Ready for Retirement?

No matter what your age, it is never too early (or too late) to take proper control of your own future when it comes to retirement. We all dream of having a secure, enjoyable and comfortable retirement – one that allows us the opportunity to travel, take up hobbies, visit with family, volunteer, and simply take pleasure in a slower, calmer pace of life. In today’s day and age, we are living longer and healthier lives, allowing us to enjoy more years of retirement than our elders did.

While the concept of retirement is greeted by many with open arms, there are also many who are apprehensive about this time period in their lives. To these people, retirement can cause feelings of loss and uncertainty as they grieve over the separation from their work and face financial stressors, which include reduced income and higher health care costs.

With retirement being such a mixed blessing, it is easy to understand why it can be a highly complex issue for millions of Americans. Everyone is told, “Plan your finances well, and you can retire well.” Unfortunately, that is not as easy as it sounds. Planning finances is easy when you have a lot of money, but more challenging when you are struggling to make ends meet even as you work 40-plus hours a week.

Today, more than half of American workers aged 55 and older have less than $50,000 in savings – a largely insignificant amount that, even with a high return, will barely generate $3,000 a year.

Not to mention, only about 60 percent of workers over the age of 40 who are eligible to participate in their 401(k) plans do; and the number of those covered by a defined-benefit pension has gradually declined. In fact, since 1980, the percentage of private sector workers covered by defined-benefit pensions has fallen from 35% to under 20% percent.

Additionally, those under the age of 65 have the lowest 401(k) participation rates of all.

And Social Security? Don’t count on that by itself! It will only replace a mere 40% of the income needed for retirement.

So How Did We Come to This?

Exactly how did Americans get to the point of not being able to save enough for retirement? There are numerous reasons. First, real wages have been sluggish ever since the 1970s. Americans are working harder than ever, yet many of them are struggling just to pay their household bills. Second, we have a nation full of spenders – people willing to spend entire paychecks on material items, cars, vacations, and other things they have to have now. This gives the spender instant gratification, but that is soon followed by a mounding pile of bills. Lastly, our 401(k)s and IRA accounts are too easily accessible. More and more, people are borrowing from these accounts long before retirement age. As a result, they have to pay taxes and a penalty. And as for putting the money back into the retirement account? Highly unlikely.

What Are the Experts Saying?

According to many experts, we are told we need to work longer, spend less, and reduce our 401(k) or IRA withdrawal rate. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Not really.

So what is the other alternative? Working from home – working for yourself. Giving yourself back the time you so infinitely deserve as you prepare for your years of retirement bliss. Establishing a viable, profitable business is in your future, with the right support and knowledge at your hand. All you need is an Internet connection and a telephone, and you will be set to start making the money that, until today, you have only dreamed about.

Telecommuting (a fancy word for working from home) is most definitely the wave of the future. Why work for “the man” when you can work for yourself? All it takes is passion, hard work, skill and dedication. With all of these, you can be well on your way to success, financial freedom, and a glorious retirement.

If you’re ready to operate a very simple business from the comfort of your own home, contact me and I will provide you with additional information about this life-shaping opportunity. And have no fear – I do not hide behind a website or an email address. I conduct business in person and over the phone with people from all over the world. Fill out the form, and expect a call back from me or one of my talented team members.