Is It Possible To Have A Retirement In Todays Economy…

If you find yourself asking “Is it possible to have a retirement in todays economy?” the good news is yes, it is. The ability to retire or not, or retire the way you really want to retire is less about the current condition of the economy and more about the state of your personal economy.

You see, many people who have taken care of their finances by saving plenty, keeping a close eye on their investments and living within their means, aren’t being harmed at all by the current state of the economy.

Is it possible to have a retirement in todays economy? Only if you are willing to do your part to make it happen. Of course, the earlier you start your retirement planning the easier it will be.

Not only will you have more time to save you will also have more time to rebound if your plans go astray.

A job loss or an illness can be all it takes to make it necessary for you to have to dig into your retirement savings just to keep afloat. So, the earlier you start the more time you will have to potentially regain this money you have been forced to use for your day to day expenses.

Obviously, I don’t know you or your personal situation so I can’t offer you exact advice in this short article. What I can do, however, is to offer you some broad guidelines that will usually apply to most people.

Also, this article may provide you with a good starting point on getting your financial affairs in order. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

1. If you choose to find a planner to help you get your finances, and your retirement planning, on track, make sure you choose carefully.

Not all planners are created equal. If you want to ensure you get the best possible advice for you (and who wouldn’t) you may want to stick with a RIA planner. These planners are part of a group that ensures that they have a fiduciary standard they have to live up to.

In other words, they are legally bound to only do the things that will help you, by law they must do everything in their power to provide you with the best possible advice.

Now, some of you may be thinking “but don’t all advisers work in my best interest?”, well, no, unfortunately that is not the way it works.

You see many so called financial advisers make their money on commissions. These commissions are only generated when you buy or sell a financial product. So, if you don’t buy or sell anything they don’t make any money.

What happens if the market is overheated and there really aren’t any stocks that you should be buying because buying at this time will mean you will overpay? Do you really think a commissioned sales person will tell you to hold off buying if they know that they won’t make any money? Unlikely.

2. Make sure you have at least some basic education on fiances. You have to be a partner in your investment and you can’t do that if you have no idea how it all works.

If you follow these steps you won’t ever have to wonder: “Is it possible to have a retirement in todays economy”. You will be set no matter what the economy does… and won’t that feel amazing!

Handy Retirement Tips: Things to Think About for Retirement…

When planning for retirement, the first thing that probably comes to mind is setting up your finances. And while this is obviously one of the most important, there are many things to take into consideration when thinking about or facing retirement.

Retirement that is well planned is a retirement well spent. A little knowledge and information goes a long way in helping to make your retirement plans and dreams come true.

Where Will You Live?

If you are fortunate enough to have planned well enough financially for retirement, the next biggest thought should be where you want to live. Have you thought about moving to a warmer climate? If so, where will that warmer climate be?

There are many ways you can explore new areas before you are faced with the actual date of your retirement.

* Take smaller road trips as you approach retirement. Plan short weekend trips to explore new areas close to or just a short distance away from where you are living now.

* Make sure that your vacations are well planned. Time vacations with time-share opportunities to explore new communities. Include real estate tours in your vacation time.

* Use the internet and gather as much information from others that have relocated to get their advice and opinions.

* If you find a place that you like, make sure that you visit during all seasons to see if this is really a good fit for you.

Will You Downsize or Keep Your Family Home?

For many retired couples, the thought of giving up their family home is unbearable. If this is the case for you, make sure that you have the necessary help through family, friends, and neighbors, or the financial security to pay someone in order to help you maintain your home.

You will need to keep in mind several things:

* Repairs are often unexpected; make sure that you have a plumber and an electrician handy at all times.

* Cleaning a larger home may be a difficult and cumbersome task later on in life.

* The older you home gets, the more repairs it will need.

* Do not forget about seasonal maintenance such as shoveling snow and mowing the lawn.

How Close or Far Do You Want to Be from Family

For some older folks, being away from family is a rewarding experience as they feel that they have raised their children and it is now their time to enjoy life.

However, for some the thought of being away from grandchildren and children is unbearable. Keep in mind that once you make a move, especially a big move, moving back can prove stressful.

These are just a few helpful tips to consider before retiring.

5 Reasons To Choose Foreclosure Homes For Investments…

There are plenty of opportunities for people to invest, even when economic times can be hard. Those who have money during rough economic periods have the most to gain, as they can find investments for prices that are lower than they would be in any other economic climate.

Foreclosed homes are one of the best investments that many can make. Beautiful, expensive homes can be found in amazing neighborhoods for incredibly low prices. While the housing market may not boom for a few years, those who have invested in these homes will be able to sell for an incredible gain the minute that they do.

