Many people view retirement and financial planning as two different animals but the reality is they are both part of the same financial beast. In either case, if they are not treated properly by the time retirement age comes around, many folks will have to keep working just to make ends meet or be eaten alive by debt. Many older Americans, unfortunately did not start early enough saving for retirement, if at all and instead of looking at retirement and financial planning they were counting on retirement benefits from their job and Social Security benefits to see them through.

Many baby boomers, born during the recovery of the Great Depression refused to live in the squalor many of their parents described and with jobs bountiful and increases in wages, decided to live their life to the fullest. Very few thought about retirement and financial planning and are watching retirement come straight at them. Even knowing they may not be financially stable enough to retire at 65, they continue to play chicken with retirement racing straight at them.

(more…)

Share This

For those individuals who have no financial acumen at all, they may want to consider using retirement planning services to help them devise a plan for when they are no longer working. While it is your money, your savings and your retirement future, if you choose to use retirement planning services it may pay to follow their advice, since you are paying for their services. Some financial services companies offer this service free as long as your investments and savings are held by their companies others charge a flat fee for helping you put your financial life in order.

One thing to remember about most retirement planning services is that they are there to help you however, they are not going to treat you like a baby. Most of them will tell you how it is, regardless of how ugly the outlook may be they will offer the advice needed to make sure you are taken care of during your retirement years. If you choose the use of retirement planning services and ignore their advice, the money you spent for their direction will be a waste.

(more…)

Share This

Saving for retirement is something everyone should think about. The time to save for retirement is right now, even if you don’t have a dime in savings. Pre retirement financial planning takes time and it takes a lot of dedication. If you don’t have a lot left over after paying bills, then you are going to have to figure a way to tailor down your spending so that you can actually put some money away. Look at your lifestyle. If pre retirement financial planning is important to you, you’re going to have to slow down on going out all the time, or eating out at restaurants, things that quickly eat up your paycheck. If most of your money goes to bills and you want to engage in pre retirement financial planning, why not look into getting a second job? Do whatever you have to do. You’ll feel great about it once you finally do retire and you have a nice nest egg in the bank that you worked so hard to accumulate.

Financial Planning Software

(more…)

Share This

Many people wait until they hit their late 30’s or early 40’s before they really start to think about retirement and that is usually when they go see a financial planner. A financial planner is a professional who understands the financial markets and can help you invest your money as wisely as possible in anticipation of your retirement. Usually your financial planner will supply you with a financial planning chart for retirement that puts everything on paper clear as day. That is usually when the drinking begins.

No one can predict the future and whenever someone tries to predict the future they usually come up with bad news. For the average American a financial planning chart for retirement is a tale of bad news. A financial planning chart for retirement takes where you want to be and puts it right next to where you are. That huge gap in between the two on the financial planning chart for retirement is that slim chance you have of saving what you actually want for retirement. With inflation speeding up and incomes slowing down it is not wonder that many people give up when they see the financial planning chart for retirement.

(more…)

Share This

By James Lee Valentine

My journey to a million dollar net worth begins with me knowing where I am at this precise moment. This Millionaire Analysis is comparable to a roadmap for success that is designed to enable me to discern my monetary strengths and understand my financial ambitions.

This Millionaire Analysis asks twenty questions that help me get to the truth of who I really am. Each question must be answered wholeheartedly. The deeper I can dig into my psyche, the stronger the analytical groundwork I shall be performing in the construction of my financial foundation.

(more…)

Share This

By Robert Cavanaugh

As Father Time marches on, the question of what to do with the home becomes a greater concern. In some cases, ruminating on the alternatives can dominate one’s thinking. If a person is aware of the various options and chooses a path that makes the most sense, peace of mind can often be the result.

Studies have shown that 90% of married couples and 62% of single persons reach retirement owning their own homes. Coupled with non-monetary considerations of whether to stay or sell, one major objective is how to convert the equity in the home to an income.

(more…)

Share This

By Barry Waxler

Planning your financial future may not sound like the most glamorous of things, but it can make a huge difference. The key is to understanding the value of time.

They say death and taxes are the two things you can’t avoid. Well, they are wrong. There is a third thing – time. Time passes us by no matter how we try to fight it with exercise, diet and, in some cases, plastic surgery! From this description, it may sound as though time is a bad thing. It all depends on how you use it.

You can turn the passage of time to your financial benefit if you understand it. In truth, we live in a “now” world. Give me convenience or give me death! So many of us are used to getting things now, that the idea of doing something for a positive effect in ten or twenty years sounds ludicrous. Heck, most of us find it difficult to do such things even if we are talking about a benefit five years down the road. This is where you can make a major mistake in planning your financial future.

(more…)

Share This

Kathy Griffin’s Take on Financial Planning

By Nicole Anderson

Kathy Griffin has some wise insight on finances and money management. If you listen to her advice you may find yourself in a much better financial situation and if you don’t listen to her advice she my make fun of you on her show someday!

During an episode of My Life on The-D List, Kathy Griffin’s reality show, she made wise cracks about actors and actress and their finances. Kathy’s comment was that she hates it when she hears actors and actresses say, “I don’t do the ‘business thing’. I am an actor.” Kathy’s sarcastic, yet true, remark about why this bothers her is that “business thing” is PART OF YOUR JOB. You need to learn the business end of things. You, as an actor or actress, are your own business and have to run your professional life and personal finances as a business.

(more…)

Share This

Creating Surplus Cash For Savings and Invest

By Richard Kimball

You know you need to be saving money but you never seem to have enough at the end of the month or worse, you are further in debt.

Living below your means is more a matter of self-discipline. A few adjustments here and there could be all it takes to have the necessary funds available for saving and investing.

Some mutual funds can be opened up for as little as $200 with minimum contributions around $50.

(more…)

Share This

Key Aspects Of Managing Your Personal Finance

By James Taylor

Increasing consumerism has given rise to the phenomenon of over expenditure by even an average earner and in turn has resulted in more and more people reeling under debt burden. The problem escalates because people care little about key aspects of personal finance. One can in fact benefit much if finance availing and management aspects of personal finance are especially taken care of.

Both finance availing and management of personal finance goes hand in hand. Main sources of personal finance are credit cards and personal loan. Credit cards have become most popular and easier way of both taking finance and making expenditure. Every item purchased goes to the cardholder’s bill. Lack of cash often encourages consumers to swipe credit card more. This only results in debt accumulation. To minimize credit card debts, take precautions. It would save you lot of money if you use credit card only when there is no other alternative to it because if the dues are not cleared in time the credit card issuing company slaps high penalties. This worsens the debt problem. Also, when applying for credit card, make sure you pick up the company that charges the lowest possible interest rate. Your interest outgo must remain lower so that you save enough for other expenses and rainy days.

(more…)

Share This