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The Coronavirus Correction
In late February, concern that efforts to contain Coronavirus Disease 2019 (a.k.a. COVID-19) might result in slower global economic growth disrupted global markets. Share prices fell as economists and financial analysts revised growth expectations, and investors worried about the possibility of recession.1, 2 Efforts to contain the virus have included quarantines, factory and school closings, and trade show cancellations, reported Financial Times. These measures have slowed productivity in nations where they occur and elsewhere. For [...]
LifeStyle Newsletter – Coronavirus 101: The Basics
The coronavirus, which is now officially called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has received a lot of attention. Since the outbreak began in China, late in 2019, the disease and efforts to understand and manage it have made headlines around the world. The situation has been changing rapidly, but the body of knowledge about COVID-19 is growing.1 Unfortunately, not all information being distributed is accurate. Axios reported “The spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak is being matched, [...]
Our Identity is Not Our Job
Transitioning from a Work Identity to a Retirement Identity The jobs we do for 40 hours every week – and the life that job provides for our families over decades – has a significant influence on how we view ourselves. That’s why many new retirees struggle with a loss of identity. Without familiar work routines, responsibilities, accomplishments, financial rewards, and social networks, some retirees feel lost. Suddenly, a vigorous professional go-getter is sunk in [...]
The SECURE Act Changed Retirement, Estate, and College Plans
There was a little something for everyone in the ‘Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement’ (SECURE) Act, a piece of bipartisan legislation that was attached to the United States federal spending bill and signed into law toward the end of 2019. Here are some of its provisions:1 • Tax relief for children with unearned income • Authorized federally-penalty-free distributions from retirement plans after the birth or adoption of a child • Opened workplace [...]
Can you Retire Well?
In a recent article I read, the thought was shared that Christians should never retire. Now before you scroll right on past this, the purpose of that article was to say that we should always be about the work of the LORD. The Christian never retires from being on a mission, at work for God. While I believe this is true, certainly our ability to be on mission for God during the retirement years will be [...]
Holiday Greeting – The Changing Soundtrack of Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day and love songs go hand-in-hand. If you’re looking for a way to show love and appreciation, consider sharing some of the most popular love songs of all time. Here are a few of the most popular, according to Billboard.com:1 • Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (1981) • We Found Love by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris (2011) • How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees (1977) • Silly Love Songs by Wings (1976) • I Will Always Love [...]
The Making of a Legacy
Using a Legacy Letter to Preserve Your Life's Lessons for Future Generations Your legacy isn’t just about your assets. Of course, as part of our Life-Centered Planning process, we will help you coordinate with attorneys and tax experts to create an estate plan that will provide for your heirs in accordance with your last wishes. But hopefully, after years of planning for a better Return on Life, you’ve come to appreciate what your money [...]
Where is Your Best Place to Retire?
The best place to retire in the United States is in dispute. There’s no formal debate, but a review of reliable publications showed surveys have named different states and cities as the “best” place to retire. For instance: • Iowa was #1 in a best places to retire survey cited by Yahoo! Money.1 • Fort Myers, Florida was #1 in the ranking from U.S. News & World Report.2 • Athens, Georgia was the first name on a list of 25 places that [...]
To Resolve or Not?
It's mid-January and perhaps by now resolutions formed with a desire for change have dissolved as fast as they were resolved. On the first day of every year, people make resolutions about how things are going to be different this time around. Unfortunately, few of those resolutions ever make it to January 7. For example, polls consistently tell us that two of the top resolutions involve losing weight and managing money. But every year, [...]
Holiday Greeting – Hang On to Your Optimism!
In 2019, a Pew Research Center survey reported many Americans were pessimistic about the future. Their worries included the national debt, the gap between the rich and the poor, and automation.1 Martin Luther King was sometimes discouraged, too. In a 1967 interview on NBC News, he acknowledged his disappointment with the state of our country and then said, “Now, I’m not one to lose hope. I keep on hoping. I still have faith in the future…”2 [...]
Improving Your Financial Well-Being in 2020
Amid 2020 Predictions and New Laws, Focus on What You Can Control to Improve Your Financial Well-Being The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act that was signed into law on December 20th might be adding more chatter to all the 2020 financial predictions bouncing around your news feeds. Throw in an upcoming presidential election and the talking heads might have your head spinning right now. However, you probably noticed that most of the [...]
LifeStyle Newsletter – Do You Know What Your Smartphone Can Do?
Since 2011, the number of Americans owning smartphones has increased from 35 percent to 81 percent, although there remains a significant digital divide, demographically. A Pew Research survey found the vast majority of younger Americans rely on smartphones, while just 53 percent of the 65-and-over crowd use the devices.1 Americans who have embraced the technology are finding it can greatly simplify and enhance their lives. No matter what you want to accomplish, the chances are you [...]
