Early Financial Education Offers Better Security Later

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – Recent studies about Americans’ retirement saving behavior point to an alarming trend: Americans of all ages, ethnicities and social groups are not …

Retirement is a Beginning, Not an End

<b>Retirement is a Beginning, Not an End</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Chances are, you know someone about to enter retirement. Between aging baby boomers and struggling businesses, many seniors find themselves leaving the workplace. And the numbers of new retirees are only going to rise — nearly 6,000 Americans turn 65 every day.

Retirement is a big transition for a former working stiff, and many people struggle to determine their next step. After all, the retirement age of 65 was established in the late 1800s, when life expectancies were shorter — today’s retirees will live for decades after leaving the workforce.

And longer lives create more expenses. Many retirees will end up pursuing second jobs in order to meet expenses. Only half of all employees earn pensions, and the falling stock market wiped out many a retirement fund.

If you’re planning — or even attending — a retirement party, you should keep these potential uncertainties in mind. For example, a person being forced into early retirement might not appreciate congratulations. It’s more appropriate to express how glad you are to have known or worked with the retiree.

That said, it is still okay to celebrate by acknowledging the retiree’s contributions. If you’re selecting gifts for a retiree, choose something that will commemorate their work, such as a personalized wall plaque or pen holder. The Web site PlaqueMakerPlus.com offers heirloom-quality acrylic pieces that feature engraved images or imbedded photographs. Customers can design their gift themselves, creating a unique and memorable gift that any retiree will appreciate.

Of course, retirees today often choose to stay active, pursuing new careers that suit their personal interests or involving themselves in volunteer work.

With this in mind, treat your coworker’s retirement like a transition into a new and rewarding phase of life, rather than just an exit from the workplace. Talk to the retiree’s spouse and friends to learn about their post-retirement plans. If they’re planning on going back to school, for example, you might want to give them a gift certificate to a book store, as well as a gift that commemorates their contributions to your organization.

Retirement is a Beginning, Not an End

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/Retirement.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – Chances are, you know someone about to enter retirement. Between aging baby boomers and struggling businesses, many seniors find themselves leaving …/div/div

Retirement is a Beginning, Not an End

Five words or less(NewsUSA) – Chances are, you know someone about to enter retirement. Between aging baby boomers and struggling businesses, many seniors find themselves leaving …

Find a New Career Without Giving Up Your Day Job

<b>Find a New Career Without Giving Up Your Day Job</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Unhappy at work? Many Americans stay in careers that they consider ‘just bearable’ for fear of unemployment, but doing so compromises their well-being. Life is just too short to spend eight or more hours a day in misery, and work-related stress can reduce quality-of-life.

Today’s Americans can’t exactly bank on early retirement. Employment remains uncertain in the current economy, and many companies are cutting retirement benefits. Current employees will need to stay in the workforce longer than previous generations. The wrong career choice could mean decades of unhappiness and frustration.

And while the down economy might seem to limit options, it actually expands them — there has never been a better time to pursue your passions, further your education or look for employment in a new field.

Those who are unemployed may be able to take a break from the workforce, choosing to volunteer or travel as a means of self-discovery. Americans considering a career switch might want to “try out” a job or two. For example, someone considering a new career in teaching could substitute teach a few classes or become a volunteer educator at a children’s program.

Even those who continue to support themselves can find ways to set the foundation for a career change. Online courses, for example, allow full-time workers to learn on their own schedules, and without the expense or inconvenience of commuting to campus. One accredited online university, American Public University, offers 76 degree programs and 51 certificates, including programs in business, criminal justice, sports and information technology, as well as grants to reduce textbook prices.

Panteha Vaghedi is pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management at American Public University. “Accepting the responsibility of becoming a student — in addition to continuing as a business owner and full-time mother — is made easier in part because of the options APU offers.”

For more information, visit www.studyatapu.com.

How to Successfully Start an IRA

<b>How to Successfully Start an IRA</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Maybe your company offers a 401(k) plan. But even if it doesn’t, you need to get an IRA now. Because IRAs use compound interest and are not taxed by the IRS, contributing even a few thousand dollars a year can create a sizable nest egg.

And yet, according to the IRS, only 10 percent of the people eligible to create and contribute to IRAs actually do so. If you think you can’t afford an IRA, you’re wrong. Consider that Social Security typically pays $13,000 a year — unless you can live on that miniscule income, you’ll need to find an additional way to pay for retirement.

How do you know if you’re eligible for an IRA? “Anyone who earns a taxable income or files a joint return with a spouse who earns an income can contribute to an IRA,” explains David Bach, the author of nine national bestsellers, including “Start Late,” “Finish Rich” and “The Automatic Millionaire.” Bach recently shared his insights about IRAs with the readers of SUCCESS Magazine, where he offered the following advice:

- Start Early and Save Until Retirement. Thanks to the miracle of compound interest, those who start saving early end up with the largest nest eggs. “If you were to start at age 55, you’d contribute a total of $50,000 in the 10 years before you retire, at which point your account would be worth $72,433,” says Bach. “By contrast, if you started at 25, you’d contribute $200,000 over the next 40 years, and by the time you retired, your account would be worth $1.3 million.”

