RETIREMENT
PLANNING
Chances are, you don’t want to work until the day you die. You may have envisioned your dream retirement. It may include golf courses, sipping margaritas on a beach, or perhaps even world travel. But the fact is that even a more simplistic dream of a cabin in the woods, a fishing pole, and a good book takes careful financial planning to be realized. What are your dreams? What is your plan?
“Retirement” has gone through some crazy changes over the last several decades. Years ago most expected to work most of their lives for one, maybe two employers. They would then simply retire and start collecting a pension and social security check. "Retirement planning" meant figuring out how to use your free time. Today, most likely, you will be living in retirement, at least partially, on money you, yourself, saved. "Planning" means the allocation of investments, calculating rates of return, deciphering tax rules, and figuring out annual inflation needs.
These changes equal a dramatic shift of responsibility….a responsibility that is not easy to shoulder on your own. This is where we can help.
WHAT PHASE
ARE YOU IN?
EARN
What can you do to earn more so that you can save? How are you spending what you earn? Do you have a plan?
SAVE
At this point, it’s not a question of CAN you save, but instead ARE you saving? Success during this stage is all about setting your goals then managing your spending & saving behaviors.
GROWTH
In the Growth phase, it becomes necessary to take a closer look at the portfolio itself. Are you properly invested for growth? Is there a solid and appropriate asset allocation? Are you passively or actively managed? Are costs and risks being managed well? In this phase, paying attention to the finer points of how the portfolio is invested is as important as ever.
* No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Investing involves risk including loss of principal.
MANAGE
As your retirement date gets closer, the dynamics shift again. The shortening time horizon becomes highly relevant. Suddenly, contributions and strong growth, while important, do not hold as much weight as portfolio volatility. The risk of a severe bear market in the final years (and the time it would take to recover) can substantially derail your plans. Managing your portfolio’s risk becomes critical at this point.
RETIREMENT PLANNING
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW