These strategies can help recover lost income and/or assets following one or more of the life events described above. These strategies can also be used by late savers to make up for lost time and to prepare for a comfortable retirement.

Increase Contributions to Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings Plans. The 2001 tax law increased annual contribution limits for IRAs and employer 401(k), 403(b), and Section 457 plans, at least through 2010. Just a 1% increase in the amount of pay diverted to savings can result in thousands of additional dollars at retirement. Americans contributed an average of $3,514 to 401(k) plans in 2001 (Opdyke and Higgins 2002). The maximum plan contribution limits are $12,000 in 2003, $13,000 in 2004, $14,000 in 2005, $15,000 in 2006, and higher amounts adjusted for inflation thereafter. (more…)

In 1999 the Social Security Administration (SSA) began mailing Social Security statements annually to all adults 25 and over about three months prior to their birthdays. In the statement, you receive an estimate of your benefits under the most current laws, and a record of your social security statement of earnings upon which your benefits are based. If you do not have this statement, you need to get one. Call 800-772-1213 or go to www.ssa.gov and request a statement order form. Because this is sensitive personal information, it is not available online. You have to mail a form to the SSAand wait for a response in four to six weeks. (more…)

Not every Florida condominium complex built around a golf course is secretly a continuing care retirement community, but some may be. This type of community may offer options that range from completely independent living in retirement, all the way to round-the-clock nursing home care, with a variety of possibilities in between. Sometimes this housing arrangement is called a life care community. To join, residents must buy their unit and also pay a monthly fee. The community may provide transportation to the grocery store, the mall, or the concert hall, amenities that (more…)

When you retire, are you going to have enough money to meet all your expenses and keep up with inflation? If you are like the vast majority of us, your answer will be a resounding, “NO”!

Statistically, 95% of people retire with too few financial resources. (more…)

The US Federal Government is in its death throes. It is thrashing around, writhing on the floor, like a person suffering a grand mal seizure.

The Obama Administration, The Federal Reserve and Congress are completely clueless on the methods necessary to bring America back from the financial precipice. (more…)