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Retirement Planning

RMDs — Required Maximum Destruction!

Sam Liang

Sam Liang | April 18, 2016 | , , ,

I know — RMDs don’t actually stand for that. They stand for Required Minimum Distributions. Many over age 70 ½ know what they are — it’s when the IRS requires you to take a withdrawal from your IRA accounts then are taxed on it. RMDs are calculated by dividing the total balance of your IRAs, employer sponsored plans (401k, 403b, etc.), and IRA based plans (SEP, Simple IRA, etc.) at the end of the previous year by the distribution period that correlates with your current...

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The Danger of Averages

Sam Liang

Sam Liang | April 15, 2016 | ,

Math is a funny thing, especially when it comes to averages. Let me show you what I mean. Let’s assume you have $100,000. The first year it gains 10% and the second year it loses 10%. Your average return is 0%, right? We add 10, then subtract 10, then divide by 2 years. That’s an average of 0%. But, you’ve actually lost money in this scenario, and here’s how. Start with $100,000. Say you gain 10% the first year, so now you have $110,000. Then you lose 10% of the...

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Second Opinions: Are you Confident in Your Financial Plan?

Mark Melkowski

Mark Melkowski | March 28, 2016 | , ,

When my son was 10 years old, he needed heart surgery. We understood the risks to his health and the dangers associated with the procedure. So, we decided to look for a second opinion. Luckily, our doctor was very helpful and referred us to a doctor well versed in these types of surgeries. For some reason, few of us ask for second opinions on our financial situations. Most of the time, this occurs because we are friends with our financial advisor and/or we don’t want...

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Don’t Run Out of Money in Retirement

Dolph Janis

Dolph Janis | March 8, 2016 | , ,

Have you ever awoken at night and started worrying about running out of money when you’re in or entering retirement? Does the fear of losing what you have saved for retirement due to changing markets concern you? If so, you’re not alone.  A large number of baby boomers have this feeling on a daily basis. I have been working with clients for over 11 years, and these concerns are brought up in just about every meeting or conversation I have with clients. When looking at...

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The Importance of a Solid Plan for Income During Retirement

Brian Jones

Brian Jones | February 26, 2016 | , , , , ,

For most of us, it’s very important to have an income or some type of cash flow during retirement, especially if you want to enjoy your retirement years. But how do you plan for this income and where does it come from? For most of us, Social Security is the first source that comes to mind. Yes, I do believe Social Security will be around in some form or fashion for most of us as one of our retirement income sources. If you are one...

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6 Things to Consider When Buying an Annuity

Bryan Bentley

Bryan Bentley | February 11, 2016 | , , , , , ,

So, you are considering purchasing an annuity to help protect your retirement savings or to solve a concern that may not be easily addressed with other investment vehicles. Here are a few things to consider when making a decision about buying an annuity. 1. Surrender Charge Period Expressed in terms of years, the surrender charge defines how long your money must remain in the annuity before you have unrestricted access to it. With most annuities, a portion of your money is available penalty-free during the...

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Using Annuities to Combat Social Security Loss

Gary Mattson

Gary Mattson | December 8, 2015 | , , ,

If you have planned for retirement, then hopefully, you’ll be ready to enjoy a lifestyle with steady income that gives you enough every month to pay for your recurring bills, along with having the funds to enjoy travel, assist grandkids with education, delve into a hobby or start a new one, or anything else on your “bucket list”. As you’re enjoying the prospects of helping grandchildren and family members learn from your financial success, tragedy happens. A loved one passes, leaving you alone and worried,...

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What Annuity Is Right For The Client?

Robbin Broome

Robbin Broome | September 22, 2015 | , , , ,

During the last two decades, seniors have experienced a roller coaster financial market. Products are constantly changing, and I am always informing clients about some policy variation. Volatility seems to be the wave of the future. With all this said, what should you look for in an annuity? After all, it is your financial future in question. Individuals need to ask themselves a few questions before purchasing any product in today’s environment. For instance: What are my goals for my money? Am I going to...

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Why Long-Term Care Insurance?

Ronald Dukes

Ronald Dukes | September 15, 2015 |

Eldercare has replaced childcare as the number one work place concern.[1] Long-term care planning is an extremely important part of financial planning as it applies to retirement planning as well as estate preservation planning. Many individuals specialize in long-term care insurance, and stress the importance long-term care insurance. These “specialists” usually work for two to six insurance companies that sell long-term care policies. The problem is that sometimes they don’t understand the big picture, and therefore, can miss the opportunity of giving a retiree the...

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The Power of Locking in Your Gains

Dave Mortach

Dave Mortach | July 21, 2015 | , , ,

When obtaining any type of financial vehicle, there is typically some type of risk-return tradeoff. For instance, in today’s low interest rate environment, it’s tough to obtain the growth that you need, yet it’s important to also play it safe in order to protect your principal. The fixed indexed annuity, or FIA, can provide a great solution for offering the potential for market-related growth, yet protection from downside risk. This can in turn help you to generate more retirement income down the road. Ensuring that...

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