Retirement and Retirement Planning Articles

The Automatic Rule Start saving money today. Even if it’s only a buck or two each pay period, savings is a habit you must start and stick with for the rest of your life. To improve your chance of savings success, automate the process. Have money withdrawn automatically from your paycheck or directly from your checking account each month. If you don’t want to think about saving, automation can take care of it for you. The 1% Rule At a minimum save 1% of your earnings each payroll period.

Like each one of us, aged people also have their share of banking and financing needs. Hassel free and convenient banking is all we want and senior citizens are no exception. Their financial needs differ from the other age groups and thus they need dedicated banking solutions. Senior citizen bank accounts are therefore here to make financial life simple and easy. Post retirement financial issues are required to be handled with care, the financial institutions have understood

In today’s economy, many people are still losing 40 to 60 percent of their 401Ks and IRAs due to the market’s volatility. As a result, older Americans are delaying retirement, or they’re struggling to make ends meet in what was supposed to be their “golden years.” For the millions of retirees or soon-to-be-retired folks who are feeling the pinch, their options for a financial rebound are limited. But if you’re younger (in the 35 to 54 age range), you can take steps today so y

Networking is a requirement if you have your own business. I mean, it's not a law in the legal sense, but it almost should be. Here is Secret #1: Be consistent. Your networking needs to be consistent. That means you have several groups that you attend on a regular basis. It may be tempting to only go network when you have a new product or service you want to promote but that will backfire on you. Others may notice that you only show up when you are selling something.

I have this phenomenon that has been going around in my head and heart for the last few months. I want my business to be simpler. As may be true for you, I have been through stages in my business where I have been too stressed, too overwhelmed and too exhausted. I was working too hard and often felt I was just spinning my wheels and not really moving forward in spite of all my hard work. As my business has grown I have realized I needed to make things work more smoothly and easily.

Pensions are usually comparable to investing cash for yourself to expend when the right time comes when you no longer work. When the annuity matures, married couples or individuals will be capable of enjoying what they set aside dearly. Beginning a marital life requires taking a lot of essential steps. Both spouses may previously have their personal accounts prior to marriage that they without help worked for and they must decide whether to combine their accounts or split the

I recently read 'The Gift of a Year' by Mira Kirshenbaum. Its subtitle is: 'How to achieve the most meaningful, satisfying and pleasurable year of your life'.

There are many myths abroad about retirement, and many people who continue to believe them are being held back from fully enjoying the second phase of their lives. To help you avoid holding on to these detrimental myths, I’d like to offer my take on five more of the most widely held retirement myths. Myth #6: Once I retire, I’ll never work again. For the baby boomer generation, and for many of the previous generation, this will not be true. Retirees work for one of three mai

It hardly seems possible that it's almost mid-September. I don't think I really was paying much attention until all the stores are selling school supplies, and then I took notice. School? Already? Yup, our street will be really quiet with all the kiddos back in class. That also means everyone starts thinking about fall. And when you think about fall you think it's time to really get cracking and get back to work on your business.

In 2010, 43% of the workforce have no more than $10,000 in retirement savings. People are claiming to have valid arguments for not having a sufficient amount of retirement savings. There are some who are saying they are still eliminating personal financial debt with high interest rates; others say that they are dealing with house payments or the kids are still in the university or college. There isn't any limit to what excises they claim to have. However, no matter how reason

I read a lot about the lives of women after 50. Being one myself and even though I am a business coach, clearly there are other things going on for us. One of them is our retirement. It's frightening out there and most women do not feel confident. How are you going to support yourself in your older years? One very sad statistic is that 50% of women fear becoming a 'bag ladies'. That's half of all women!! And yet, another statistic says women control a larger share of personal wealth in the U.S. than ever before by 66%.

Economists say that 4 factors converged to cause the conditions of the financial collapse: nn-- low interest rates and easy credit; -- deregulation since the 1970s and lax regulation under the Bush Administration; -- bank and mortgage dealers aggressively pushing housing loans to unqualified ...

