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Retirement Can Be Hell...........unless?
For most of us, the mere thought of retirement is a topic that we tend to repeatedly shy away from. As a youngster, that's too far into the future to worry about - besides, we're having too much fun anyway. Who cares! As the years roll by, our thoughts do tend to mellow down somewhat, but in the main, we still manage to file the question in the "too hard basket." Ultimately, we have no alternative but to admit there is a big problem, and belatedly try to figure out a feasible answer. Needless to say, although some folks do make a determined effort in this regard, the vast majority seem to just let nature take it's course, and wait until the day arrives.
Ain't 20 /20 hindsight wonderful! From this vantage point, and looking backwards, we can see it all, and see clearly what we should have done years ago, but at the end of the day, much of our worrying is to no avail, because we'll find we are going to fall into one of two groups. We will be either a self - funded retiree, who holds sufficient capital to be able to adequately finance his own retirement, or in the case of the rest of us, will be dependant to a greater or lesser extent, on Social Security or whatever similar service exists in our area.
This latter group, will
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Retirement Living: Changes are coming to U.S. retirement systemThe financial crisis dealt a huge blow to U.S. retirement savers? 401(k) accounts -- a hit from which many investors have yet to recover despite the market?s rally -- and now lawmakers and others are pushing for new retirement-plan rules and policies.Retirement Living: Older and looking for work? Confront the biasHunting for a job is never easy, particularly in labor markets like this one, but it can be even harder when your hair is going gray. But there are ways to improve your chances of landing a job, regardless of your age, in these still-uncertain times.Retirement Living: Retirees win $100,000 prizes for good worksWhen you retire, do you plan to visit your grandkids, go on a few trips, relax a little? That was Judith Broder?s plan. But then she found herself profoundly moved by a play that chronicled Iraq war veterans? struggle when they return home.Retirement Living: 401(k)s took big, but not devastating, hit in 2008Maybe the best that can be said about the effect of last year?s market crash on average 401(k) balances is: It could have been worse.Retirement Living: Few savers plan to switch to Roth IRA: surveyCome January, more retirement savers will be able to convert to a Roth IRA. The question is: Do they know what that means?Retirement Living: Retirements in peril: U.S. system is full of holesThe destructive effects of the financial crisis may be waning, but your retirement account won?t soon forget. And while the recent stock-market recovery may feel good, it?s done little to stem a mounting crisis in the retirement system in the United States.Retirement Living: Top firms for workers over 50 focus on flexibilityEven in this economic downturn, the companies on AARP?s list of top 50 ?best workplaces? for people over 50 go a long way to make life a little easier for their workers.Retirement Living: Pension crisis likely to hit taxpayers eventuallyWhen the agency that insures traditional pension plans is running a $33.5 billion deficit -- the largest in its 35-year history -- should you be worried?Retirement Living: Mending your nest egg not as tough as you thinkSavers watched their investments get mauled as the stock market lost almost 40% of its value in 2008, but a new study finds it may not take them as long as they think to get back on track for retirement.Retirement Living: Couples split asunder on retirement plansMaybe they can agree that their savings have been mauled by the worst financial crisis in decades, but many married couples agree on little else when it comes to planning for retirement.
have an enormous problem on retirement. Whichever way they try to "cut the cake", they will find that they are required to exist on an income that equates to something like a quarter to a third of their pre-retirement income. Try this simple little exercise. Imagine that something happened and your income was exactly halved. (let's keep the figures simple) How would you manage? Would you be able to cope with an income drop like that? I sincerely doubt it, yet these poor folks, to a man, manage to do exactly that - an incredible feat! Having reached that level, they automatically lose all hope of improving their retirement status, because to attempt to do so, by doing some form of casual work, would probably jeopardise their level of Government support. "Happy retirement, Fred!" I've been struggling with this question for years, and still don't have a satisfactory answer. Nowadays, with the introduction of the Internet, there seems to be some hope at last, but only for those with the foresight to take action BEFORE that day of retirement actually arrives. This would definitely be your last chance, for once you actually retire, and sign up for some government assistance, this possible opportunity would no longer be an option. So, what exactly are we talking about here? It is quite possible, in this enlightened day and age, to start up a small business on the internet, for minimal cost, which would produce a small income, and thus offset at least some of the financial burden we normally experience in our normal life. If you were to take this step, prior to retirement, this project could be run as a self funded hobby initially, and then, once operating successfully, you could build it up to a level where, it would no longer be necessary to apply for government assistance. Guess what - you would have just upgraded yourself to the exalted rank of "self - funded retiree!" You'd now be the Boss, nobody would tell you what to do, and you would finally, be able to really start to enjoy that retirement you have worked so hard for. Which brings me to the subject of how I can help. I am currently setting up a website, to go with my blog, which should be ready soon. It is my intention to show you ways in which you will be able to acheive your goal, at minimal expense. Some of the things I will show you, can be obtained at no cost at all. If you keep an eye on my blog, I will be able to keep you up to date and informed. You will find one possible answer to the above, on my Blog, under the heading "Pennies From Heaven". Copyright © Bernard Kirkbride About the Author: To find the best ways of setting up an automated home business in the most economical manner, visit: http://automatedhomebiz.blogspot.com
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