NEW RETIREMENT PARADIGM

Time to throw away old notions about retirement. If you are like most people born before 1970 you've probably lived with certain assumptions about your retirement years. Increasingly, this has become an area of financial planning that demands more attention and work to ensure even a modicum of comfort in senior years.

Why? What's changed? The accompanying chart compares reveals how the presumptions of yesterday and the realities of today are quite different.

In helping people with financial affairs, we see this a lot: couples with good jobs and income who are leading a comfortable life, enjoying many pleasures, and taking care of the big purchases of today --- but not really thinking about 10, 20 or 30 years down the road.

With the new paradigm, its never too early to start working a sound plan. We have a limited supply of excellent Retirement Workbook/Guides to get you started. Call now to get a copy.

OLD

Retirement was brief = 5-10 years

Government is will provide a secure basis for necessities, through Social Security programs.

Life-time employer will develop (or continue) a pension plan.

Modest retirement income expectations

Real estate (home)appreciation & inheritances will fill in the gaps

NEW

Increased longevity & early job retirement: 25-30 years retirement

Social Security/Medicare benefits destined to decline; programs may become bankrupt.

Traditional pensions are waning in favor of 401K plans that require proactivity by the employee.

Retirees consuming appetites shaped by affluent times

Property value growth much slower; parents are living longer