When it comes to retirement there can be a great deal of unanswered questions for couples and individuals making the leap. So many retirement strategies and products leaves people asking themselves, where do I even begin? You can speak to a variety of different retirement planning specialists and you will most likely get a variety of different responses.
Deciphering through the myths and the facts is also an important part of securing a safe retirement for you and your family. In this video Carmen Ulrich discusses a few different strategies and goes over important retirement tips when planning out your future.
Understanding Retirement Myths
How to Work and Play with Retirement [video]
For many, retirement seems like a distant dream but for others it can be work and play if approaches correctly. The definition of retirement is something that is evolving and changing for many so if you feel it is a roller coaster ride you are certainly not alone.
In this video they discuss some different ways you can approach retirement and still keep you sanity and your health.
Unexpected Expenses You Can Expect During Retirement
When you prepare for retirement you cannot prepare for all unwanted expenses because it is simply impossible to predict what could rear its ugly head in the future. It is important to keep this in mind when you are conducting your retirement planning steps because the last thing you want is to have to eat through a chunk of your retirement funds in order to pay for unexpected expenses.
Here are some expenses that could pop up and disrupt your retirement plans:
Automotive Expenses
As long as you have a car things will eventually go wrong. A car is made out of metal and plastic and all moving parts eventually fall prey to old age. When you are entering retirement try and think about how much you will drive in conjunction to the age of your vehicle to see if it might make sense to purchase a new car that is more reliable and backed by a factory warranty.
House Expenses
House expenses fall into the same category as car expenses and it is difficult to predict. One thing you can count on is that home expenses can be much higher than a car expense leaving an even larger dent in your retirement fund. At least a home is an investment but a car is just a depreciating asset.
Health & Medical Expenses
We all get sick sooner or later which is why it is crucial you have some sort of health coverage when you are a senior looking to retire. Medical expenses can add up very quickly especially if numerous repeat visits are required for any sort of illness you might be going through.
Family Expenses
More and more people are turning towards family these days for financial help. With the economy going through explosive swings it is leaving the younger generations unstable. As the baby boomer generation starts to enter that pivotal moment in their life where they decide to exit the workforce some of their kids will be hitting them up for cash in order to survive the economy we live in today.
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Why Planning For Retirement Is More Important Now Than Ever Before
Retirement planning is something that needs to be given the proper time to mature. From day one of your plan it is important to realize that you need to be able to supply ample time in order to anticipate changes that might occur along the way. With the way things are today being safe rather than sorry is the most important motto anyone can really follow when it comes to retirement planning.
Here are 5 reasons why planning your retirement early is extremely important:
Things Change
In the crazy world of financials things change more now than ever before. If you have a plan in place you can do what you have to in order to shift gears and roll with the punches but if you are just shooting from the hip every month with your retirement planning it will be a long and slow journey to see progress.
We are not Getting Younger
Let’s face it the rat race has become fierce as we all get older and time moves quicker than ever before. With time moving so quickly waiting to plan out your retirement could lead to not having a plan at all. Typically when this happens people work until they are well into their senior years.
Rates are Low
Until you sit down with a financial planner you might not know that something like re-financing your home now to lock in a low rate might be part of the retirement plan. With rates as low as they are if you are a home owner now is the time to explore this option.
Lots of Options
For certain individuals or couples there are plenty of options when it comes to financial products. This could very well change as we enter a period of uncertainty in the finance world. What exists today might not exist tomorrow so educate yourself on the tools you have at your disposal now while they are available.
Things Take Time to Grow
A retirement account does not fill up in 2 months’ time. Having the funds to retire safely could take many years which is why putting a plan in place now rather than later is extremely important if you want to retire safely. Some people spend a better part of their life saving for retirement.
Safe Investing at the Top of Everyone’s List [video]
There is no doubt about it more and more Americans are leaning towards 100% safe investments when it comes to handling their cash. Investing in today’s financial marketplace takes safe conservative measures and if you don’t have the experience handling money leave the work for the professionals.
In this video a variety of safe investment choices are considered and discussed including immediate annuities which can bring a guaranteed stream of income for life. With the market in a see-saw motion investing your money needs to be done utilizing safe choices at all times.
The Reality Checks Surrounding Today’s Retirement
Retirement today is not what it was just a few short years ago. Things have gotten a bit more complicated and with that complication comes a community of investors looking for a safe choice when it comes to retirement income. As it stands now many baby boomers do not know how social security benefits will look when it is time for them to start collecting. Many new retirees and pre-retirees are really starting to focus on safe investments like fixed rate annuities because simply put, it is a safe investment that yields.