If you are looking for an investment to make, you should choose foreclosure homes for investments. While there are multiple reasons to do so, these 5 reasons show the obvious benefits of foreclosed homes for investors.

Low Cost

If you are looking to invest in something, you want to know that you are going to get a large return on that investment. You can be sure that you will eventually see high financial returns when you purchase a foreclosed home. You are purchasing a home for less than the perceived value of the home. If and when home prices rise again, you will see the full benefits of your investment because of the low cost of the foreclosed home.

Simple Sales

If you are looking to make your investments simple and easy, you will benefit from a foreclosed home. You may choose to file for your loan through the bank that is offering the foreclosed home. This helps to streamline your purchasing process, making your overall investment a smooth and simple transaction.

Renovation Possibilities

If you are thinking about a foreclosed home as an investment tool, you are going to want to think about improvements. The benefits of the low-cost of the foreclosure can help you to save money for renovations.

Buyers Market

If you are in a buyerÕs market, you are in luck. When the market is a ÒbuyerÕs marketÓ, it means that the buyers have all of the leverage in terms of bargaining power and competition. Homes are offered at lower prices, and are sold at lower prices, because of the lack of people actually purchasing homes in the current market. The lower the demand, the lower the cost.

Rental Possibilities
Investors are looking rental opportunities square in the eye when they look into foreclosed homes. Rental properties are perfect in a down market, as individuals are more likely to rent a property than buy a property. You can easily see revenue when you purchase a home and rent it out to other individuals.

Rough economic settings are not favorable or enjoyable, but should still be exploited for their investment possibilities. If you have set yourself up financially to invest during a time of economic decline, you should choose foreclosure homes for investments. While you may not see a return on your investment for a few years, you can know that you will eventually see a positive return.

Different Ways Of Investing Money…

Before you jump into any forms of investing money, it’s important that you understand your own risk tolerance levels and your own personal financial situation.

Some investors are happy to receive low returns on a regular basis simply because they are guaranteed returns. Other investors prefer to take slightly higher risks in an effort to earn higher-than-average returns on their money.

There are so many different ways of investing money that it’s impossible to say which one is the best option and which is the worst. What matters is that you try to find the options that best suit your own financial situation and your own financial goals.

Let’s look at some different ways of investing money.

Cash Deposits and Term Deposits

Leaving your money sitting in a bank’s term deposit account might earn you some interest on your money, but the returns will be lower than some other options. However, a low return is sometimes better than taking a risk of losing your money on other investment options!

Mutual Funds

A mutual fund is a collective investment where the funds from lots of investors is pooled together to invest in various securities. Fund managers control the investments and trading activities, attempting to derive returns for the fund’s investors.

Bonds

Bonds are a security where the issuer owes the investor a debt. The bond holder is able to invest in various companies or even in federal government bonds. Bonds are considered quite low-risk investments by some investors.

Residential Real Estate

There are many different ways to invest in real estate. Investors can either buy property with the intention of generating rental income or hang on to the property over a period of time hoping their capital value increases. Investors can also buy and renovate or otherwise improve it with the intention of generating capital growth, or perhaps buying property for the purpose of redeveloping it.

Commercial Real Estate

Investors in commercial real estate generally purchase large commercial properties, such as shopping malls or office buildings, and lease them out to companies at a profit.

Stock Market

Investing in the stock market involves buying shares, or stocks, of large, publicly listed companies. Day traders buy and sell stocks rapidly, hoping to capture some of the short term gains. Long term investors will buy shares to form an investment portfolio, either to reap the dividend income or to reinvest the dividend returns back into share reallocation to increase the portfolio further.

Gold and Silver

Investing in gold or silver doesn’t always mean owning big bars of shiny metal and hiding them in your closet. Ownership can actually be verified and transferred via certificates or shares. However, Swiss banks may allow some customers to hold gold accounts in order to conduct transactions using precious metal as currency.

Foreign Currency Exchange

Investing in the forex market is probably best left to investors who understand how this volatile market works. Essentially, you trade an amount of one currency for another country’s currency. When the value changes, you exchange your currency back again, hopefully realizing a gain once the transaction is complete. It is possible to make substantial gains by trading on the forex market, it’s equally possible to realize large losses too. It’s also worth noting that in some countries, profits generating by trading on the forex market are capital gains tax free.

These are just a few different ways of investing money. Before jumping into any investment, always be sure it is in line with your own personal level ofo risk tolerance. You should also be sure that your investment choices are also in line with your own financial goals.

