This week’s article tells us that “A new study has found that one difficulty workers saving for retirement have in judging whether they’re on track is that they could be under the “illusion of wealth” or, conversely, under the “illusion of poverty.” The study, “The Illusion of Wealth and Its Reversal,” published in the Journal of Marketing Research, found that the format in which information is presented affects an individual’s perception of wealth (or poverty).” We thought you might be interested in this study, and why individuals fall into one category or the other. Call us once you’ve had a chance to rethink where you might be in this spectrum. We are always here to offer out options you may not have considered to help you get where you would like to be in your retirement planning.
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QUESTIONS TO ASK
We always enjoy finding articles that help you to make good decisions for your financial future. This week’s article is one of those as it suggests some questions to ask that help determine what a good choice might be for you. “Indexed annuities offer a unique and attractive blend of safety, growth potential, tax advantages, lifetime income and liquidity” and it is important when you make your decision of which Annuity to purchase, to ask the right questions. Take a look at this week’s article. We think you will find it informative. Call us if you would like help in finding the answers to any of your questions. We’re always here to help.
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HOW OFTEN?
If you have ever wondered how often you should review your annuity portfolio, this week’s article tells us it should be done “as often as you would your other investments”. This is one of the reasons we invite clients for an annual review. Major changes such as a serious illness, stopping work, or health issues can have an impact on your financial planning. We look to help you make the right choices for where you are in your life, knowing that the only constant is change itself. So call us, we’re always here to help you get your bearing, and determine what might work best in a changed situation.
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BRIDGE THE GAP
I wasn’t really surprised to read in this week’s article that “When it comes to savings, the gender gap is huge. A recent study indicated that women have 50% lower savings than their male counterparts.” The amount and timing of our savings is dependent on so many factors, some of which we can control and many we cannot. This makes the idea of a looming retirement all the more scary. How can we possibly tuck away enough to totally live on for when we are not employed, if we have difficulty finding extra money when we are working? These and other questions are topics we frequently discuss. Call us if you have retirement savings concerns you are trying to find solutions for. We are always here to help.
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RETIREMENT READY QUIZ
From time to time clients will ask me about on-line tools they can use to help analyze and judge their preparations for retirement. Sometimes it is beneficial to insert various figures into an analysis and get a better idea about where you fall in terms of your income needs for the future. This week I thought to provide you with one such tool. Call us when you’ve had a chance to see where you are in your current retirement planning. We can suggest some options to increase your retirement income that you may not have thought about. We’re always here to help.
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HIGH TECH OR HIGH TOUCH
This week’s article reminds us that “While high-tech solutions offer tremendous convenience, some things are still much better when they are high-touch. One of these things is retirement planning and creating a financial plan for the future. There are many options and components available when you are building your retirement plan, and professional guidance on how these components can work together can make a significant impact on what your future values will be.” We are always here to provide you with professional assistance in your search for retirement income solutions. Call us, we are here to help.
BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS
This week’s article begins with a thought we have often discussed; “Annuities have long been the basic building blocks of the U.S. retirement income system.” Economists generally agree that many retirees would benefit if they annuitized at least some of their retirement savings. Call us if you would like to see how this fits into your retirement planning and if we have some options that might work well for you. We’re always here to help.
GROWTH POTENTIAL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PRINCIPAL PROTECTION
I found this week’s article timely as the markets rise and dip. This week’s article says that “Fixed Indexed Annuities combine the stability and guarantees of a fixed product with growth potential based on the performance of an underlying securities index such as the S&P 500.” I liked how the author weighed in with his explanation that while not invested directly in securities, clients can receive higher interest credits if the index increases, but more importantly they “are protected from market losses by a guaranteed minimum interest rate or “floor”. Call us if you’d like to understand these concepts and this type of product better. We are here to help you feel good about where you put your hard earned and needed retirement savings.
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ADVANTAGES
With President’s weekend fast approaching, we can’t help but think more about helping those veterans amongst us. This week’s article states that “Veterans preparing for retirement may purchase annuities to supplement their military benefits and future benefits like Social Security and pension payments. Annuity income provides tax advantages, a consistent and guaranteed stream of money and hedges the risk of running out of money late in life.” You don’t need to be a veteran to receive these advantages. Call us to discuss options that may be available for you. We’re always here to help.
OLDER COUPLES BOTH EMPLOYED
I don’t know about you, but I have often wondered if in the end it really makes a difference, when all is said and done, if both spouses worked prior to entering retirement. I read a study that I thought to share with you this week that discussed this issue and “ analyzed the effects of job loss, changes in wealth and changes in expectations”. As we enter retirement, whether as a couple or single, it is important to have income we can count on, and income that we know will last the rest of our lives. That is what we do; we introduce you to options that enable those entering retirement to gain the peace of mind knowing that they have an income they can count on. Regardless if they worked prior to entering retirement. Call us. We’re here to talk to you about these options.
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