Here are some reality checks for those looking to retire in the near future:
The market is very volatile
If you watch the financial stock market you will know that things swing up and down almost every single day. Upward and downward swings can wreak havoc on pension funds, 401ks and overall market confidence. Someone trying to retire now could see serious fluctuations with their nest egg if unwise investment choices are made.
Retirement planning takes twice as much time
In today’s financial landscape you need to have a backup plan for your backup plan. There are many things that can go awry when approaching retirement using funds that have volatility and risk. If you are going to choose risky investments you need to have multiple plans in place in case things do not work out how they should.
Only safe investments should be made
Sure you can’t predict the outcome of a gamble but you can make safe investments during rocky times like an annuity and diminish that gamble risk to almost zero. A fixed rate annuity can give you guaranteed income for life without any fluctuations in payments due to stressful market conditions.
Investing your hard money comes with some harsh realities in today’s market place but that doesn’t mean you should be scared to have your money work for you. Safe investments like annuities are always a smart choice because that investment is guaranteed to not back fire on your portfolio. As always make sure to consult with a retirement planning specialist to ensure your money is being invested correctly.
How to Prepare For Retirement Risks [video]
The financial world is a violently volatile place to live and survive. Money matters change from day to day and you really can’t prepare enough anymore for the future of your well-being. Regardless of your retirement situation preparing for all possible risks is important.
Inflation impacts us all but those who plan on living on a certain amount of retirement funds are the most vulnerable. Most of us cannot prepare for rising prices but we can make lifestyle adjustments to soften the blow. One way to take the risk out of retirement equation is to invest in a fixed rate annuity where you will have the privilege of knowing exactly how much you will get every single month so you can make the proper adjustments in order to keep things moving along.
How to Stay Healthy During Retirement
When a person or couple enters their retirement years they are going to do one of two things, stay busy or relax. Either way you look at it you have to stay healthy and active when in retirement to keep the joints moving and muscles flexing well into your later years of living, especially if you want to be able to take care of yourself well into retirement. If you have purchased an annuity you are going to want to stretch those payments out as long as possible which require staying healthy and fit.
Here are some ways to stay healthy during retirement:
Go On Frequent Walks
Taking a walk in the early morning or later afternoon can do wonders on the heart. The heart requires exercise in order for it to continue pumping blood throughout the body long term. Exercise is going to be an important part of your daily regime if you want to stay healthy.
Eat Well
Eating well does not require spending extra money on organic foods. One of the best approaches you can take is to leave your grocery shopping to the outer edges of the grocery store. This is where the healthiest foods are present. Everything from fresh meat, veggies and fish can be found on the outer edges of the grocery store where the inside aisles contain endless amounts of empty carbohydrates and over processed snacks.
Active Hobbies
Having any hobby during your retirement years is a great thing to do but having one that requires frequent movement is even better. Things like cycling; golfing and fly fishing can give a retiree some great exercise without even knowing they are doing it. Not to mention killing two birds with stone at the same time is always great.
Exercise the Mind
It isn’t all just about being physically active. You can exercise the mind as well as the body. Believe it or not efforts like consistent reading and playing crosswords can help the mind stay sharp and agile which is just as important as keeping the heart pumping strong with physical activities.
Why Leaving Your Money in A 401K could be Disastrous to Your Retirement [video]
These days leaving your retirement money in a 401k is a lot like playing Russian roulette, you just don’t know how things are going to turn out for you financially. It has been a rocky few years for 401k programs with the vast amount of market fluctuations occurring people have felt like they are on a roller coaster ride. With that said a 401k is an amazing tool to control your savings but once you decide to retire or leave your place of work it is important to re-think how that many is invested.
Our recommendation, a fixed rate guaranteed income annuity program. In this 60 Minute special they uncover the harsh realities surrounding the modern day 401k program and what it can mean for your retirement plans.
Want A Safe Investment? Try Out a Fixed Rate Annuity to Avoid Wall St. See-Saw
One day up, one day down seems to be the nature of the market in today’s financial landscape. With fluctuations like this where do you turn to for safe investments for your retirement? With the volatility of the market today many conservative investors are having a hard time finding a safe location to place their money in order for it to provide a guaranteed return on investment for the future.
A fixed rate annuity can not only give a person a safe investment option but it can also give a guaranteed monthly return that is ideal for those looking to retire or plan for retirement in the near future. Over the past few weeks Wall Street has seen unprecedented market swings causing many to re-explore their retirement planning process. Investments that might have once been deemed safe are no longer really an option.
Some of the major advantages with a fixed rate annuity are:
- Guaranteed monthly payouts regardless of market conditions
- Many Tax advantages during growth
- Peace of mind with your finances
- Guaranteed payments for life
- Guaranteed safe investment option
- Guaranteed death benefit for beneficiaries
- Tax-free transfer options
- Stress free investing
Market Volatility Video