Tag: financial planning

Is a Second Opinion the Next Step to Enhance Your Financial Security?

Gain greater financial security by securing a second opinion on your retirement plan from a professional financial advisor.

When You’re Retired, You Need to Be Sure Your Finances Are on Track

With the articles we publish here on our blog, many of which are based on content in our book Momma’s Secret Recipe for Retirement Success, we hope to take you down the path of “financial enlightenment.” We do it because some of the facts and strategies we share may be the complete opposite of what you have been told before. We want you to think differently – and to plan your retirement differently – because you have no other option than to succeed.

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Are You Blind to Your Own Possible Financial Future?

Have you been led to believe that everything is great in your finances? Maybe you trust your advisor who says everything is okay. Perhaps you believe the news that everything is okay because the stock market keeps hitting all-time highs? Maybe you’re an optimist and just believe things will work out somehow and nothing bad will happen?

Here is your wake-up call: You can’t plan and handle your retirement finances this way. You’re putting your finances, and your family’s finances in jeopardy by hoping that you’ll get lucky.

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Your Advisor is Not Your Friend

One of the biggest mistakes one can make is thinking of your financial advisor as your friend, instead of looking at it as a business relationship to provide you with sound financial advice.

A friend would actually listen to you when you say you want to take less risk.

A friend wouldn’t put in writing how much risk you’re really taking.

A friend wouldn’t put in writing, how much you could lose in the next stock market crash.

A friend wouldn’t tell you not to worry and ride out all stock market losses.

A friend wouldn’t put all the fees you pay in writing, even the hidden ones.

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Are You Having to Handle Money All By Yourself?

Whether you are divorced, widowed, or a lifelong single person, planning your retirement finances and having to handle money all by yourself can be extremely challenging when you only have yourself to rely on. You only have one Social Security, maybe a pension, and the assets you as an individual have saved.

Establishing a written plan is crucial to ensuring your future financial success. A solid written financial plan should include the following:

  • An Income Plan detailing how much income you will receive each year and where each income source comes from so that you can be confident knowing your income will not run out.
  • A Risk Analysis stating how much risk you’re taking currently and how you plan on eliminating or managing any possible large losses to your savings. 
  • A Fee Analysis showing how much you’re paying in fees, both direct and hidden, as well as a way to reduce them.

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Your Financial Planning Checklist for the New Year

financial planning
How to Use an Annual Financial Plan to Stay on Top of Your Goals

A common error in financial planning is to assume that you can do it once and be finished. In truth, though, even a well-conceived plan built with the help of a financial advisor should be reviewed annually. This allows you to stay on top of what you have and have not accomplished so that you can ensure you’ve covered all the bases on both your short-term and long-term goals.

Creating an annual financial planning checklist is a useful way to track your progress, as well as to ensure you remain vigilant about making adjustments if your circumstances or your goals should change.

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Episode 11: Tackling the Single Greatest Retirement Fear

When it comes to retirement funds, the greatest worry is whether or not you’ll outlive your savings. Too often, people spend their whole lives working and saving for retirement, only to reach retirement and end up spending none of their money out of fear of running out. However, retirement should be about relaxing and enjoying life, not about stressing and fear.

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Episode 9: Financial Planning for the Worry-Prone

It’s completely understandable to worry about the state of your finances, especially as you get closer and closer to retirement. In this episode’s Case Study, Dan and Jim discuss the best financial plan for chronic worrier, Gary. For them, the best way to combat financial stress and fears is to minimize the risk in your portfolio and then create a lifetime income projection so that you know exactly what to expect for your financial future. This works by simplifying your financial life into one page so that you can see exactly where your income sources will come from for the duration of your retirement; whether from savings, your assets, revenue, the government, or your investments.

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How to Prevent Entitlement in America’s Children When a Trillion-Dollar Wealth Transfer is Underway

The United States is in the midst of a massive wealth transfer from Baby Boomers to Gen Xers and Millennials – to the tune of $30 trillion, in fact. In light of this, many parents are wondering how to ensure their children feel empowered by their inheritance, without adopting a dangerous sense of entitlement. Below we’ll explore four proactive strategies for avoiding uncomfortable family scenarios that can develop when adult children know there’s guaranteed money in their future.

