Monday, November 12, 2018

RV Lifestyle in Retirement

Living the dream

This is the answer for many that want to travel and downsize and it is also the answer for those struggling to survive financially. 

Sunday, November 11, 2018

News: Difference Between Happy and Unhappy Retirees, 1 Mil Retirement in 30's

Difference

It still comes down to feeling comfortable  about your finances relative to your needs.  Paying off your mortgage is of course the first step.

1 Mil Retirement in 30's - their best lives

It is always wonderful to hear about such cases and then there is the rest of us.  Getting to that figure can happen but for most the overwhelming cost of maintaining a lower middle class lifestyle leaves you little extra to work with. 


Monday, November 5, 2018

Best Places to Retire in the USA

Florida seems to be the consensus no matter where you do the research simply based on cost of living and climate.  Health care also matters.

Best Places

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Work Less Live Longer

Study

If it seems to conflict with the idea that being idle is bad for your health it appears that there is a solid middle ground where some work is good but too many hours will harm you. 

They needed a study to figure that out?  This is common sense and has been observable throughout history.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Can Saving for Retirement Wait?

Common Advice is wrecking finances

It's always best to have incremental goals as part of your retirement planning

1 Million Recommendation 

Long before retirement planning came along many people found a way  live out their lives at whatever level they had to.  You can do the same but keep in mind that some sacrifices now can make all the difference for you in later years where work isn't an option.

The High Cost of Low Risk

Important to know and understand - the High Cost

If you relied on bonds, savings accounts, or annuity investments you know how low interest rates have hurt you.  The best answer seems to be diversification according to all the experts. 


1 in 5 Americans over 65 still waiting to retire

1 in 5

It's great to hear all about numbers and how important it is to keep working.  The one thing you can get out of this article that stands out the most is to have a skill that allows you to avoid physical labor.  Even with that unless you're able to be self employed you may find that age may be an obstacle for being hired.  Answer, look to have a sideline business long before you retire so that you can always use that as a means of making up an shortfalls you may have.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

News: Savers Daunting Challenge for Retirement, Health Care Costs, 4 Retirement Rules to Live By

The task

Health Care Costs at Every Age

Millennials going for faster and cheaper alternatives to primary doctors

4 Retirement Rules to Live by

Preparing for the Next Crisis

Are you?

Preparing for a financial crisis is difficult for those with money.  Those without it have much more to worry about just week to week.

Trump Executive Order on Retirement Security

Anything that makes it easier for small companies to offer retirement accounts to employees is a good thing.


5 Retirement Pitfalls

You Want to Avoid

This is a good article and covers what is commonly suggested but it does state it in a clear and insightful way.

In short:

Lack of Money - we know this one.

Lack of Permission - read the article for the understanding.

Isolation - a common occurrence not easily handled or prevented without effort.

Milestones - read the article but know that we all live by them.  I did and still do at times.

Self Worth - Relevance and feeling valued can make even a tight financial life worthwhile.


West Virginia: Vacation or Retirement

WVA the mountaineer State

I thought often of retiring there but now the considerations of health care and ease of living come into play and you wonder if a four foot snow that blocks you into your 1/4 mile dirt road drive is something you can tolerate at 70+ years.  I haven't reached that yet but already have found that the prospect of winters in the hills just isn't what I used to think of it.

Still, it's a beautiful state to visit and have a cabin in the woods for summer and fall excursions.  If you are thinking of retiring there plan well.

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Forget Retiring at 70 and Why Americans are Waiting Longer

Bach disagrees that 70 is the new retirement age

I agree with Bach.  Plan to exit work as soon as you can afford to do so.  You can always stay on or find part time work if needed but to imagine you'll be full of energy at 70 to enjoy your retirement is a laugh.  Our physiology has changed a bit in the last 100 years and the only thing keeping many alive past 70 is modern medicine.


Why Americans are Waiting Longer

It seems that on average that Americans are being duped, fooled, and manipulated into imagining they will live to be 100 and will need the money to survive.  What do you think happened back in the day when the safety net didn't exist.  People died too when their time came and if they were old, broke, and alone well it wasn't pretty but they found a way to get by even if it meant a hard landing at the end.

The truth is that even the rich now can only stave off the misery of old age so much and so long.  Even their turn comes and until that gap between the rich and the poor extends beyond let's say 10 or 15 years then of course there will be much pain to pay on a society level.


Wednesday, October 3, 2018

5 books to read that will help you retire early, Retired Early at 28, Retire in your 30's Millennial plan

5 books

Add these five to the tens of thousands out there that try to help you get there.

