A clever ad agency created a commercial for Nationwide Insurance about retirement planning entitled “Two Up.”1 When “retirement planning” was mentioned by a couple at breakfast, they leapt into action cleaning the oven, cleaning the gutters, washing the family pets, eventually pressure washing the roses & pretending to aerate the lawn. The commercial is effective because it is based in reality. […]
According to goodreads.com, it was Benjamin Franklin who first stated, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”1 An online article by the State of Indiana, attributes Winston Churchill with the words “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.”2 Whoever actually coined the phrase, the necessity to plan for one’s retirement should be a given. When do I […]
The American College of Financial Services posted a video, “The Secret To Happiness in Retirement,” to YouTube on November 2, 2016. The premise is that a lifetime income is indeed the key to retirement happiness. David A. Littell, JC, ChFC and author Tom Henga make their case based upon various studies of retirees around the world. “Study after study after study has […]
A number of years ago, I discovered relatives (for whom I had been appointed power of attorney) had been the victims of elder abuse. Prior to the death of my mother, her youngest sister and husband asked me to accept the responsibility when it became necessary. In a strange set of events, I learned the people they hired to care […]
Whatever vision we may have about retirement, confidence is certainly a part of it. Whether we have a vision of traveling to romantic cities on multiple continents or a plan to work in some fashion other than our current employment, almost everyone includes a solid footing. No one I know envisions a retirement footing like that of Wiley Coyote after he […]
This is certainly one of the prevailing questions following the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America. The actual question investors are asking is, “What should I do now?” In Particular, Baby Boomers who have retired, or are nearing retirement, want someone to guide their actions in order to maximize funds. Having so […]
Every Baby Boomer will certainly remember the iconic Andy Griffith Show. In December of 1961, “The Pickle Story” aired about Aunt Bea’s consistent failure in making pickles. Though she tried each year to follow the recipe, she annually produced quarts not of delectable pickles, but of “kerosene cucumbers!” Unfortunately, the same scenario often plays out with our […]
Is the Social Security system stable in the future? Will Social Security be there when I reach retirement age? These are some of the questions younger generations ask about Social Security. In response, some say the system is broken, actuarily unsound, requiring an overhaul. Others claim the various elements of the Social Security Administration are basically solid, needing only minor modifications […]
There are many issues that have the ability to cause real damage to any retirement planning effort. Having no control over our spending habits is a primary issue. A debilitating illness requiring a lengthy treatment or recovery process is another significant hurdle. Certainly a factor having an impact for individuals involved in ministry, missions, or faith based non-profit efforts is an […]
How much money do I need in my retirement account? The better question is, “How much can I withdraw from my nest egg without running out of money?” The risk of running out of money, of out living your savings, is real. Since this is the case, many entering and nearing the retirement years are deciding to focus […]