The subject of money and inheritance can be seen as taboo in many families, whether there’s a great deal of money in the family or not. A 2015 survey by U.S. Trust (now Bank of America) showed that one-third of high net worth and ultra-high net worth adults intentionally did not discuss family finances with their children out of fear that it would create a negative work ethic. Additionally, a full 20 percent said they had been taught as children that it was not appropriate to talk about wealth. How, then, will these families address the very real concerns that arise when wealth transfers to the next generation? The four action steps below offer a place to start.

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When You Have Enough Saved but Still Worry About Money

In the financial advising business, it’s fairly common to hear from clients who are concerned they haven’t saved enough for retirement. What’s surprising about this, though, is that many of these clients are actually in an enviable financial position. They have worked hard to save more than they are likely to need, and yet they still worry about becoming penniless in retirement. Why is that?

Let’s consider a gentleman we’ll call David. He is 65 years old, a military veteran with a $40,000 per year pension, and he has $400,000 saved. His home is paid off and he has no debt to speak of. He qualifies for both Medicare and Tricare for health needs, and he has a long-term care policy just in case. You don’t have to be a financial professional to see that David has his ducks in a row, yet he’s still terrified of retiring and outliving his money.

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

DISCLOSURE:

All of the information presented here is provided and intended to be used for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a solicitation for you to buy or sell any security or financial product. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. None of the information presented is intended to give you specific tax, investment, real estate, legal, estate, or financial advice but rather to serve as an educational platform to deliver information. The ideas, thoughts, and strategies presented here are those of the Management Team and provide an insight to our views on Peak Financial Freedom Group, LLC. Some of this material was developed and produced by Peak Financial to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. Every detail in this website is subject to change without notice. Seminar, radio shows, TV productions, book releases, magazine and book promotions are sponsored, promoted and paid for by Peak Financial Freedom Group, LLC.

2nd Opinion Package available to Qualified Retirees and Soon-To-Be-Retirees may include free consultations, a free retirement income plan, risk analysis, and fee analysis. In addition, a comprehensive written retirement income plan may be provided to those who complete the entire process. Qualified Retirees and Soon-To-Be-Retirees must have a minimum of $500,000 of investible assets such as IRA’s, 401K’s from past employers, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, bank accounts, money markets, CD’s, etc., but DOES NOT include real estate, businesses, limited partnerships, 401K/retirement plans that can’t be moved to another plan, and other illiquid type assets.

Past performance is no indication of future performance and such information cannot be relied upon regarding future potential gains. Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. Asset allocation, diversification and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining market. Advisors and agents may only conduct business with residents of the states or jurisdictions in which they are properly registered or licensed and not all of the securities, products and services mentioned are available in every state or jurisdiction.

Nothing is directly or indirectly guaranteed by this information. The planning and ideas presented herein are not suitable for all individuals or situations. Hypothetical examples are used to explain concepts and are not indicative of potential results you could receive; past performance is not a guarantee of future results; and results are not indicative of any particular investment or income tax situation; your results will be different and could be lower or higher. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Peak Financial does not offer tax or legal advice. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Insurance product features and benefits, such as guaranteed lifetime income riders, are subject to contract terms, limitations, fees, and the claims paying ability of the insurance company issuing the contract. The sale or liquidation of any stock, bond, IRA, certificate of deposit, mutual fund, annuity, or other asset to fund the purchase of any other asset including an annuity may have tax consequences, early withdrawal penalties, or other costs and penalties as a result of the sale or liquidation. Different assets can be complex and carry fees, costs, and surrender charges. If you place assets under management with Fiduciary Solutions LLC, we are paid an advisory fee from Fiduciary Solutions LLC and if you purchase an annuity through us, we are paid commissions from an insurance company.

2019(1), 2020(2), 2021(3), 2022(4), 2023 (5) and 2024 (6) Five Star Professional Wealth Manager Award - Dan Ahmad and Jim Files have been nominated for and have won the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager Awards. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. Award winners represent an exclusive group of wealth managers who have demonstrated excellence in their field by satisfying 10 objective selection criteria. For additional information on the Five Star award, including a complete list of the 10 objective selection criteria and their research/selection methodology, go to https://fivestarprofessional.com.

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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