Here are the essentials.

Save regularly and invest.

Eliminate Debt.

Manage your spending habits but live life now as well.

Become self employed in a business that allows you to think of yourself as almost retired.

Work in a Government job that will pay you well when you quit and cover your health care costs.  Max out your savings.

She retired early at 28 - how

30's Millennial plan




Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Ugliest Trend in Retirement - Taking it on

Bankruptcy

It's bad enough you have to get old but to be old, broke, and bankrupt is a severe blow if you worked hard all your life to end up there.  This happens a lot and often it's a result of health care costs.

Sadly, many government agencies find it more desirable to fund those who never worked, saved, or even lived here most of their lives.  Keep in mind that you are on your own and take responsibility for finding a way to navigate through the last quarter of your life.  Owning your own land and home is a big start along with having no debt.  Beyond that, some secure means of saving and investing is your only option since social security is not going to usually handle more than a third of your expenses.


Sunday, September 30, 2018

Friday, September 28, 2018

Finding Your Passion - Links and Ideas

Psychology Today - 5 steps

Oprah.com - The secret

TheMuse.com - 6 ways

TheAtlantic.com - How to really find

Telegraph - 8 ways

Psychology Today - Can a job that's a drag become Joyful

Business Insider - the psychology

Tiny Buddha - try this

Wiki How - In Pictures

Life hack - How to

Clarity on Fire - Take the Quiz
This may help you define your Passion Profile and identify some weaknesses to protect against.  It's worth doing just for an illuminating exercise.


Ideas

Look for the things that you would still do if you were a lottery winner.

What would you do that would benefit others and not charge for it.

What have you done consistently in your life that gives you pleasure, fulfillment, and serves as an escape from drudgery,  ideally since you were a child.

Visualize the perfect job for yourself where you'd be happy to show up every day.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Why Millennials Hate Retirement

Why!

Unless something changes Millennials will have a tougher time than any generation since the depression era retirees in actually being able to stop working.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Why 80% of Americans Face a Retirement Crisis

Why 80% of Americans Face a Retirement Crisis

Learn to live on less, practice it, and understand that you will retire someday whether you like it or not unless you die early enough that you didn't reach the point where you couldn't work.

7 Ways to use your home equity for retirement income

7 Ways to use your home equity for retirement income

A reverse is good if you wait long enough but keep in mind that it only applies to certain types of homes.  Check into this early to help your planning.

HSA Benefits for Retirement

HSA Benefits for Retirement

3 Reasons to Retire as early as you can

3 Reasons to Retire as early as you can

I'll add one more.  You never know how long you have and if you take this idea seriously then consider what you always wanted to do and do it now rather than wait for some distant chance to finally get to it.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

The Brevity of Life

Essay

This is an excellent motivator for getting to it.  Whatever you thought you wanted to do in life now is the time to actually start.   Time is short for all of us.


Miracle of the Mundane

Miracle of tuning out

She is right to the extent that if you get nothing but time filling activity in your online adventures then of course you might as well be sitting at a bar sucking down suds.

Use the web, the Internet, and online connections to make life easier not more complicated.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Misconceptions about Health Care in Retirement

8 of them

The main thing that can help you get through it is to have an employer sponsored Health insurance that will cover you in retirement.  The best one I've seen is Tri-care for Life that comes with military retirements.  Anything similar that comes from your job or if you are self employed that you can arrange is an ideal way to insure that you won't be left broken by medical expenses.


Why Early Retirement or Why Not

Financial Advisors Weight In

Semi-retirement is the answer for most of us since it gives you a reason to stay involved and can make a financial contribution to making your fears of money running out less of a concern.  It also can give you the ability to choose a a Vocation that aligns with your true desires.


Thursday, September 13, 2018

The Rule of $20 for Retirement - Updated

Rule of $20 - Updated

Shifting Your Nest Egg to An Income Stream

How to by Debbie Carlson

This is a sound strategy that many successful retirees have chosen.  It reduces worry and within the boundaries of a stable currency value when you have a set amount of income coming in every month you can plan accordingly.  You may find that other than health costs other expenses like travel and dining out tend to go down while your activity level slows and you tend to want to stay closer to home.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Finding Your Ikigai - Purpose to Life

Finding your purpose

This is a great way to turn yourself into your own retirement life coach.  If you reach that midlife crisis point where whatever you are doing has no joy in it then consider a life change.

It gets harder every year and when you're older it feels near impossible.

To steal an overused phrase, "Just Do It."