When most seniors ask, “How does a reverse mortgage work?” they are really asking how to apply and qualify for a loan. For many seniors, qualifying is the simple part. To qualify for a federally-insured reverse mortgage, or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, seniors must be 62 years of age, own an approved property, complete counseling and have a substantial amount of equity in their home. To understand how does a reverse mortgage work, seniors must also understand what occ

Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable some people get when the subject of money is brought up? Probably one of the most awkward questions you could ask someone is "How much money do you make?" At least that was how I was raised. You just didn't talk about it. It was rude. It was a secret that you kept to yourself. Is that how is it was in your house? Now, truth be told, I don't go around asking people how much they make. But there are a lot of people who are very open about this topic.

Introduction: It is any person’s dream to live his retirement years in comfort and peace. But with the economic crisis we’re facing right now, purchasing long-term care insurance seems to be a bit of a challenge. To help you deal with this task, here are a few doable tips that may prove to be valuable. Dos: 1. Plan early. You know we’ll all get there --- the years when we need someone to do the bathing and even the clothing for us. And to make sure that your retirement years

Poor titles will keep you poor. Now, that's a pretty powerful statement isn't it? It really doesn't matter how good you are, the first thing that people read or hear is your title. It will immediately get them to click to get more information or they will simply delete. You might have the greatest program or product around; you might be so passionate to help people and have the best signature system, but if they don't get past the title it hardly matters.

My motto is Simple & Elegant and I try to run my business that way, as well as my life. It can be very frightening starting an on-line coaching business, or any business for that matter. But please don't let that get in your way. Sure, there are steps you need to take but if you do them one at a time, sure enough you will have a business. Some basic suggestions:

In the last blog post, we talked about making a complete list of all of the achievements of your life and putting it on paper. Hopefully you have done that and taken the time to relax and enjoy all that you have accomplished. Did you ever stop to think how much you have achieved? It feels good, right? Now, let’s talk about how you can use this list when thinking about your transition into the new phase of your life called retirement. The first way is to simply remember how gr

I thought it wise to share with you what a financial planner actually does, because in my experience most people either have misconceptions or just don't know.

A Virtual Retreat is a vehicle for helping your business reach new financial gains. I have done many and just love the ease and the transformations that can occur in a short period of time, as well as generating income. These VIP Days are wonderful when people don't want to travel due to expense, family responsibilities or simply because traveling can be so frustrating these days. There are 2 different designs that I use for my Virtual Retreat Days: Design #1: 1-1 VIP Virtual Retreat Dayrnr

Are you dreaming of a happy retirement? Would it be fun to retire young, when you can do many things? Imagine how great it is to retire young and at the same time healthy, think about if you could go to nice places and relax and spend your whole time with your family and friends. That is the happy retirement ever right? If you can dream it, you can achieve it! That’s what they say. Happy retirement is possible provided you know how to prepare for retirement. In retirement pla

Undoubtedly, you are a very busy person with a lot of structure in every day. You wake up with a plan for the day, check email, voice mail and probably social media. You read the news, you eat breakfast (sometimes on the way to work) and you arrive at work at basically the same time every day. You work; you come home and do the things that need to get done to keep your life and the lives of your family on track. You are basically structured down to the minute. Keeping some (b

Many don't know this, but if you are currently participating in an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as your 401(k) plan, you may not have to keep all your retirement savings locked in the employer plan and wait until you change jobs or retire to rollover your funds into an IRA. On the contrary, you may be allowed to take an in-service distribution and roll over your retirement funds from your current employer-sponsored plan to an IRA. There are many benefits to an in-s

Many consumers think of lenders as the enemy. They are the ones charging expensive fees, giving borrowers high interest rates and, when it comes to reverse mortgages, taking advantage of seniors. Fortunately, this could not be farther from the truth. rnReverse mortgage lenders are a senior’s greatest ally. A great lender acts as a borrower’s guide. Reputable lenders help seniors choose a loan product, select a payment option and ensure that a reverse mortgage is in their

Figuring out how much you need to live off of after you retire is tricky business. You can't overdo your retirement budget to the point where it prevents you from enjoying your present lifestyle, but you also can't save less because then you won't have enough money to enjoy your retirement. Importance of Creating a Retirement Budget Plan Creating a working budget will offer some much needed perspective on that important question. You will find that expenditures don't change m

Question: This stock market is nuts! How am I supposed to protect my IRA from losing money when I’ve only got three years until I retire? Joan, NY Answer: Joan, as I mentioned in my last post, a few years before retiring you should begin to accumulate an amount of money that's equivalent to 2-5 years worth of cash withdrawals (based upon your expected income needs).

