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How to Prepare for a Fulfilling Retirement
Tweet Share on Facebook June 29, 2012 CommentSooner or later, each of us will come to a point in our life when we cross over to join the ever-growing group of retirement-age people. Many of us will wonder how it is possible that we have become 65 years old. Hopefully the shock will be momentary, and we will get on with living.
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Good Luck Finding Investment Expertise
Tweet Share on Facebook June 28, 2012 CommentWe assume most professionals have expertise. That’s why we use them. We expect visits to our doctor to improve our health, not make it worse. When we get a new prescription from an optometrist, our vision should become clearer, and not more blurred. If I showed you peer-reviewed data indicating your health would improve, or your vision would be sharper, if you avoided doctors and optometrists, would you read it? If you were persuaded, would you follow the advice in these studies? I am confident most of you would.
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How to Invest Minimal Retirement Assets
Tweet Share on Facebook June 27, 2012 CommentAt the end of 2007, the average 401(k) balance was $64,454. The average balance at the end of 2008 had declined 22 percent to $50,274, according to the Investment Company Institute. This is obviously not good news for people nearing retirement, because 401(k) accounts hold a significant portion of many people's retirement savings. Luckily, the market has started recovering since 2009 and the average 401(k) balance has risen. But many people still wonder why their 401(k) is not performing to their expectations. Here's how to make the most of a small retirement account balance:
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5 Ways the Media Tries to Scare Retirees
Tweet Share on Facebook June 26, 2012 CommentI'm not saying you shouldn't save for retirement and live prudently. But sometimes you just have to stand back, get some perspective, and ignore all the anxious advice you get about retirement, often from people trying to push a political agenda or sell you a financial product. Here are five ways people in the media try to scare retirees:
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Retire to Panama’s Gold Coast
Tweet Share on Facebook June 26, 2012 CommentThe east coast of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula has, over the past half-dozen years, emerged as a kind of gold coast. Traveling south down the edge of the peninsula, you come to Chitre, then Los Santos, Las Tablas, Pedasi, Playa Venao, Tonosi, and, finally, Cambutal, all the way down at what feels like an end of the world.
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What's Your Real Retirement Age?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2012 CommentIn general, the normal retirement age for people born between 1943 and 1954 is 66 years old. But after you take this questionnaire and pinpoint your particular situation, you will be able to figure out the age you will be able to retire.
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3 Necessities for a Happy Retirement
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2012 CommentWhen the time is right, many people hope to move into a retirement life that is fulfilling and exciting. Some people search for relaxation away from the working world, while others have a list of things they have never done and cannot wait to get started on. Some retirees also continue working in some capacity, but perhaps in a different field or role than they have pursued in the past.
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The Hidden Dangers of Target-Date Funds
Tweet Share on Facebook June 21, 2012 CommentTarget-date retirement funds permit 401(k) investors to select one mutual fund geared to their projected date of retirement. For example, a plan participant who anticipates retiring in 2035 simply selects a target-date fund closest to that year in the fund name. The fund automatically adjusts the asset allocation between stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents, becoming more conservative over time. The appeal of these funds is the ease of selecting only one investment, leaving the work of rebalancing the portfolio up to the fund manager.
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6 Reasons to Consider Series I Bonds
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2012 CommentSeries I bonds deserve a look for almost everyone's retirement portfolio. These government bonds are guaranteed to increase in value every year at least at the rate of inflation, and each person can buy a total of up to $10,000 per year. Here are six reasons to consider investing some of your retirement savings in I Bonds:
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Euro-Chic Retirement in Latin America
Tweet Share on Facebook June 18, 2012 CommentPanama is a safe, stable, and welcoming retirement haven that’s easily accessible from the United States. The country boasts first world infrastructure, first world health care, and the world’s best retiree residency program. The sun shines year-round, and the climate is cooler in the mountains if Panama City’s heat and humidity is too much for you. And Panama uses the U.S. dollar as its currency, meaning retirees whose retirement funds are denominated in dollars face no exchange rate risk.