Saturday, August 25, 2018

Money Leads to a More Satisfying Life - No surprise

Better Life Satisfaction

Of course a lottery winning or an inheritance can make life easier and thus you can fulfill your desires.  Done well it can lead to a better life, but done poorly it can make you more miserable than ever before.  It could be that Swedes are more disciplined and on average focus on mundane and duller, in a good way, and less damaging improvements in lifestyle than say Americans who often go right out and blow it on fancy cars, romantic efforts, and drugs and alcohol.  Not all Americans of course do this, but a surprising number end up miserable when winning big cash.  It may also have to do with the aspect of the culture where you tend to have lots of hangers on and users ready to pounce.  Whatever the case it the best advice is move slowly when you come up on a life changing windfall.   At least the Swedes know how to enjoy winning money and not suffer as much later according to this study as I read it.  It also shows that each culture has particular benefits that appear under stress tests like a quick influx of cash. 

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Average American Gets Less Time off Than Medieval Peasant

Peasants Worked Less

It is observable that except for government workers and politicians most Americans put in more hours than any other workers in the world, 

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Retirement Happiness

Number one Reason

One thing you can count on is that a bad marriage in retirement will mean a bad retirement.  Loneliness is probably the worst element of getting old and being retired.  If you are lonely then you are not going to be happy.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Retire Early and do it for freedom and lifestyle

Retire Early

I like to think I dropped out of the workforce in my late 20's and kept teaching tennis more for the pleasure of it than income.  I would have done it anyway even if I had a few million in the bank.

The trick of course is to limit your expenses so that it matches your income.


Wednesday, July 18, 2018

61 is Ideal for Retirement but so is 30

61 Ideal

If you need to work to 61 then sure it's a great age to quit, but if you can walk away earlier and find things you like to do more than work then of course go for it.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Dividend Solution for Retirement

Seeking Alpha

This approach is tried and true.  It has served many and follows the principle of investing in good companies with growing dividends.

USA Best and Worst Places to Retire

Ranked

These rankings have a problem.  In each state there are places that have higher quality of life and lower costs.  Weather you of course can't change but what's amazing is to see South Dakota as number one.  Has anyone doing this research heard about arthritis?  There is a reason many move South in retirement and it has to do with Winter pain levels that come from the cold and stiff joints.

Another issue is the control you have over your type of living quarters that can go from a mobile home to a mansion.  A mobile home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, one of the worst ranked states, will not cost appreciably more to live in than a similar one in Florida if you control your land costs.  The property taxes on an old trailer are low for most places you will live.


Retirement a Great Second Life

Second Life

If you want a good second life in retirement ideally it should have some connection to your past life.  It can be teaching or simply a way to do something related to what you have done but in a more limited fashion.

Retirement Healthcare costs - Shockproof

Costs

Expect to spend whatever your health insurance costs are plus the maximum deductible and out of pocket expenses.  Insurance companies do calculations for a reason and they know the average costs.  You can plan on spending what they won't cover at a minimum.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Building a Better Nestegg for Retirement

8 Steps

Common Sense but worth restating

Lowering your standard of living is ideally the fallback plan if all goes awry.

Pay off your Mortgage for Retirement

Focus on this debt for retirement - mortgage

This is very good advice compared to what I have heard from some experts that suggest a mortgage deduction is a great tactic.  There is a sense of security in knowing that you just have to make your tax and repair bills on the home versus a monthly payment.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Mini Retirements

Mini Retirements

This makes more sense than the 40 year slog with two week vacations once a year. 

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The World Isn't Prepared for Retirement

This is no surprise

Read the article and learn what many don't know and see how it compares to your understanding of the realities of retirement.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Veterans Foster Care

VA Program - foster care

This is a great story about an excellent idea.  With all the money thrown away on administrative efforts it's about time that real world improvements arrive for Veterans.  

If you or someone you know is a Veteran with a high disability rating, is unable to work, and needs assistance when living this program may be available to you based on this story.  It is always worth checking out since the cost is much less than many other commercial options.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Old age: When you become defenseless

Terry Semel Drama - Former Yahoo CEO with Alzheimers 

This is another sad story and it informs you that no matter how high your position in life there exists at the end a time where you cannot protect yourself from those who might not have your best interests in mind.  In simple terms you can abused or misused easily by those who either don't care about you or actually mean to do you harm.  It can happen and often does when someone carries resentment or just values your assets more than they do you.