Question: Do I need $1 million to retire comfortably? Answer: Imagine a world free of alarm clocks, bosses, long commutes, office politics and limited vacation time. Wouldn’t it be nice to call the shots, spend more time with your family and friends, doing only those things that you’re ...

How would you describe your home office? Neat, tidy and organized? Chaos? I can honestly say my home office is often less than stellar. It's a project I am working on as I write this to you. I don't care how long this takes me; I am going to create my home office to be a place I really want to be in for however many hours a day. How much time do you waste just looking for something? You know you have it on your desk somewhere, right? Here are some tips to help you:

Did you notice the Christmas decorations going up on Halloween? Did a chill run down your spine? The holiday season seems to be getting longer and longer and shorter. Yes, shorter. Look at the expectations this season puts on you. Fifty five days are nowhere near enough to achieve Countessa ...

Life after retirement is a phase that tends to take an entirely new meaning. It can be fun to indulge in activities that previously one never had the time for, and also devote time to one's family. However, many retirees may feel that they are burdens on their working children, which is why they often choose to move to a retirement home. The home for seniors should be able to provide round the clock medical assistance and personal care, to ensure good health for them. Such ho

The choices we make in life and how we react to events is a major factor in our happiness. In this regard, there are two types of people, those who act from a position of empowerment and those who take a passive stance. Empowered people take responsibility for their choices and act accordingly. ...

Thinking about your retirement lifestyle can be a daunting experience at first. Imagining what your life will be like after retirement is filled with unknowns. Even people with great self-confidence or self-assurance can find that the thought of life after retirement creates uneasiness or even anxiety. If you are a Baby Boomer, you are probably beginning to think about what your life will be like after retirement. Easing anxiety is a matter of preparing for retirement in way

When I was growing up as a child and adolescent I was pretty competitive. I was a gymnast, a swimmer and snow skier and water skier. We were in teams of course, but individually we were competitive. As a team we collaborated. My own daughters grew up the same way with soccer, tennis, swim team and a variety of other team sports. None of us is cut throat of course, but we like to win. I still like to win! This is where how we live our lives and how we run our businesses take a different path.

If this is you, you are certainly not alone. I am an extrovert and I don't relish the thought of networking events either! I love being around lots of people, but networking is like a party with a purpose. The purpose is to meet new people or connect with those you already know. You might go there looking for a new client or looking for someone you might want to joint venture with. Let's go back to the title of this article and the word 'should'. You know you 'should' go to networking events but why? • It gets you out of your home officernr

Retirement living homes of today are not like traditional old age homes. Earlier, an old age home would often be the last place of residence than any old person would consider. Many amenities and comforts of modern homes would be missing in such places, but not any more. Retired persons can easily be moved to modern retirement homes, to give them a stress-free future life. 24 hours medical assistance is essential for any old persons. Additionally, personal care is also provid

Seniors seeking reverse mortgage information will quickly notice that these loans are highly flexible. Not only do seniors get to choose from different loan products and interest rates, but they also get to choose a payment option. Currently, Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) offer three primary payout options. Seniors may choose to receive their loan proceeds in one upfront sum, in monthly installments or as a line of credit. Seniors who find it difficult to choose on

You have probably heard the statistics and they aren't pretty. If you read the numbers that the U.S. Government Small Business Administration's website states it says that 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years. You might have come out of another employment situation and are ready to venture out on your own, or you may have been out of the working arena and are thinking about getting back in. Whatever your situation, do your due diligence. Even if you have had your business for awhile, be sure to read this carefully and make changes if need be.

CMS Reminds Medicare Beneficiaries to Review and Compare Their Current Drug Coverage. On September 25, 2008, CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems announced the 2009 Medicare prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plan options for those of us enrolled in Medicare. Almost 97% of beneficiaries ...