Social Activities for Seniors…

The social lives of seniors tend to slow down once they reach 65 to 70 years of age. It is important to provide them enough social activities to maintain a good sense of confidence and identity. In most cases, older individuals want to stay with others who also belong in the same age bracket. Here are some of the tried and proven ways to keep them sane.

Good Old Group Gatherings

Group gatherings are a great way for senior citizens to mingle and communicate with other people. The gatherings may stem from church, a lifestyle seminar or any type of hobby for that matter. There are different organizations and agencies forming meet ups every now and then that specifically cater to the social needs of older individuals. In a typical meeting, there may be 5 to 30 participants. A guidance counselor or leader organizes the program in a way that seniors can talk about their current situation, sentiments and other concerns.

The gathering is usually held in a hall or outdoor setting where older individuals can appreciate nature and tranquillity. The agenda can cover one or several topics. Some of the most ideal seminars to attend include self-care, independence and rehabilitative activities for seniors. A meeting may last anywhere from 1 hour to an entire weekend.

Introducing the Internet

You may be surprised to know that senior citizens enjoy technology as much as younger people. You can introduce a senior to the computer, laptop or PDA where they can immediately get connected to various sites and gain tons of information. Teach them about the latest updates regarding the world and their current situation. It is also excellent to let them join online forums, chatrooms and social networking sites where they can view, meet and talk to different people from all over the globe.

At first, seniors will need assistance on how to operate the computer and get connect to the internet. Teach them the basics, such as the proper use of search engines. It will also help to give them safety tips such as checking the potential of a web site and looking out for possibly unscrupulous people that are out to get their credit card numbers and cash.

Indulge in Sports

Senior citizens enjoy sports a lot. At this point, it is recommended that you provide less-strenuous activities such as golf, fishing and light walking. You may also have them get on more active sports, depending on their personal preference and physical capacity. Some of the others to include are swimming, basketball, cricket and tennis.

Seniors also enjoy a lot of table games such as chess, poker and other card games. Board games are also a good way for them to socialize and get their minds to work. Talk about other things while playing, since these people are very inclined to tell their life stories to those who want to listen.

Getting a Buddy

Some people are not as sociable as others and usually just keep to themselves even when activities are introduced. A good approach is to sit down and listen to the person in a one-on-one conversation session. Ask open-ended questions and encourage the individual to share sentiments and other details. You may also give the person a pen and paper to draw or write on. Some would like others to know about their stories only through pictures and words.

The Advantages of Activities for Seniors…

Most people may think that activities for seniors only offer physical advantages. The fact is, programs like these cater very well for a full-rounded approach, targeting the physical, mental, social, spiritual and emotional aspects. Seniors need to have a deeper sense of identity during this part of their lives. Developing the right program will benefit them a lot.

Physical Advantages

Primarily, the physical aspect always benefits from different activities that cater to seniors. Older individuals tend to have lower immune systems, experience different pains and stiffness in their bodies, may no longer be capable of doing certain actions, have reduced range of motion and are more prone to developing disease. This is also the time when underlying conditions manifest several signs and symptoms. Complications can also arise for conditions that may have lied dormant for many years.

By doing forms of exercise and stretching routines, seniors greatly enhance their bodies to perform different movements more accordingly. Some of the known benefits include wide range of motion, enhanced strength, longer endurance, better performance in sports, enhanced sexual health, stronger and more toned muscles, better balance and a more stable posture. They will be able to do different activities on their own without trouble.

Emotional Benefits

Activities for seniors can be done singly, in pairs or in groups. These pose a lot of emotional benefits since the individuals get a chance to express themselves fully. They can talk about their past, their present concerns and their dreams for the future. In most cases, seniors want to talk about family and their past accomplishments to gain a sense of identity and develop a feeling of fulfilment.

It is important that you listen to whatever the senior citizen has to say and respond in a positive manner. Allow them to voice out their particular concerns and whatever it is that they want to have to boost self-esteem. Becoming stronger and more independent through the programs gives them a renewed sense of confidence.

Social Benefits

Seniors get to do activities with a partner or with several others in a group. Some programs are also competitive in nature, so seniors get to compare their personal capacities with others in a friendly way. It is vital that they get to relate with others who are also sharing the same sentiments. It is very much advised to do activities with seniors, together with their close friends and family. They should achieve a sense of recognition, thereby making them more capable of handling themselves properly in social affairs.