Mickey Rooney final years

18k estate at the end of his life


Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Old Age is Punishment

Curse of 128

It's hard to believe she is that old but even 80 seems a curse to some who are disabled and not able to enjoy life.


Rather than thinking of all of those things you'll do in your old age just consider finding some fun things to do now and if you want excitement get it when you're young.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Moving in Retirement

Moving or staying put - lifestyle choice.

If you have no debt and like where you live then the choice is easy.  If not, your choice might be an economic one.  If you don't like the weather find a place the suits you.  Choose a place that matches your lifestyle.

Monday, April 30, 2018

Add A Decade To Life

Habits

These are all well known and worth following.

Boomers in Retirement Freefall!!! What to do?

You've Reached Retirement Age But Now What?

When in doubt retire.  Actually, if you don't love what you're doing and you are able to retire then I'd do it.  One piece of advice I heard long ago was that you'll never say at the end of your life I wish I had worked more hours.




Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Monday, April 23, 2018

Mountain Retirement Destinations

Panama, Croatia, Columbia - 3 Best

Fallback Plan - West Virginia where land is cheap, great medical care is hard to find, but people still live out their lives as if it were fifty years ago.  It falls last in many categories that are desirable and first among those not, but the people are nice and you can make a home there like anywhere else.  The biggest negative is the cold of winter and the snow if you have to get somewhere or just get out of your mountain spot.  It might serve well as your seasonal location for escape from the complexities of city living.  Much of West Virginia is still rural.


Reduce Spending to Save in Retirement

Cut Expenses

These numbers of debt for housing and auto tells you where you can find a way to save.

Almost Half of Baby Boomers Have No Retirement Savings

43% No Retirement Savings

This means work, cutting living expenses, and eventually living on the public dole in some form or another. 

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Should you take a mini retirement

Should you take a mini retirement

Don't think of it as a question but rather something you should work towards as a way of life.  Time off changes your perspective.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

How to Lengthen Your Life

How to Lengthen Your Life

This article can give you many ideas on how to make what time you have left more meaningful and full of new perspective.  It is an excellent way to start a new phase of your life, and especially in retirement.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

How Not to Run Out of Money in Retirement

Solutions

Spend Safely

Entrepreneurship

4 Advantages Men Have in Retirement

Men in Retirement - advantages

One big advantage they have not mentioned is that they can expect to live on average fewer years than women so might not have to fret about running out of money before running out of time.

Friday, April 13, 2018

Credit Scores to Rise

Tax Liens Removed from Formula


Gray Divorce - Financial Reckoning after 50

Rise of Gray Divorce

I've seen much of this with friends and those a meet.  They are married for 30 to 50 years and then realize they can't stand each other.  What happens next is usually financial disaster for both. 

Even a divorce at 40 can do big damage if you think that you've lost up to 20 years of work if you were the breadwinner and responsible one.  But both will suffer in many ways.

The obvious thing to do is to start from the beginning with a plan that includes the idea that you may have to go your own way.  This applies to both men and women.  Have your own money and manage your own credit where you can do so such as in credit cards and car loans.  Own your vehicle.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Fading Retirement Dream

Layoff then financially strained

She thinks she may never retire.  I'd consider less home, less car, and a job that pays 20k per year should be reachable in most places.

Early Retirement: FIRE - Financial Independence/Early Retirement

The Shockingly Simple Truth Behind Early Retirement
Mr. Money Mustache  has some good ideas and he backs them up with ratios which are the gold standard for actually understanding something.


Flight Attendant to retire at 39

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Early Retirement: Pivot rather than Jump

Less Risky Alternative to Early Retirement

Taking the opportunity to do what you want in a less compensated way is better than working like a dog until you can quit work altogether.  First off, you'll never know for sure that quitting is the right time and thing to do unless you have injuries or disabilities that keep you from work.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Harvard Investors Write Down 1 Billion

Experts not so expert

This is why it pays to keep your investments simple and the majority of them in reliable and proven categories.   Sugar plantations and other high flyers cost Harvard a great amount of money lost to their endowment.  For your retirement you want to see no hits like this but rather a steady upward trend if possible.  ETF funds that focus on dividends are what I use for this.  THe Harvard return 4.4% over the past decade is no better than a whole life plan that you could have gotten twenty years ago.  Many mutual funds that stayed in the high cap zone with dividend paying U.S. based stocks come in near 10%.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

News: Retirement Home, 4 tips to save your retirement, Bitcoin is Real

What to look for in a retirement home

How about a trailer.   Keep it simple and keep it cheap.  It is all on one level.

