According to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, the most frequently reported retirement worry is outliving savings and investments. Across all ages, 51% of respondents cited this concern, and 41% of retirees claim the same fear. Additionally, only 46% of retirees think they've built a nest egg large enough to last through retirement.
 
Now is the time to face your fears. Take a look at a dozen ways you could go broke in retirement and learn how to avoid them. Some you can avert with careful planning; others you have little control over. But you can prepare your finances to make the best of whatever may come.

Throughout the first half of 2020, residents of Georgia as well as citizens around the globe have been feeling the detrimental physical and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 21, 2020, deaths in America climbed above 39,000. Throughout March and April, families across the country have continued to practice social distancing and follow strict stay-at-home orders.1

As an individual nearing 70, you’ve intended to delay your Social Security benefits until the decade comes. But in some cases, there are times when you may need the money sooner than expected. Seemingly in the knick of time, there is an option to receive up to six months of benefits in a lump-sum by initiating your Social Security retirement benefits early. While this is an important option to have, what are the consequences of applying early?

You notice over your morning coffee a stern warning emanating from your television as the very serious business reporter notes the Dow opening down one percent. What do you do? If you screamed, “Sell!” or “Panic!” perhaps you should take the advice of some of the world’s savviest investors and turn away from the stock ticker for the rest of the day. You may be envisioning dollar signs flying out of your wallet and you want to get on the phone and sell. You may even see an opportunity to buy. However, history tells us that sticking to your investment plan is always the smartest course of action and that market timing or panic selling will rarely if ever outpace simply letting the periodic "Bear " market to run its course.

Many of you already have estate documents, probably executed many years ago. You need an estate attorney to look over your documents every 10 years or so. Here are a dozen points to review.

As I write this today, crude oil sits at around $5.50 per barrel! As we began the year at an already low $68 per barrel, we are seeing a collapse of the oil markets like never before. What does this mean to the world economy and all of us? Although gas prices at the pump continue to fall, is this something I should be worried about? Let;s dive in.

Open enrollment for 2020 is almost here! You will be able to view and choose your option for the coming year beginning on October 15th. Open enrollment goes on through December 7th.

There are several ways you can learn about everything Medicare, 2020. First, you can call our office. As I've mentioned more than a few times, I headed up Medicare here in Georgia for Aetna and along with being a CFP®, stay up with all of the current changes to the program. Also, you can go to Medicare.gov plan finder. The site has just gone through a complete upgrade, but if you have used it before, you will see the familiar screens to lead to to the options in your county.

Guest Post 

​​AUTHOR: RACHEL MICHAELS

​By Roy Larsen, CFP®, AAMS®