Month: October 2018

Expenses That Can Disappear During Retirement

There are plenty of expenses that you’ll have to worry about in retirement. With the cost of healthcare and entertainment, along with travel expenses generally rising in retirement, just to name a few, it can be reassuring to learn that there’s a few areas where you might save some money in retirement. In fact, here’s five expenses that can practically disappear altogether!

With the costs of commuting rising every year, it’s no surprise that when you stop commuting you also save money. From bus tickets to gas prices, when you’re no longer sitting in traffic every morning or cramped on public transportation, your costs should drop drastically. The money that you otherwise would have spent on your commute is now yours to keep.

Another cost that disappears in retirement is Payroll taxes. When you are no longer working, you don’t owe any payroll taxes. This means the 7.65 percent of your salary that used to be taken away each month is no longer an obligation.

Once you retire, another expense that you don’t have to worry about is saving for retirement! After spending so many of your working years saving for the future, you finally can enjoy your savings. Instead of paying into your retirement accounts, you will be withdrawing from them. Some people also decide that after they retire they no longer need life insurance and disability insurance. Disability insurance is designed to replace a worker’s income when they are injured and unable to work, and most don’t see it as necessary once they retire. Life insurance is generally for the event that the worker dies unexpectedly and leaves their family without income and the idea that you have enough money to retire usually means this is no longer applicable for some.

Another item that you might save money on after you retire is clothing. Work related attire can be pricey and there’s no need to buy new dress pants or blazers so frequently once you retire. You will no longer be dressing up for important meetings and presentations, and a more modest wardrobe is generally adopted. Once you trade those fancy suits for jeans, you could end up cutting costs dramatically.

We can look at your entire financial portfolio, your lifestyle needs and your retirement goals to create a plan that works for you. We want you to be prepared for the costs and savings that come with retirement so that you aren’t faced with surprises.  Knowing the expenses that disappear during retirement is just one step in your full retirement plan. Click here to schedule your comprehensive, no cost, no obligation financial review today and continue the right path to retirement.

Are You Nurturing Your Relationships?

Social networks have been on everyone’s mind lately, from Facebook’s falling stock price to debates about whether the internet is too isolating. If you’ve been thinking about your own social networks, you’re probably asking yourself a few common questions. Who do I really connect with? How do I stay part of other people’s lives, and have them stay in mine? What’s the difference between a casual friendship, and a really meaningful one?

In retirement, social networks are more important than ever. After all, this is when you’re going to have more time to invest in friendships both old and new. We all need networks of family, friends, and community. Whether that’s a band, a religious group, or some old golf buddies, retirement should let you make time for the people who really matter and the things that really make you happy.

But that isn’t easy. It can be hard to really set yourself up for a retirement full of friends, connections, and fun. Why? Because leading up to retirement, many of us are so focused on work that we don’t leave enough space to nurture those relationships. We tend to isolate ourselves even further by throwing ourselves deeper into work over concerns about not having enough money to last for retirement. And unfortunately, all of that extra work – and the stress that comes with it – can take a toll on your social relationships. You might find yourself saying “no” to those get-togethers with your pals just to finish up that one big project. At some point when you keep saying “no” too many times, people stop asking, and that’s something you don’t want to happen right when you need them the most.

So, what can you do to strike a healthier work-life balance? One thing you can do to alleviate some pressure is make sure you have a solid retirement plan in place, and it starts by clicking here to set up your complimentary, no obligation financial review. During our meeting we’ll assess your current financial situation and discuss how we can create a strategy to help you reach your financial and lifestyle goals. Simply understanding if you’re on track for retirement may give you the confidence you need to feel free to accept those invitations for those get-togethers.

Our goal is to help bring organization and clarity to the complexities of retirement planning, so you can start enjoying time nurturing your relationships instead of spending all night puzzling over finances. Getting prepared for retirement is serious business, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your social network. We’re here to help so you can get back to what really matters: friends, family, community, and fun.

 

Start Your Retirement Off on the Right Foot

Retirement planning can be stressful because there are a lot of things to keep track of. One of the steps that often gets overlooked is announcing to your employer that you are going to retire. This may require writing a letter to explain your plans and goals for the future, while also choosing a date for your last day of work. It is a big step because it signifies the beginning of your retirement journey. So, to start your retirement off on the right foot, try taking some time beforehand to plan your announcement.

Before you start writing your letter and preparing your announcement, first make sure that you have qualified for all of your retirement benefits. This includes checking the amount of pension payments that you are eligible for, looking at your 401(k) plan, and thinking about when you will sign up for Social Security. Another important thing to consider doing before sending your letter, is making sure you have another form of health insurance to avoid any potential gaps in coverage. To help ensure that you are ready to receive your full retirement benefits, it may be a good time to talk with your trusted financial advisor about creating or updating your retirement plan.