4 Tips

The working in retirement part is the trick.  Do what you can to find an enjoyable job.

Bitcoin is real

If you had bought a thousand dollars worth in 2010 you'd know it's real.



Monday, February 26, 2018

Thursday, February 22, 2018

1 in 5 Americans have more debt than Savings

More Debt than Savings

This is the consumption society combined with the destruction of the wage base.

Debt The First 5,000 Years - Book Review

Book Review
By Brent Herrick



This is a slow read because of course it is economics as well as sociology, anthropology,  and probably a number of other sciences.  Give yourself time and you'll get a life changing outlook on the origins of money, debt, and how societies work.

Regarding the creation of credit money instruments I quote the author, "If history holds true, an age of virtual money should mean a movement away from war, empire-building, slavery, and debt peonage (wages or otherwise), and toward the creation of some sort of overarching institutions, global in scale, to protect debtors.  What we have seen so far is the opposite (Pg 368)."

What this means is that war still is the engine of debt creation and a global empire like the United States will have to eventually face the reality that to maintain it will become unsustainable without more wars which is also a self defeating action.  China appears slated to take our place in the form of controlling the debt that we have issued and the question to be answered is when it will happen or will a war change the whole equation.   The USA may end up as a vassal of China if trends continue and the author explains that in the long game of power China has followed a long and traditional pattern of supplying wealth to first protect itself from invasion but to eventually drive those dependent states into subservience.  We here in the US seem to be following right along.

Most important in this book is the understanding you gain that maybe cryptocurrencies might be the answer to disable the debt/war formula that has governed credit money since the beginning.  It remains to be proven of course and one thing in the favor of some specific crypto currencies is that they are defined by a finite limit of units thus actually becoming a deflationary measure of debt and exchange.

***** Five Stars - Highly Recommend









Retirement News: One in three have not saved for retirement, Federal Retirement, HSAs for health costs in retirement

one in three

It's hard to plan for the future when your present is tenuous and a struggle.  Most who do save find an emergency situation forces them to clean out their savings.  It is best to have an untouchable plan, one where you consider it out of reach and it also not attackable by lawsuits such as an IRA or 401k.

A good point made in this article is that "it's not what you make but what you save."

I know many examples of this wisdom and it is true.  Find a way to set aside something for the future and if possible put it in a tax advantaged retirement investing account.


Federal Retirement


HSAs for health costs in retirement

Matching Turbocharges US retirements

Adjust your spending in retirement

7 English Speaking Retirement Spots


Earnhardt Enjoying Retirement

Earnhardt Enjoying Retirement

It is probably much easier to enjoy when you are financially strong and stable as he must be.  For the rest of us it means knowing your cash flow requirements and meeting them.

Brain Health in Retirement and old age

Superagers

Keeping socially connected appears to be the most important aspect of maintaining your mental acuity.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Retirement News: Healthcare Costs, Inflation Retirement Strategy

Healthcare #1 expense

If you have Tricare for life be thankful.  If you have a fully paid private insurance plan through work be thankful too.

Inflation Retirement Strategy - to beat the scourge

This is another sound approach to protecting yourself from inflation.



5% Bull or Bear NO Worries income strategy

5% strategy

There are a number of ETFs that will probably come close to this recommended strategy.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Retirement News: Delaying Retirement Continues, Health

Delaying Retirement continues says FED

Health in Retirement - when you retire matters 

Retirement Plan: Man retires to become Musician - His lifelong dream

Man retires to become Musician 

This is a great approach if you already have a good or great career and want to maximize your financial means at retirement.  This could give you the freedom to pursue your passion.  In this case his passion is music and he's been doing it in retirement for almost a decade.  Great idea.

This is much better than laying in front of a TV or imagining a life of travel that is both tiring and expensive.  Find something you love and either make it your life career or plan for it after you retire.

Tennis players have this option because they can take up teaching when they end their regular careers.  Tennis players can also make tennis teaching their lifelong career if they have the credentials and playing record that makes it easier to find good gigs.

Euthanasia: Belgium

Euthanasia
When does it cross the line into being put down.  A family requesting it seems like things have gone too far.  So far this isn't policy in the USA, but if budget problems and health care costs have anything to do with it you can expect it to begin in some US states where assisted suicide is already legal.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

INFLATION//////////////////DANGER/////////////

Inflation increasing

CPI now shows it though many of us already knew that prices were rising while incomes weren't.


