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

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

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.   Click Here

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. Click Here to Read Full Article

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

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. Click Here to Read Full Article

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

Did you know that “Older Americans are working longer and claiming their Social Security benefits later, new research from the Social Security Administration shows.” This week’s article reminded me that sometimes individuals work longer solely because their savings are insufficient to carry them through a longer period of retirement. Call us if you are reflecting on your savings and searching for options that will provide an income you can’t outlive. We may have some ideas you have not considered, and we’re always here to help you. Click Here to Read Full Article