Pulling Back the Curtain on the Real Reason for Unsuccessful Retirements

Pulling back the curtain on the real reason for unsuccessful retirements

It’s no secret that the vast majority of Americans arrive at retirement significantly short of their intended financial dreams. In fact, the number one fear among Americans, above everything else, is the fear of running out of money in retirement. The most recent Retirement Confidence Survey numbers, published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, put the percentage of retirees who are confident about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement at around 18 percent. 

That’s extremely alarming, to say the least! But here’s what I find even more sickening. Pundits are quick to run down the list of factors responsible for this unfortunate situation and every one of those reasons has to do with something that the American investor did wrong: 

• They didn’t save enough money.
• They chose the wrong funds to invest in.
• They didn’t diversify properly. 

Of course, these may well be part of the problem, but why isn’t anyone questioning the financial advice/guidance that these Americans receive and follow?

The fact of the matter is that if the financial advice vis-à-vis retirement strategy that you follow is flawed, simply saving a whole lot of money will not magically help you retire successfully. And I’m willing to bet that most of these folks followed some kind of financial advice – strangely enough, along the exact same lines that some of these so-called money gurus are espousing.

So why don’t we take a step back and dig deeper into the real underlying issues that are driving more than 80 percent of folks to spend their retirement in financial nervousness? Are we ignoring this obvious question because we don’t really want to know the answer? Are we afraid we might discover that impractical, unhelpful, and/or unrealistic financial advice is ruining more retirements than any other thing?

_____________

Want to learn how you can KEEP more of your retirement money? Call 877.656.9111 or visit LaserFG.com to talk with an experienced retirement professional with a proven track record TODAY!

Are You Truly Maximizing Your Retirement Assets?

Are You Truly Maximizing Your Retirement Assets?

Everyone would like to believe they’re getting the absolute best bang for their investments. But the unfortunate reality is that unbeknownst to a large number of folks, and sadly enough to their so-called financial advisors, their hard-earned assets are simply not being maximized.

Ted was certain that the strategy that he had in place for protecting the inheritance he intended to leave his beloved granddaughter was second to none. He’d had enough of the stock market’s fluctuations and would like to assure that his granddaughter will receive a set amount. Ted’s long-time financial advisor recommended he buy a CD with the $100,000 he intended to leave his granddaughter. This would offer him the needed assurance, plus roughly $2,000 in interest a year.

It’s not a surprising recommendation, but is that the best way for Ted to achieve his goal? Will that move maximize his hard-earned money? Obviously, he and his advisor thought so – until after Ted’s meeting with advisors on my team. Here’s what we recommended:

Ted invests his $100,000 in a contract that guarantees him an income of $7,128 a year for life. It is important to note here that because this contract is not an annuitization of his investment, if Ted dies before depleting his original $100,000 investment (which will be in about 14 years), the remaining balance will be turned over to his beneficiary (granddaughter, in this case). His yearly $7,128 payments will continue for as long as he is alive, whether that’s for two more years or 55 more years. With those lifetime payments, Ted then purchases a no-lapse-guarantee life insurance policy with a $100,000 death benefit, naming his granddaughter as beneficiary. Despite some health challenges, we were able to secure that coverage from a highly-rated insurer for $2,772 a year.

Now let’s take a look at the two approaches. The CD strategy brings in $2,000 a year, compared to a net of $4,356, after paying for the life insurance from his $7,128 lifetime income under our recommendation. Assuming Ted dies after 10 years, the CD route would have yielded $20,000 in interest payments. In addition, his granddaughter will receive the $100,000 inheritance. Alternatively, with our approach, he would have netted $43,650 (after receiving $71,280 in lifetime payments and paying $27,720 in premiums). What’s more, not only will Ted’s granddaughter receive the $100,000 insurance benefit, but also the remaining balance from his lifetime income contract (roughly $28,000+).

The difference is clear. It’s pretty much a no-brainer at this point that Ted will be much better off with our approach, isn’t it? Of course, your situation is different. But the question remains: Could you be doing better? Although Ted could not have possibly fathomed anything better than what he already had in place, his curiosity uncovered a whole new world and changed the course of his retirement beyond his wildest imagination. What might you discover with similar research?

For a thorough review of your financial situation to ensure that you are getting the most out of your hard-earned assets, call 877.656.9111 or visit www.LaserFG.com to request your complimentary, no-obligation session today!

_____________
Want to learn how you can KEEP more of your retirement money? Call 877.656.9111 or visit LaserFG.com to talk with an experienced retirement professional with a proven track record TODAY!

How Could 401(k) Income be Toxic for Social Security Recipients?

One of the most shocking things that many retirees discover - after the fact - is how their other sources of income directly affect the taxes they must pay on their Social Security checks. While most of us are aware that we must pay income tax on tax-deferred assets (like 401(k)s, and 403(b)s), many are under the erroneous impression that that's where things end.

Here is how things REALLY work under the U.S. Tax Code and how you can legally keep more of your hard-earned money:


_____________
Want to learn how you can KEEP more of your retirement money? Call 877.656.9111 or visit LaserFG.com to talk with an experienced retirement professional with a proven track record TODAY!