Sunday, February 11, 2018

Crushing the Dollar

The Dollar From Bohemia to bust

In my lifetime I've seen the dollar mostly destroyed.  The same car you could buy in the 1970's for 2k is now 20-30k.  Rather than technology reducing the price as it should, it has gone up drastically in price.  Another example is homes which still in place have gone up 20 to thirty fold in price but of course not in value.



Investment News: Buying Opportunity, What is a financial Planner?

Buying Opportunity
Downturns often do this.

What is a financial Planner?

Cryptocurrency News: Drones and Crypto, Hacked Exchange, Banks Banning, Mining Farm

Why Cryptocurrency News:  I include crypto news for this retirement page because it has become a new avenue for investment and speculation.  Also, because it is likely we'll all be forced to know this information at some point.  Learn now and stay ahead.


Comparison - Drones and Crypto
He has a point.  But money is what we are talking about and the disposition of debt is the oldest aspect of social interaction.  Drones, well, they serve a purpose but not like money whatever its form.

Italian Exchange Hacked for $170 million in Crypto
More examples of why you shouldn't leave your money on an exchange

Banks Banning CryptoCurrency Purchases by Credit Card
This actually makes sense for a number of reasons.  First, if a credit card is stolen and used to by crypto the chances of the bank getting the money back is likely zero.  Second, the volatility of cryptos mean that any purchases are pure speculation and it's very possible buyers will get in over their heads.  Third, Interest rates are facing upward pressure so paybacks from customers might slip and having nothing but crypto to recover doesn't sit will with banks.

Bitcoin Billionaires to Buy Island
If only I had thought of buying crypto earlier most of us would say.  Then we could get our own Islands.

Skater Paid in Crypto

Ormeus Cryptocurrency Mining Farm
This is a big part of why crypto is not going away. 


Saturday, February 10, 2018

Retirement Phases

3 Retirement Spending Phases 

If you find a way to get in some of retirement leisure during your earlier years then worry about the excess cost of a later retirement may not matter as much.  You might feel as if you've found what you want to do and be where you want to be. 

If you don't have kids and grandkids then your financial considerations are simpler in the sense that you can plan for life annuity contracts rather than planning on a legacy for a descendant.  It also means that if you have your cash flow managed then you will be less concerned how large are your total assets.


Retirement News: 1/3 Boomers Confident, Early Retirement Balance, Fidelity Avg. Tops 100k, A Federal Retirement plan fix for the country that could work

1/3 Confident
No one should feel 100% confident because anything can happen.

The Right Balance For Retiring Early
12 times your income for retiring at 55.  That sounds lower than most recommend but I suppose it depends on what else you have coming in. 

Fidelity Accounts for Retirement Average  Tops 100k
The market has been good for savers and investors.

A Federal Retirement plan fix for the country that could work
No more taxes and no more cuts and instead a set aside that could actually be available to those that work and not subject to lawsuits or taxes might make it even more useful.



Money News: Gold Backed Dollar, Bear Markets, Fractional Banking

Gold Backed Dollar  - The only way this will likely happen is if a crypto dollar is created in the manner of bitcoin.  Rather than gold how about oil.  Anything that can be done to avoid a Yuan dominated financial world is better for the USA, and possibly better for the West.  In the end though, unless gold backed,  fake money in the form of paper will be as useless as fake news.  It will revert to zero.

The Worst Bear Market in our Lifetime - The buildup of debt will destroy our money and our economies.  This is the essence of what most doom predicting economists are saying.

Fractional Reserve Banking - Why we're at risk.


Equifax Hack Worse than First Reported

Equi-Hack

I learned that my information may have been compromised.  The only options that are clear cut are a full multi-agency credit freeze.  The agencies used to charge $10 each for these but recently I tried it and there was no charge.  It may not stay that way, but it is an improvement.  The only question now is to remove the freeze may be a problem when needing credit.

Dividend Stocks to Power a Retirement

3 Dividend Stocks to Own

There are good good ones, but J&J falls among the best and has been for decades.   When I look in my medicine cabinet I find a good percentage of the items are  J&J product.  Consumer personal care products always seems to be safe place no matter the conditions of the economy.

Instead of Buying a Harley the idea of owning the stock instead makes sense.   I sold my Harley when I decided that I was getting too old to recover from taking a fall,  though I'd be better off converting it to shares in the company.  I haven't done that. 

You can buy an ETF that will do the job with more diversification.  Vanguard has some good high dividend funds with very low expenses.

Disclaimer:  I own Vanguard VYM and VYMI among others.  I'm just sharing my thoughts on the subject and don't recommend these specific funds.  Do your own research and make your own choices or find a financial advisor.