How are you at setting goals for yourself? You all know how important goal setting is. At least I assume you do! But there is one part in that you set goals for yourself, personal and professional. And then there is that other piece which is the tough part and that is following through and actually doing what you 'said' you would do! The one thing that I learned many years ago is the importance of breaking the goal down into small chunks. So often we set lofty goals for ourselves then get overwhelmed because they seem HUGE.

Where should your money be today? If you're wondering when the economic tide will finally turn, you're not alone. But one thing is certain. Eventually, things will turn around. In the meantime, the question remains where to put your money (and where not to put it) to keep it safe, until the economy improves. Right now, making wise investment decisions is more important than ever, yet wise choices are difficult to come by in our current challenging situation.nnNone of the usua

What is your tradition for family meals during the holidays? Do you have one? I bring this up because, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 23 years in private practice, I've heard it all: from great times to grim times. When you think of gathering everyone together, do you cringe? I am happy to say I actually love it. I love having as many people as possible. I start planning at least a month in advance, gathering recipes, decorating the house and just getting excited to get everyone together.

I know you can't be a woman 'of a certain age' which is who I generally write for, and have never been stuck. This can be a time when you were stuck in your life or stuck in your business. Even the word 'stuck' has that 'uck' factor. Yuck. Muck. It happens to everyone. I don't know a person in the world that hasn't been to that place.

Why? -Because you need to. -Because the statistics are very grim, very scary. -You live 5 years on average, longer than men. -You make less money than men, overall. -You are much more likely to be poor. -Most of the residents in nursing homes are women. I know you have heard these stats. I talk about them all the time and so do many others. So, what are you going to do about it? You certainly can't leave it in the hands of someone else. At least, that is my personal opinion.

How can someone create their own retirement plan? When I say create your own retirement pla I mean making use of all the retirement options available to all people. It is time to depend on your own resources instead of just the government or your employer for your retirement income. Use All Three Income Options Too many good people only depend on Social Security as their sole income source when they retire. For many the amount will be lower than what they earned while they

You all know that networking is an extremely important part of owning your own business. That said, it doesn't mean you relish the thought of doing so. It means getting dressed and looking nice so you make a good impression on people. You have maybe 10 seconds to make an impression and if it's a bad one?? It's hard to do a Do Over. I was at a conference a few years ago and a very successful 7 figure coach was there. In her pictures she looked great. But in person? Oh Dear.

Recently, a friend asked me whether I was worried about the current financial meltdown in the U.S. and what I was going to invest in. I asked him, "How crazy do you want to get?" I have been a pessimist about the U.S. financial markets for several years for many, many reasons. The truth is ...

Does that sound pie in the sky to you? Does that make me sound like I don't live in the real world of business? Trust me I do, after 25 years of working for myself, this has become more and more clear to me. Even as a therapist in private practice, it was a competitive world. In the world of coaching competition takes on a whole new outlook. If I really think about it most of my 'competiveness' comes from competing with myself. Can I do better at this than I did before? How can I make this program better than the last? How can I make more money than I did last year?

As a Baby Boomer, you are probably thinking about your retirement. Whether you plan to take early retirement (or you have already done so), or you are planning for retirement from your current career at age 65 or 70, you are probably actively planning for your financial future. You should also be cultivating the 10 habits of highly effective Baby Boomers to make the rest of your life the best of your life. Mastering these ten habits will help you prepare for retirement and en

Those who invest in precious metals often like to find a steady source of the metals they want like US Gold Bureau offers them. What they are looking to do is make sure that they can keep on building their portfolios no matter what and a service like this allows them to do that quite easily. Investors who choose a service like United States Gold Bureau do tend to be savvier, on the whole, about their precious metals investments and they know just how key diversifying is to th

Question: I'm looking for more details about retirement annuities. Do they all have fees? My sister says that hers cost her nothing and they "gave" her $5,000 for putting in about $50,000. Do they do that? I keep hearing about large fees and hidden costs, but she said that she started with $110,000 and they haven't taken anything so far in the past 18 months. Has she been taken? Louise, AL nn Answer: Yup Louise, she has been taken. All annuities have expenses. The individuals