Mental Pluses

Activities for seniors boost their ability to think critically and analyze too. Some games and programs require proper assessment of certain situations, so the elderly will then devise solutions and answers according to their own understanding. You may introduce them to valuable resources like the internet, where they can stay updated with recent news and other current events. Provide mind games and simple challenges that will enhance the way they think as a whole.

Simple activities like playing chess, word games, conversation and math drills are great ways to boost the seniors’ mental capacity. Do these 3 to 4 times a week, with some short courses throughout the week for follow-up purposes. Assess their response and development over the weeks and up the challenge as necessary for nonstop progress.

Relieve Stomach Gas – Pay Attention To Your Habits…

Stomach gas, it can be one of the most embarrassing, and funny, things many of us deal with, it can also be very painful. Gas can cause burping, bloating, flatulence and pain. If you want to know how to relieve gas on the stomach you’ll be happy to hear that there are some simple things you can do.

Many people simply swallow a lot of air. They can be heavy breathers or they might take in air when they chew gum or food.

Pay attention to your habits and how much air you take in when you eat, drink, or even chew gum. Awareness of these habits is the first step to changing habits and reducing the amount of gas you have. Try to be more careful about the air you take in during your daily activities.

Keep things moving by getting adequate amounts of fiber in your daily diet. If you get constipated take a laxative containing simethicone that can help break up gas bubbles.

But remember that when you first add more fiber to your diet you’ll likely see an increase in the amount of gas you get so add it to your diet slowly to allow your digestive system to get used to it.

Chewing your food well will take some of the work off of your stomach and help decrease the amount of gas you get. When your stomach works overtime to digest your food that can sometimes cause gas.

And we all know that diet can play a role in getting stomach gas. We all know that beans can create gas, they even have their own cute little song, but there are many other types of foods that can cause gas.

Sometimes our desire to eat healthier and avoid gas can be mutually exclusive concepts since many of the foods that are best for us to eat: broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts cause gas so if you are trying to introduce these foods into your diet, do so slowly. And try to avoid spicy foods whenever possible.

Avoid eating too much refined starches, sugar, or wheat flour since they can produce excess gas. Instead eat barley broth, brown rice, and pineapple.

Remember too, that it’s not just what types of foods you eat it’s also how much you eat. Many households get quite musical right after a big holiday meal. Eat smaller servings and eat more slowly.

And of course everyone is different, find out what triggers gas in you, and once you isolate those foods you can be sure to avoid them, or at least avoid them if you’re going to be leaving your house right after the meal.

Learning how to relieve gas on the stomach is not difficult. Some simple lifestyle changes, such as the types of foods you eat, the amount of food you eat at a time, how fast you eat your food, and even what time of day you eat, can be all it takes, to eliminate, or diminish, painful and embarrassing gas.

Borrowing Money From Your 401K – Only In Emergency’s…

Sometimes you really just find yourself needing some money. Unexpected events such as a car breakdown can put a damper in your budget no matter how well you plan. In situations where you need money and need it quick, you can look into Borrowing money from your 401 K. Typically, when someone makes a 401k plan they do not expect to take any money out of it until it has grown and matured.

But life does not always go the way we hope and sometimes we need to delve into whatever source of money we can find, and sometimes that means taking money from our 401k. This has been thought of and that is why most 401k plans will actually have that type of loan available.

While taking a loan from your 401k can often make the difference between paying off a bill and falling further into debt, there are risks involved. If you do not handle the loan carefully you can not only run the risk of having to pay much more down the road, but you also run the risk of ruining your 401k.

Not all 401k plans are the same and so there is no universal method for getting money out of them. You need to check into the specific plan you have and find out what restrictions apply when Borrowing money from your 401 K. For most plans they will require that you borrow a minimum amount of money, usually anywhere from five hundred to a thousand dollars. They often will also have a maximum amount that you can borrow, usually around fifty thousand dollars. However, again, every plan is different so you will need to look and see whether this applies to you or not.

While taking money from your 401k plan may be a life saver, you may not be able to. While most plans are different, there are usually similarities in the form of requirements. Most plans will not let you borrow money from them unless you can meet the requirements they put in place. If you do not meet these requirements they will not lend you the money. So this is another reason for why you should look over your plan carefully and read the fine print so that you are properly educated.

Like most loans, a loan from your 401k will have a set repayment plan that you will have to adhere to. This can be anywhere from 5 to 15 years depending on what type of loan you took out and what type of plan you are on. The nice thing about Borrowing money from your 401 K is that, while you of course have to pay it back, the interest rates are fairly low and are actually put back into your 401k.

