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Retirement Income Tips

A lot goes into retirement income planning. You have to estimate how much you’re going to spend years from now, when sometimes it’s difficult to know what you’re going to spend this year. Cars break down. The roof leaks. The furnace needs to be replaced. Life is a cornucopia of who-knows-what will happen next.

In addition to knowing what you’ll need once the paychecks stop coming in, you’ll need to consider what tax bracket you’ll be in. You’ll need to project how your assets will fare from now until and through retirement. Yet if there’s one thing we know, it’s that we can’t predict the markets and we can’t rely on historical performance to repeat itself.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Winging It in Retirement?” at The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Jan. 22, 2015.]

Then there’s the issue of health. Some people are fortunate and suffer only the minor aches and pains of getting older. Others develop more serious chronic conditions, both mental and physical. Taking screening tests and conducting a comprehensive family history can help spot genetic predispositions to certain conditions. But even then, some people who are predisposed go unscathed, while others with no genetic markers acquire some unsuspecting ailment that changes their retirement plans.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Careful planning can ease retirement’s health costs,” at CNBC, Jan. 20, 2015.]

This income planning process for retirement can seem bleak, but perhaps it’s only a matter of approach.

Remember when you saved for your first car, or your first home? Even just saving for a deposit, first and last month’s rent before you could move into your first apartment may have seemed insurmountable. But you did it, eventually, and it felt great. Like freedom. Life was yours for the taking, and you were in control.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “‘Intergenerational’ retirement home sees students live alongside the elderly,” at CTV News (Canada), Dec. 7, 2014.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “What to Know about Money and Work by 50, 60, 70,” at NextAvenue.org, Jan. 6, 2015.]

You can approach retirement income planning in a similar way. It’s just another one of life’s great adventures, and the more you focus on the strategy, the more in control you may feel. Regardless of market volatility, job insecurity, emergency expenses and health concerns, the more you prepare for unexpected adverse events, the more contingency options may be available to you. Like so many other things in life, some variables you can control better than others.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Retirement planning isn’t just about the money,” at CNBC, Jan. 21, 2015.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Plan for a Long Life When Saving for Retirement,” at Kiplinger, February 2015.]

It’s important to plan for the long term through healthy choices. In this way, retirement income planning is similar to lifestyle choices. Let us help you devise a strategy designed to support your unique situation.

Our firm assists retirees and pre-retirees in the creation of retirement strategies utilizing insurance products. Our firm is not permitted to offer, and no statement contained herein shall constitute, tax, legal or accounting advice. Be sure to speak with qualified professionals before making any decisions about your personal situation. Our firm is not affiliated with the U.S. government or any governmental agency.

This content is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided by third parties and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.

If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.  www.resourcecenterinc.com

Bruce Porter

AE02155011

Alternatives to CD's and Money Market Accounts

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Alternatives to CD’s and Money Market Accounts

This is a great financial market if you are buying something.  Interest rates are at all time lows.  Cars can be bought with 0% financing and home loans can be had in the 2’s!  This is great news for people in the market for new stuff.  For people looking to get a good return on their investments, however, times are tough.  Lots of you have money in the bank.  Whether it be in CD’s, money market accounts or even checking and savings accounts, these low interest rates aren’t doing you any favors.  So the million dollar question is, what do you do with your money? 

When we start talking about investing or retirement planning, there are many options out there.  There are qualified and non-qualified accounts like 401(k)’s, IRA’s, annuities, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.  The problem is choosing the right option for you.  This can be a daunting task, even for an experienced investor.

You probably hear brokers telling you to invest in stocks and bonds and your insurance guy trying to sell you annuities or cash value life insurance.  The real answer is, it depends.  It depends on your goals and objectives.  These things are just tools.  If you use the right tool for the right job then you will make headway.  If not, you will just be spinning your wheels.  Would you use a ratchet to drive a nail? 

Start by assessing your risk tolerance.  If you are in your 20’s 30’s or 40’s you can stand to take a little more risk with your money.  If you are retired or retiring soon, you need to protect your principle investment and focus on guaranteed growth and income. 

What you want to do is talk to a financial planning expert that has access to all of the tools out there.  Insurance guys can’t do stocks, bonds and mutual funds and brokers can show you the guarantees backed by the claims paying abilities of insurance companies.  Most investors would benefit the greatest by someone who can offer you both.  That’s where we come in.  We can offer you brokerage and insurance products in a combined attack to maximize your investments for retirement.

Don’t settle for 1% or 2% growth on your money you have in CD’s and money markets.  It doesn’t make sense.  There are higher guaranteed rates out there that can be had without sacrificing your money.

Jim Meyers

The Resource Center

417-882-1800