Category Archives : All

GET CONFIDENT

“Imagine trying to take an around-the-globe trip without looking into the details. In essence, that’s what millions of Americans do every day as they ponder retirement. They head out on the journey and hope for the best.” We believe that the best course of action is one that is planned out, planned well, and planned in advance. That task is always daunting when there are uncertainties ahead. Call us, we may have some ideas you haven’t thought about, and we’re always here to help.

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EDUCATING

We believe in educating our clients, and appreciate the frustration that can occur when conversations about retirement planning include words that may be new, or difficult to understand. Because of this we thought to give you an extensive glossary of terms that you may hear or read about in the news, along with some easy to understand explanations. We think this will help you to better understand your choices, and to ask questions that are personal to your situation. Call us, we are always here to help.

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INFLATION’S IMPACT ON YOUR INCOME

We often talk about retirement in terms of understanding what expenses will be, and then comparing that to sources of income. An additional factor in this equation for retirement that is sometimes forgotten is inflation. This week’s article tells us that “the popular measure of inflation, sometimes called headline inflation—rose by 1.9 percent in May 2017 vs. May 2016, before seasonal adjustment. Core inflation—the overall index minus the effects of price changes for food and energy—rose 1.7 percent for the 12 months ending May 2017. (Most economists prefer a year-over-year time frame and the core—not the “headline”—inflation measure.)” How will this impact on your retirement planning? Call us if you’d like to discuss this and sources of income that may help in your planning. We’re always here to help.

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SAVING WHILE PAYING OFF LOANS

Whether we are dealing with personal loans like paying off a home or car, or having discussions with family members about paying student loans, the conversation often circles back to the heart of the problem; finding ways to save money while simultaneously paying off loans. I found this week’s article interesting and thought to share it with you because it provides four suggestions for accomplishing this goal. As you speak with your loved ones about how these strategies might work in your circumstance, give us a call. We are always here to help you navigate the road to better achieving your objectives.

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AT LEAST ONCE

“While a whopping 94 percent of Americans currently give themselves a passing grade on retirement, a third of them have confessed to stopping retirement savings at least once”, according to a new report cited in this week’s article. Stopping savings can happen for a variety of reasons ranging from loss of a job and income to added unexpected expenses. Because these events can also happen in retirement where income that is not derived from guaranteed investments declines, or health care costs go up, it is best to plan for these bumps in the road. Call us, we may have some choices you can select from to help you have an income you can rely on, and an income that will survive a bump in the road. We are always here to help.

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RIGHT OR WRONG ONE FOR YOU?

The editor of this week’s article wrote that “An annuity can be a very smart retirement investment for many people. That’s not just because an annuity can provide a secure revenue stream — a monthly check — for the rest of your life, no matter how long you live. On top of that, the longer you live, the more you get what’s called a “mortality credit” as you outlive other people who bought into the annuity. The income gain from that can be many times greater than any other secure investment you’re likely to find.” To help explain the different types of annuities, the editor called on an economist from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School to give some pointers to help understand what might be the right, or wrong one for you, including differentiating between a fixed and variable annuity. Take a look at what he said. We think you will find it of interest when you reflect on what your goals are.

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NOW THAT IT IS MAY

Now that it is May and tax season is behind us, it may be a good time to reassess how retirement has impacted or will impact your living expenses. This week I thought to share with you a chart that may help you with this assessment. “Your living expenses may increase or decrease at retirement but will likely not stay the same.” You can use this calculator to help compare living expenses that you have now to the day that you will retire. This may help you to plan your savings requirements accordingly. Call us if you need help in doing this analysis. We’re always here for you.

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CHOICES

This week’s article discusses the situation when a company offers to cash out the pensions of certain retirees and former employees and instead give them a lump-sum payment. In the past we have discussed the difficulty in being confronted with this type of situation. “For most retirees, a guaranteed stream of income for life is a better option than a lump sum.” But these types of situations require a thorough talking through to ensure that you are making the best possible choice from among your options. Call us if you find yourself trying to evaluate this or a similar situation. We are always here to help.
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PREDICTABLE INCOME

A common concern when planning for retirement is the difficulty in knowing exactly how much income the retiree will have, and how long that income will last. It is also sometimes difficult to understand how different products work. Because retirees often choose to purchase an annuity with a guaranteed lifetime income to help them with this part of their retirement planning, I thought to share with you a short video that “breaks down the guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit that provides predictable income in retirement.” After you have watched it, call us with any questions you may have. We’re always here to help.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

From time to time we come across publications that are beneficial for anyone owning or thinking of owning an annuity to have. This week’s publication is a glossary of terms that are often used when discussing this particular type of product, and it is in a form that is easy to print out and reference in the future. We thought to share it in order to better enable you to have a clear understanding of your options as you plan for your retirement. It is important to make independent decisions about what options are best for you, and without a clear understanding of the meaning of words describing certain product features that may be difficult to do. Take a look and let us know if you have any questions. We are always here to help.

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