This week’s article discusses the situation when a company offers to cash out the pensions of certain retirees and former employees and instead give them a lump-sum payment. In the past we have discussed the difficulty in being confronted with this type of situation. “For most retirees, a guaranteed stream

A common concern when planning for retirement is the difficulty in knowing exactly how much income the retiree will have, and how long that income will last. It is also sometimes difficult to understand how different products work. Because retirees often choose to purchase an annuity with a guaranteed lifetime

From time to time we come across publications that are beneficial for anyone owning or thinking of owning an annuity to have. This week’s publication is a glossary of terms that are often used when discussing this particular type of product, and it is in a form that is easy

This week’s article tells us that “A new study has found that one difficulty workers saving for retirement have in judging whether they’re on track is that they could be under the “illusion of wealth” or, conversely, under the “illusion of poverty.” The study, “The Illusion of Wealth and Its

This week’s article tells us that “A new study has found that one difficulty workers saving for retirement have in judging whether they’re on track is that they could be under the “illusion of wealth” or, conversely, under the “illusion of poverty.” The study, “The Illusion of Wealth and Its

We always enjoy finding articles that help you to make good decisions for your financial future. This week’s article is one of those as it suggests some questions to ask that help determine what a good choice might be for you. “Indexed annuities offer a unique and attractive blend of

If you have ever wondered how often you should review your annuity portfolio, this week’s article tells us it should be done “as often as you would your other investments”. This is one of the reasons we invite clients for an annual review. Major changes such as a serious illness,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes it is fun to take a moment and participate in a quiz about retirement. Answering questions and then comparing our responses to others gives us new opportunities to think about the choices we are making, and how we are planning for the future. This week’s article does just that.