Commentary Presented by: Dana Dunkelberger

This week’s article tells a story we are all too familiar with: “Approaching retirement at age 65, John and Jill Smith realized their monthly income from Social Security and pensions total $700 less than their fixed expenses. They have savings to fill the gap, but worry that their nest egg may not be sufficient to cover both their fixed expenses and their annual travel plans — especially if they are fortunate enough to enjoy a long retirement. Prudent investors often tackle this problem by becoming ultra conservative with their money. They commit to withdrawing so little from their savings that they have almost no chance of using it all up — say 4 percent of their account balance per year — or they simply forego travel and most other forms of discretionary spending. There is an alternative approach, one that could be considered even more fiscally conservative and yet simultaneously more freeing. It involves using some portion of your savings to purchase an annuity, which is a special type of insurance contract that can be used to generate a guaranteed stream of income for life. The idea is to use these payouts to cover your monthly income gap, which then frees you to use the balance of your savings as you like — without worrying that you’ll be unable to afford food and shelter down the road.” Sound like an option you’d like to pursue? Call us, we’re always here to help.

Commentary Presented by: Dana Dunkelberger​

The ongoing pandemic is causing people to worry, “whether they are approaching their retirement age or just starting out in their career – anxious about their finances, and retirement plans. This is the reason why more and more people are increasingly considering lifetime income products that are less vulnerable to factors like market volatility, retirement longevity, and challenges created by cognitive decline in order to secure their retirement income.” If you are worried and would like to learn more about these types of products, call us. We’re always here to help.

Commentary Presented by: Dana Dunkelberger​

This week’s article points out that “Social Security payments are one of the biggest assets that most people have,” and “how you handle that income has an important impact on an overall plan.” A “critical move” that is highlighted is not only to know your full retirement age and to weigh the advantages of delaying your Social Security benefits, but to “coordinate the timing of benefit claims with your spouse.” A law “phases out a strategy known as restricting an application for spousal benefits, which could boost a couple’s total payout by tens of thousands of dollars.” Call us if you have made your critical moves and still need options for income that you can’t outlive. We’re always here to help.

Commentary Presented by: Dana Dunkelberger
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This week’s article reminds us “silver is the new green”, and that “around the world, people are living longer as birth rates decline.” Because of this, it isn’t just public policymakers and the private business sector that must reevaluate their long-term strategies. As Seniors, we are reminded a “changing landscape offers significant rewards for those with the foresight to adapt.” Call us. It pays to think ahead, and we’re always here to help you do that.