3 ways delinquent debt can complicate your retirement finances

If you aren't careful, the debt problems you carry into retirement could end up breaking the bank. PM Images/Getty Images For many people, retirement marks the end of certain types of financial pressures — or that's the goal, anyway. By the time you've reached that milestone, your mortgage balance may be smaller than it once was and the daily costs associated with working or raising a family have faded into the background. But while some expenses automatically decline in retirement, others can become more difficult to manage, especially when old debts are still hanging around . That's becoming an increasingly important issue for retirees in today's economic landscape, particularly as household debt levels remain elevated and more older Americans carry debt-related balances into retirement. After all, credit card debt, personal loans, medical bills and even old student loans are no longer just concerns limited to younger borrowers. In many cases, these types of debts follow people into their retirement years, creating challenges that are difficult to address once income becomes more fixed. And while some debt can be manageable, delinquent debt is a different story . Missing payments or falling seriously behind on an account can trigger consequences that extend far beyond late fees and collection calls. …