Retirement Plan The Road Map To Your Financial Future

Create Your Retirement Plan! I once heard somewhere that to set a goal is like planning your future in advance! Since I’m sure we both can agree that a retirement plan is a goal, let’s not neglect the importance of how you arrive at your goal because the process will leave a lasting impression upon your future finances which ultimately shapes your retirement lifestyle.

Yes it’s personal. A retirement plan has your fingerprints all over it and just like fingerprints, no two sets of retirement plans are exactly alike. I firmly believe it is and should always be tailored to fit what’s important to you and the people you love and care about the most.

Why do you need a retirement plan? Where do you begin? Is it too late or too early to get started? How much money will it take to get started and how much money do you need to accumulate over time? What strategies should you put in place to accomplish your retirement goals?

The answers to these questions can be provided by me free of charge through a process I like to call the “planning diagnosis”. This is actually the first step involved in me helping you to create the retirement plan of your liking based on your family values, lifestyle needs and material desires.

A Retirement Plan Governed By Principles

When consulting with others I choose to take a systematic approach rooted on financial principles. In his bestselling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People “, Stephen R. Covey talks about the “Law of the Harvest”, which basically reminds us that life is based on principles or as he puts it, “the natural laws of effectiveness.”

He said “principles are changeless; they remain the same year after year, century after century. They govern our lives and control the consequences of our actions.” According to Mr. Covey, “a principle is the actual reality like the law of gravity of the way things are.”

Quickly before I continue talking about how to design the best retirement plan to fit your life, I’d like to give you in my opinion a shining example that clearly illustrates why it’s important now more than ever to be proactive in designing your future because inaction or poor preparation is a choice I believe you don’t want to regret later in life.

What Did He Ask?

Mr. Covey asked a simple question, he asked, “how many of you when you were in school did a lot of cramming? He later asked, now have you ever worked on a farm? Did you ever ‘cram’ on the farm?

He said, I don’t mean just work hard at the end to bring in the harvest. I mean to forget to plan in the spring, to flake off all summer and then to really hit it hard in the fall to bring in the harvest! He said, of course that’s patently foolish and we know why because a farm is a natural system. It is governed by principles.”

Sadly enough Stephen’s example describes most Americans with regard to a having lack of or an insufficient retirement plan in place! I sincerely hope that you’re not planning to “cram” for your retirement because though it’s possible, it won’t be nearly as effective as it was in school. Remember, this is your Retirement we’re talking about here!

Retirement Plan Needs Analysis

So turning back to our prior discussion, I was talking about the initial process you and I will need to go through to determine where you are now and what path you need to take to get where you want to be in the future.

I called this the “planning diagnosis” stage and in it we will go through a series of questions to help you identify everything that’s important to you and why. This is usually done face to face or it can be done over the telephone, by skype, etc. and typically lasts around 20 – 30 minutes.

The sole focus of this will be on completing a needs analysis with your best interest in mind. It is not a sales call! Truthfully, it may become apparent during this process that we won’t be able to work together.

It does happen occasionally. Perhaps after uncovering some facts, it may be determined that you don’t like my recommendation(s) or you maybe you won’t qualify for what I have to offer. That’s why this first step is crucial.

As you can see it’s similar to a first appointment with a medical doctor because I will ask you a series of questions in an effort to uncover facts that will aid in the formulation of a proposal and proper recommendation in our follow up meeting. Those recommendations may include multiple solutions to start you off in the right direction.

When Shall we Meet?

All proposals will inherently have advantages and disadvantages depending upon your interpretation of how they relate to your retirement planning objectives and of course no one plan works for everyone.

In addition, based on what you and I determine is most important to you, I may recommend other professional services that would require you to see one of my trusted circle of advisors that specialize in areas beyond the scope of my expertise. Generally, this would be in an effort to have comprehensive financial planning for yourself, your family, or your business.

Our follow up appointment if possible, should be done face to face because I want present and explain the recommendations mentioned above in person. These can be challenging and even uncomfortable choices to make for some people and I truly understand the range of emotions that you may experience during this process and that’s why I prefer to serve you and your loved ones in person. Once you have chosen a retirement plan solution from the number of options presented, we will move to execute the plan!

Retirement Planning Tools

In my eBook , Seven Steps to Short and Long Term Financial Security in Any Economy, I discuss in detail, different strategies of retirement planning, especially as it relates to beating inflation and taxes which are two games in my opinion you must win to achieve financial security and independence.

In my white paper special report, How to Protect Your Retirement Goose and Its Golden Eggs From Economic Uncertainty Starting Today, I go into more detail on the need for investing in a Diverse Asset Class in today’s environment.

I discuss the growing popularity of investing in two different plans that is guaranteed to bullet proof a portion of your retirement nest egg, both under the umbrella of what’s called the Indexed Strategy which just happens to be my specialty!

I have a forthcoming DVD set with a little over 1 hour of instructional video where I make the case for Asset Class Diversification. The principal way to do this is by utilizing investments under the Indexed Strategy umbrella therefore the name of the DVD set is, “Indexed Strategy: Your Guide to Retirement Savings Peace of Mind For the New Economy.”

Let’s face it, with so much uncertainty with the government, unemployment, global events, and the future in general, wouldn’t it be comforting to know that a portion of your financial future is locked in? Of course it would be, and that is what I teach people.

Retirement Plan Call to Action

The bottom line here is if you don’t have a retirement plan, regardless of your age, I can help you formulate a plan that is manageable that can begin to cement your future.

I have complete conviction about the arguments I make in terms of one’s need, now more than ever, to take a proactive approach to financial planning.

I truly believe it’s time for Americans to get their “heads out of the sand” as it relates to retirement planning. Procrastination is the biggest impediment to success.

Even for those in their twenties or thirties, putting away as little as just $100 per month or just $1,200 per year can yield account values into the 6 figures later in life! Again, I give more specifics on this in my eBook.

It’s not magic. The power of financial principles can work for or against you. Make them your best ally, especially if you’re a young adult because the Time Value of Money and Compound Interest is an awesome thing to witness indeed.

In developing a retirement plan, one size does not fit all! Some people will have more exposure to stocks or stock mutual funds, while others will take more conservative routes such as Fixed Annuities. So ready, set, go! Time is of the essence. Take Action today and create or redesign your Retirement Plan today!