Dec 9, 2014 Retirement Planning Doesn’t Need To Be Scary

Retirement Planning is one of those things that everyone knows they should do, but many fall short in the taking action. This is usually because they simply don’t know where to start. That’s a reasonable concern, but it’s really just a matter of having a framework of understanding as to what comprehensive retirement planning entails.

There are six areas that we should all address:

Current Cash Flow

Money is the fuel that drives any economy, and your family finances is an economy, even if yours is a family of one. As you’ll see when you read on, retirement planning involves some commitment of funds. So the appropriate first step is to know where you’re starting from by creating a cash flow statement. This is simply a list of income sources and expenditures.

Debt Management

If your cash flow statement revealed that you have limited discretionary income, at least part of the problem is probably excessive debt. If that’s the case, don’t despair. With a plan, and a little discipline, you can pay down your debt much quicker than you might think. One great resource is PowerPay.org, a free website that was created by Utah State University to help debtors become savers.

Emergency Preparedness

Something that can get people in financial difficulty very quickly is the unexpected expense. Whether it’s the need for a new range, an emergency car repair, or some other large unexpected expense, these can be devastating unless they’re planned for. What that requires is the creation of an emergency fund that is set aside for the sole purpose of paying for unexpected necessities. A good rule of thumb is to have enough saved to cover six months of normal living expenses. And, when money is taken out to cover something, the fund should be replenished as quickly as possible.

Risk Protection

Most people have adequate risk protection (aka. insurance) on their house, car, and health – usually because they’re forced to by a lending institution or the government. But many people are not adequately covered for their life. Often that’s because they see life insurance as a way to leave their families rich in the event of their death. But that’s not how life insurance should be viewed. Rather, it should be viewed as a means to create a pot of money that will enable the surviving family to generate an ongoing income that replaces the income lost due to the death of a bread winner.

Savings and Investments

This is the fun part. This is where the steps designed to help get your financial house in order begin to pay dividends – literally. By implementing and following a customized savings and investment plan, you are creating a pot of money that will enable you to live the kind of retirement lifestyle you want off the interest earned by that pot of money.

Estate Preservation

This component is often overlooked by people planning for retirement. After all, if you’re leaving an estate, that means you’re dead and no longer need the money, right? But failing to adequately plan your estate will cause your heirs to have to pay a substantial percentage of whatever you leave to the I.R.S. Not a very attractive alternative, is it? The fact is, even if you think your estate will be modest, you should consult with an estate planning specialist. Not only can they help you avoid excessive estate taxes, they can also advise you on ways to grow your estate and maximize your monetary legacy.

How you might apply the steps we’ve discussed above will depend on your current age, and a variety of other factors. When creating your retirement plan, you should always seek the help of a qualified professional.

Company News

Employee Spotlight – Jacqueline Cremen

Shreds and Meds Day – October 28th at The Valley Mall

Employee Spotlight: Chelsie Smith

Employee Spotlight: Dirk Bernd

Congratulations, Gunnar!

Market Commentary

2023 4th Quarter Investment Commentary

2023 3rd Quarter Investment Commentary

2023 2nd Quarter Investment Commentary

Debt Ceiling: Should Investors Worry?

2023 1st Quarter Investment Commentary

Retirement Planning

2024 Key Financial Changes

Social Security Benefit Increase of 3.2% for 2024

The 4 Changes from SECURE Act 2.0 You Should Know for 2023

Medicare Open Enrollment for 2023 Begins October 15th

Social Security Benefit Increase of 8.7% for 2023

Tax Planning

2024 Key Financial Changes

2023 1099 Release Information

2023 Year-End Tax Planning

When do I start my Required Minimum Distribution?

UPDATE: Washington State Long Term Care Payroll Tax

Cyber Security

Red Flags When Transferring Money

Cybersecurity 101 – 2022 Update

Cybersecurity 101

New Changes to Web-Portal Password Requirements

Equifax Data Breach Update: Make a claim today

Important Disclosures

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