After ensuring that all your retirement benefits are in place, it is then time to begin deciding on a retirement date. The key here is to try and give enough time for the company to fill your position, but also to not give more time than is necessary. Some companies could start excluding you from events or important meetings, or even ask you to leave sooner than you suggested. So, make sure that you’re well-prepared to have this tough conversation.

One of the most important aspects of the letter to include is some lines expressing your thanks and appreciation. Giving positive feedback is important to display gratitude to the company and show respect for all they have done for you. This can also be an opportunity to highlight some of your achievements and successes as an employee. Adding this in can help to leave a more favorable impression on the company, so remember, this is not the time to complain or air your grievances with your employer.

As you write your letter, try to start thinking about your future plans and goals. Do you want to consider working part-time or consulting? Are you willing to train a new employee to help with the transition? If so, then you may want to try explaining this to them. Your company may appreciate it if you can come back to help in the busy season or mentor a younger employee. It is also appropriate to tell them why you are leaving. Whether this is to spend time with grandchildren, travel, or care for a family member, your coworkers will be excited to hear about what your future holds.

This is a huge milestone in your life, and it is important that you put thought and care into your decision so that you can start your retirement off on the right foot. But, before you decide to send your letter, you should talk with a trusted financial professional about your personal goals and financial plan for the future. At Peak Financial Freedom Group, we’ll sit down with you one-on-one to discuss your goals, and to help put you on the right path towards achieving them. Click HERE to contact us today and to request your complimentary, no obligation financial review!

Finance Your Retirement Goals

Finance Your Retirement Goals

As we get older, we start to think (and potentially worry) more and more about where our retirement income will come from. After you leave your job and begin on the journey of retirement, you will rely heavily on guaranteed sources of income. For most people, they assume this will be mainly collecting Social Security. However, there are many other sources that could be the key to living a comfortable retirement lifestyle and finding what works best for you, so that you can help finance your retirement goals. But, also remember that financing them is only one part to the equation, as you have to make certain that you stay focused on your retirement goals.

If you started planning early, you may be able to use your 401(k)s and IRAs to help create a sustainable and dependable source of retirement income. Unfortunately, most Americans have not put enough of their savings into these accounts to rely on them, but there are plenty of other ways to make up the difference and make sure that your bills are paid for with money to spare. One of these ways is with taxable investments. The most important step with investments such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, is making sure that you diversify your portfolio. How are you dealing with market risk? The benefits of basic diversification can help you to have all of your assets accounted for, while making sure that they all aren’t moving in the same direction all the time.

If you are fortunate to live a long retirement, you also should make sure that your money will last as long as you do. One way to make money in retirement is by selling things you no longer need or renting unused rooms in your home. Renting gives you a steady income each month while selling goods that you no longer need can help clear out clutter and give you some extra cash. You can even expand to online selling platforms such as eBay or Craigslist or sell handmade crafts on a website like Etsy. Lastly, some retirees decide to pick up a part time job. This helps with retirement income, but also can be a great way to spend some time doing what you love. When retirees go back to work part-time, it can be much more relaxing than their full-time positions, thus giving them an opportunity to work in a low stress environment and meet new people.

At Peak Financial Freedom Group, we believe that a successful retirement first starts off with a solid, customized retirement plan. We’ll work together to go over your financial plan to help discover how to best finance your retirement goals for the long road ahead.

Peak Financial Freedom Group
2520 Douglas Boulevard, Suite 110
Roseville, CA 95661

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Investment advisory services are offered through Fiduciary Solutions, LLC, a California Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance products and services are offered through PFFG Insurance Agency LLC, a licensed insurance agency (CA Insurance License #0N14013). Peak Financial Freedom Group LLC is a financial planning and umbrella marketing organization, which enables the provision of multiple financial services under one brand. Peak Financial Freedom Group LLC, PFFG Insurance Agency LLC, and Fiduciary Solutions LLC are affiliated entities with common ownership and control. Jim Files is licensed as an investment adviser representative with Fiduciary Solutions LLC (CRD # 1620449) and is a licensed insurance producer with PFFG Insurance Agency LLC (CA Insurance License #0F06511). Dan Ahmad is licensed as an investment adviser representative with Fiduciary Solutions LLC (CRD # 1491561) and is a licensed insurance producer with PFFG Insurance Agency LLC (CA Insurance License #0732913).

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