- Invest Wisely. You can invest the proceeds from your IRA any way that you want, but some moves are wiser than others. Bach recommends “target date” or life cycle funds, which are specially designed for retirement savings. The fund automatically makes sure that you have investments appropriate for your age, acting more aggressively in your younger years and becoming more conservative as you near retirement.

- Know When to Start Withdrawing. Legally, you can begin withdrawing funds from your IRA when you’re 59 and a half, but if you’re in a high tax bracket, you should put off withdrawals for as long as possible.

SUCCESS magazine offers a balanced approach to successful living by covering topics on business, wealth, well-being and philanthropy. Visit www.SUCCESS.com and search the August issue to read the rest of Bach’s advice.

What Is Your Personal Disability Quotient?

<b>What Is Your Personal Disability Quotient?</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – The faltering economy has left many people worried about keeping their jobs. But too few Americans consider another possibility — that a disability could leave them unable to work.

Accidents or illness can happen to anyone at any time. According to the Council for Disability Awareness (CDA), one in seven workers can expect to be disabled for five years or more before retirement. According to the Social Security Administration, three in 10 workers entering the workforce today will become disabled.

A disability that forces a person to miss work can make them financially vulnerable. With many Americans struggling simply to stay afloat, the inability to work can be devastating. Even temporary disability can jeopardize savings, retirement funds and homes.

“We are currently facing many economic challenges, and it’s important that people don’t lose sight of, or fail to recognize, the threat that disability can pose to their financial security,” said Bob Taylor, president of CDA. “Never has it been more important for people to be mindful of the chances they face of suffering an illness or accident and thus losing the ability to earn an income. Never has the ability to earn an income been more important.”

To help people realize their risk of disability, the CDA created its new disability estimator, designed to determine an individual’s Personality Disability Quotient (PDQ), the percentage chance a person has of an illness or injury forcing them to miss work. The PDQ estimator, found at the Web site www.WhatsMyPDQ.org, calculates a person’s chances of becoming disabled for an extended period of time. The PDQ also helps users see how much income they could lose, so they can financially plan for disability.

All Americans should make sure that they can cover their bills, make house and car payments and continue paying money into their retirement accounts in case of a disability. Individuals can also take steps to lower their chances of disability, like receiving regular check-ups, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking everyday precautions — some as simple as using their seat belt. It’s important for all Americans to be engaged in disability planning.

For more information about preparing for disability, visit www.disabilitycanhappen.org.

Disability: An Overlooked Threat to Retirement

<b>Disability: An Overlooked Threat to Retirement</b>“></td> <td> <p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – Tough economic times are threatening the financial security of more workers, including their dreams of a secure retirement. The Council for Disability Awareness (CDA) paper “Worker Disability: A Growing Risk to Retirement Security” addresses people’s widespread unawareness about the growing incidence of disability and the financial risks an unexpected accident or illness can have on workers’ retirement savings.

“The responsibility for retirement funding has essentially shifted to the individual,” says Robert Taylor, president of the CDA. “Unfortunately, most Americans just don’t understand that their chances of becoming disabled are on the rise, putting their -; and their families’ -; current and future financial lifestyle at risk. Most employees don’t realize that if their income stops, so do contributions to their 401(k) plan.”

Studies predict that three in 10 workers entering the workforce today will experience a serious income-stopping disability before retirement. The CDA paper notes that the number of disabled workers has increased an alarming 35 percent since 2000 -; a trend attributed mostly to an aging workforce, the growth of life-extending medical technologies and the declining general health of the population. Yet, according to the CDA Web site, www.disabilitycanhappen.org, close to 90 percent of workers significantly underestimate their own chances of becoming disabled, and six in 10 workers have never discussed how they would pay their bills during an income-limiting illness or injury.

Sound financial planning, preferably with the help of a qualified financial advisor, is critical to being prepared for the financial risks that can result from losing your income because of disability. The planning process should include determining your necessary living expenses, as well as the “added costs” of losing your income, such as funding your retirement plan and covering additional medical care expenses and COBRA premiums. It’s also important to understand what sources of income may be available to you if you become disabled, such as your employer’s sick pay and long-term disability plans, social security disability insurance and worker’s compensation. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce your odds of becoming disabled is a key, yet often-overlooked, financial planning action.

“Good disability financial planning is essential for all workers,” states Taylor. “The CDA is working hard to encourage all working Americans to be better prepared to help secure their financial well-being today and into retirement, in the event they experience a long-term disability.”
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