While taking a loan from your 401k is a good option, there are some additional fees that you may have to pay. Such as yearly fees or fees if you miss a payment. If your company has someone who manages 401k plans you should talk to them in case you have any questions.

Long Term Anxiety Characterized as Generalized Anxiety…

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by long-term anxiety, excessive worry, and tension, even though there appears to be no reason to feel this way. This disorder affects about 6.8 million American adults (and twice as many women as men). The disorder usually develops gradually. It can start at any age but the highest-risk years are between childhood and middle age, a rather large time span. Evidence shows that genes play a modest role in GAD.
Those who suffer from GAD will go through the day feeling worried and aprehensive. They often anticipate disaster in even minor situations and are usually overly concerned about various issues such as health, money, family problems, or difficulties at work. It may even be hard getting started in the morning because of the thought of what lies ahead of them for the day.

If you find you have been over-worrying about many every-day problems for at least 6 months, you may be diagnosed with GAD. Although you may realize that your concerns are exaggerated, the problem still persists. Not being able to relaxe, startling easily, having difficulty concentrating are all symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Other problems include having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Physical symptoms that often accompany the anxiety include fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, having to go to the bathroom frequently, feeling out of breath, and hot flashes.

The level of severity of your GAD can vary greatly. If you are diagnozed with a mild case, you can function socially for the most part and hold down a job with little difficulty. If your GAD is severe, you can find it difficult even to complete what may seem like the simplest activities.

GAD is usually treated with medications and/or psychotherapy. You may benefit most from a combination of the two. It may take some trial and error to discover exactly what treatments work best for you.

Medications include antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro), sertaline (Zoloft), venlafaxine (Effexor) and imipramine (Tofranil); Buspirone (BuSpar); and Benzodiazepines like clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Benzodiazepines are for the most part only used for relieving acute anxiety on a short-term basis (for example, when you are having an attack). However, they have a tendency to be addictive and some pretty serious side effects like drowsiness, reduced muscle coordination and impaired balance and memory.

Psychotherapy, often referred to as talk therapy and psychological counseling, deals with trying to work out the underlying life stresses and concerns that may cause your GAD. Once these have been identified, it is possible to and make behavior changes that can reduce your anxiety. One of the most recognized types of psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Basically, short-term cognitive behavioral therapy aims to teach you specific skills that you can then use to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and substitute them with positive ones.

The above information about generalized anxiety disorder does not substitute medical advice given by a health professional.

Bundle All Insurance Policies – Everything Can Be Insured…

Insurance plays a big role in today’s society. There is insurance for just about everything, with common types being anything from home owner’s insurance, renters insurance and vehicle insurance to health insurance or life insurance. Insurance acts as a buffer against the unknown.

Things happen in life, and sometimes our own expenses can not cover them. A car accident, your house burning down, getting sick. Things happen that we can not control, and that is where insurance comes in to help cover those unexpected expenses. But the cost of having insurance can sometimes be just as hard as paying for any damage that might happen.

Because of those costs, people are always looking for ways to save. The best way to save is to simply Bundle all Insurance Policys together. By bundling services you can often times get a lot of different benefits, depending on your insurance company. These benefits and decrease in cost can make your insurance way more affordable.

Many of the larger insurance companies will offer a variety of insurance policies such as home insurance, car insurance, and health insurance. That is why they will offer those benefits and discounts for bundling your services. It encourages you to bring all your business to them.

So instead of getting health insurance from one company, auto insurance from another, and home insurance from a third company, it encourages you to get all three at one company for the discounts. That is why you should Bundle all Insurance Policys together.

The discounts and benefits offered differ between insurance companies. Some companies will offer better discounts then others, so you should probably shop around to see where you can get the best deal without sacrificing the benefits of the actual insurance plans.

While the discounts differ between companies, there are some constants. For example, you can expect to save upwards of 10% by simply bundling your services together. Some companies will even discount other insurance policies if you bundle with them.

With so many insurance companies out there constantly battling each other by lowering their rates, you may be left wondering what to do if another company is offering lower rates then what you are paying now. In cases like this, people will often times go with the lower rates instead of bundling their services, thinking it will save them money.

But that actually is not the case most of the time. If you have say, home owners insurance with one company and auto insurance with another because it had lower rates, you might actually be paying more. If you Bundle all Insurance Policys with a single company, even if their rates are a little higher you might actually still be saving more money then if you had split between two different companies.

Now whether or not that holds true for you depends entirely on your circumstances. The premiums of insurance change depending on your personal circumstances so even bundling your services together may not be enough to save you money. But for the most part, it is strongly advised to always bundle services to save yourself as much money as possible.