirement as another financial aspect of your business. You have to plan for business growth, figure out cash flow and get your retirement savings in order in much the same way.

Look to the Pros

Saving for retirement is a fairly simple process. “It’s important to commit a percentage of your earnings to retirement savings. With a variable income though, it requires both discipline and a system,” notes Dunn.

If you systematically put away a portion of your income every month, at some point you’ll have a nice cushion for retirement. Despite the simplicity of the situation, though, it is worthwhile to at least sit down with a financial professional to look at your options. As Dunn says, “Financial planners offer up-to-date knowledge, proven methodologies to help individuals reach their financial goals, and can even provide freelancers a degree of accountability in saving their money.”

While you’re growing your freelance business, you don’t have time to study up on the benefits of all the different retirement accounts out there. Working with a financial planner is one of the easiest ways to get a clear picture of the situation, without spending time that could be better invested in your own business. You will need a financial planner to navigate these sorts of options. Your accountant may be able to show you clearly what retirement account reduces your tax bill the most, but unless he’s also well educated in financial planning, you’ll likely need a little more help.

Freelancers Need Flexibility

More so than many other professionals, freelancers need a lot of flexibility when it comes to retirement planning. A plan that requires saving a sizable amount every month just may not work with the ups and downs of a freelancer’s income. There are savings plans and retirement accounts out there that take this factor into account, letting individuals make decisions like saving a smaller amount every month and then making one large contribution at the end of the year.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Alan Cleaver

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 4, February

Posted: 28 Feb 2011 08:00 AM PST

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and come from a wide range of potential clients. The job board is hand-moderated by dedicated staff and volunteers from the freelance community.

Each week, we’ll feature a selection of the best job opportunities posted for the week. This week, we’re featuring jobs in WordPress development, web design, marketing copy writer, and more!

To apply for any of these jobs, simply pick up a FreelanceSwitch membership for an affordable $7 a month. See something you like? Join now!

Seeking TALENTED web developer

We’re working to take the premium Wordpress plug-in market by storm and we’re seeking a talented and motivated software engineer to come along for the ride. We’re building a team that is passionate about product design and simple software that is as elegant as it is user friendly. Do you love Wordpress and constantly look to improve the user experience in your projects? If that sounds like you and you crave the freedom and responsibility of a start-up environment, then we would love to talk!

Learn more & apply!

Front-End UI Developer (html/css/js/ajax)

We are a 7 year-old international retail-based company that maintains a presence in both the United States and Canada as well as several countries in Latin America. We are looking to build a potentially on-going relationship with either a local or a telecommuting “UI Demigod”. We are in the process of web-ifying many of our legacy desktop applications and intend to maintain and certainly enhance the interactive experience for our systems’ users.

We have an initial project that will require the said UI Demigod to take our Interface Wireframes and/or Layered PSD files and translate them to launch-ready, pixel-perfect, valid HTML/CSS/Javascript that will be wired to our backend functionalities. As would be expected, we have a number of aggressive deadlines, so an accomplished front-end developer with sound communication skills is all we’ll settle for

Learn more & apply!

Web Designer

We’re looking for a highly skilled & experienced designer for visual design of websites for future projects. You will be responsible for PSD designs only, no coding. You must be aware of current trends in web design and pay attention to the user experience aspect of the design. You should be able to create thoughtful, bold and inspiring visual designs intended for the web and interaction. I need someone who is an excellent communicator and a professional. Someone with excellent written skills and ability to consistently meet reasonable deadlines.

Learn more & apply!

Logo Design / Custom Branding

Outsource consultant looking for a talented freelance graphic and branding designer with primary talents in logo design and branding identity to join my outsource group. One you should have excellent design fundamentals. You should have the ability to creating custom; considered carefully crafted work. You should be able to design top of the line logos and branding an identity in a custom manner.

You should have good Photoshop and Illustrator skills and can create from scratch all custom work. Should be innovative, be able to work from a questionnaire brief and show a creative direction, focus, and custom work designed. Have interest? Provide your portfolio or link to your work, and bid per hour rate. Looking for a quality outsource design partner to work with and establish a long-term relationship.

Learn more & apply!

Content Copy / Marketing Writer

Would like to acquire a strong copy content developer. You should have a strong command of the English language, have the ability to create custom copy made to fit the branding of the website, print, and social media. Also would need the following: