How to Retire Blog

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Time is our most precious resource and I thank you for allowing me to get a few minutes of your time each week. I hope you find the blog helpful and informative. Send me an email if there is ever a topic you would be interested in learning more about. I will research it and write a future blog about it.

10 Action Items For A Great Retirement

July 24, 2021 Insights Misc.

There are obvious benefits for every person to have an identity in life. By knowing your identity you are not only able to accomplish your goals, but you also have a sense of wholeness. This remains true during your retirement years when your career is no longer your identity. By knowing who you are and what you want to accomplish in life, you'll gain a sense of confidence and pride and your life will be more meaningful and fulfilled. Let's discuss a few ways to discover your new identity in retirement.

Will The National Debt Become A Serious Problem At Some Point?

July 15, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding Insights

Every night in the news or in any news article we read we here about the government spending trillions of dollars on some new bill that's going to change the world. As our national debt snowballs it makes one wonder, will it become a serious problem at some point?

The Importance of Rebalancing Your Portfolio

July 8, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding

One of the most underused, overlooked and unappreciated practices in investing is rebalancing your portfolio on a yearly basis. There's an old saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Disciplined rebalancing, however, is as close as you can get to a free lunch. Let's explore why.

Your NRECA R&S Lump Sum Pensions Are At All Time Highs Until The End Of 2021

June 30, 2021 Retirement Funding

It’s 2021 and interest rates are at historic lows. This means your NRECA R&S Lump Sum Pension Amounts are at all time highs. This means if you have thought about retiring from your cooperative this could be the year to do it. However, you are running out of time!

Risk And Volatility

June 24, 2021 Retirement Funding Insights

I was talking to someone the other day and they asked what I did for a living. I said I'm a financial planner and I specialize in retirement planning. I help people create their retirement income and investment plans.

The Secret To Successful Investing

June 21, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding Insights

The secret to investing is complex. There is no silver bullet, there is no pill to take, there is no hot new stock, etc. Everyday we are bombarded by advertisers trying to sell us quick fixes to complex problems.

Your Cooperative Annuity Payment Options Explained In English

June 14, 2021 Retirement Funding

So let's say you are pondering retirement from your cooperative. Most cooperatives that participate in the NRECA plan provide you with an annuity option, lump sum option or some variation of both options via your R&S pension plan. If you are not familiar with annuities and their payment options the choices can be a bit confusing. I'm going to list the options with plain definitions that are easy to understand in hopes that it can help you make an informed decision.

What Lesson Can We Learn From A Postage Stamp?

June 7, 2021 Retirement Funding

A nonsmoking couple of average retirement age, which is 62, has a joint life expectancy today of 30 years. That means there is a good chance one of you is living to age 92 and will be in retirement for 30 years.

Inflation Is The Silent Killer Of Your Retirement Plan

June 1, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding

High Blood Pressure is often referred to as the silent killer of human beings. It has no obvious symptoms to indicate something is wrong. Many people don't even know they have it. It develops slowly over time and although it can't be cured but it can be managed. Your retirement plan has a similar killer...inflation.

Should You Pay A Financial Advisor?

May 25, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding Insights

At 80/20 Financial Services, our mission is to increase your time, money and peace of mind by helping you create a retirement income and investment plan that aligns with your goals and guide you through the completion of that plan year after year.

The Tsunami Of Noise Created By Financial Journalism

May 17, 2021 Retirement Funding Insights

Every single day each one of us is inundated and even overwhelmed by the tsunami of noise from financial journalism. Most of it centers around timing of the market, perfect selection of funds. The "experts" say things like "Big correction coming soon!" or "Here's the three next big technology stocks to jumpstart your portfolio." and on and on and on.

Is Gold A Good Investment Right Now?

May 5, 2021 Investment Insights

It seems that whatever I read, watch or listen to these days gets interrupted by a former celebrity telling me I need to buy gold because of (insert whatever manufactured crisis you want here). If I'm seeing this constantly then some of you are as well. So...let's talk about gold as an investment.

Three Types Of Financial Advisors And How They Get Paid

April 29, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding Insights

The three most common business structures that use the terms are Insurance Companies, Broker Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers. All three are very different in how they run their business and each will specialize in different areas.

How Much Money Do You Need To Retire From Your Cooperative?

April 19, 2021 Retirement Funding Insights

Do you know how much money it's going to take for you to retire from your cooperative comfortably?

Do You Need Help Managing Your 401k Plan?

April 12, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding

Did you know that the S&P 500 Index Mutual Fund available to you through your NRECA 401k options has historically averaged a return of approximately 10 percent? Did you know over that same period of time the average cooperative employee in the 401k plan has averaged a return of only 3.9 percent?

Retiring From Your Cooperative Soon?

April 6, 2021 Investment Retirement Funding

Today I would like to discuss one of the biggest decisions you have to make when you retire. Should you take your cooperative's monthly pension offer or should you take the lump sum offer?