Planning for Retirement

Almost without exception, people don't start planning for their retirement early enough in their lives. Young people leaving High School or College and going into their first paid position find it difficult to look or see ahead to age sixty or sixty-five. Still, time marches on and retirement does arrive.

Unfortunately often, it is well into the fourth decade of a person's life that the reality hits - retirement is not only there but it's now visible on the horizon and it's time to do something about it.

The first mistake that people make is in their prediction of what they're going to need once they're not working. Inflation is, of course, unpredictable but high inflation is commonly accompanied by high yields in the stock market which are fed through yields from pension funds so those factors tend to compensate one other.

It's the actual income that's will be needed that is commonly miscalculated. While it's true that daily living expenses such as gas for the commute and dry cleaning bills will likely be reduced, other expenses such as mortgage, taxes and utilities will not.

How can you be sure you will have enough to live comfortably in retirement?

Start by arranging a meeting with your local credit union. Financial specialists can help you develop a savings plan that fits your needs and goals. You will learn about a variety of products and services that are flexible enough to accommodate you whether you are beginning your savings plan at 25 or 45.

What will happen at my retirement planning meeting?

Most importantly, your retirement planner will listen to learn about you and your savings goals. It's a good idea to give them some though and discuss them with a life partner before the meeting. Your planner will also ask you many questions to help clarify your goals and offer the most relevant recommendations. He or she will likely use a software program to help you visualize projected outcomes. Ask questions until you completely understand each plan to make the best choice.

Impending retirement can be worrisome but planning can alleviate some of that worry. Once you start your retirement plan be sure to give an annual check up to monitor your progress and reevaluate your goals. You will likely want to make changes as you age and in response to current market trends.

Nicole Soltau
President and Founder
http://CreditUnionRate.com
The Leading Online Credit Union Directory

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/10442076/1/us-to-unveil-bank-investing-plans-report.html%3Fpuc%3Dgooglefi%26cm_ven%3DGOOGLEFI%26cm_cat%3DFREE%26cm_ite%3DNAcid=1257424433ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNFUCmtrlpVNP0A3VQ38G2BsryivCwUS to Unveil Bank-bInvesting/b Plans: Report/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTheStreet.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The federal government is planning to unveil new initiatives to address stalled credit markets Tuesday, including a plan to buy equity stakes in banks, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html%3Fid%3D92be263e-2a8a-4428-ae68-1ea6b31d4daacid=1257517501ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNF8j9FHM0jtUFQd_jkC1X7d4W-Muwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=i_fW0GkYZkQJimgurl=a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/reuters/olcanat_iptc/2008-10-09t035248z_01_btre4980as500_rtroptp_2_cnews-us-financial.jpg%3Fsize%3Dl width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2StarPhoenix/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/business/economy/14treasury.html%3Fref%3Duscid=1257517501ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNHPGHwRdfrxLy3sOb-0OIOfMFb9AAUS bInvesting/b $250 Billion in Banks/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr28 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1He essentially told the participants that they would have to accept government binvestment/b for the good of the American financial system. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://poligazette.com/2008/10/14/states-economies-and-markets-redefining-the-rules/cid=1257517501ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNEst3241_UsHVCX4a-dnI2lA0WFTwStates, Economies and Markets: Redefining the Rules/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPoliGazette/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257517501hl=ennobrall 228 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/10/13/an-investing-game-plan-for-right-now.aspxcid=1257382561ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNGeliDv2tpAbWEIWtkqKZdlhRtPaQAn bInvesting/b Game Plan For Right Now/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMotley Foolnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bInvestment/b decisions made in panic almost always prove regrettable a few years down the line. If you feel tempted, turn off the computer and go for a walk. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/seven-isharesr-funds-scheduled-move/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B5BF4D74C-1ACE-4F8D-B37E-500CF138794D%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257280330ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNEj-5XUNOf6g0-T27R8FWZBlaNxMgSeven iShares(R) Funds Scheduled to Move to the NYSE Arca/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Carefully consider the Funds#39; binvestment/b objectives, risk factors and charges and expenses before binvesting/b. This and other information can be found in the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4726745a1864.htmlcid=1257436136ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNFNm5sNy_GIdo8sYgadL1hbNHswhAMore to binvesting/b than fear and greed/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fStuff.co.nz,nbsp;New Zealandnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A hoarder, without breaking the bank, could maintain their disciplined approach to money but put their money into an binvestment/b vehicle that could net them b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/restructuring-professionals-gather-new-orleans/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B84A7A24C-8B17-4E1A-95EA-4C6289878757%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257312860ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNGbEZ4oUvl10CFx7CX95xtXKHvm3QRestructuring Professionals Gather in New Orleans, October 27-29 b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Induction of the inaugural class of the Turnaround Management, Restructuring, and Distressed bInvesting/b Industry Hall of Fame includes 10 individuals from b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/investors-wake-up-zeccos-daily/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B2BA71FA4-0B59-423F-A0FA-5A8843D9A2BB%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257402578ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNFuioTtA6Dd-DrtFlohjLBOj6EUTgInvestors Wake Up to Zecco#39;s Daily Breakfast Bell/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Zecco Holdings, Inc., (Zecco), has unveiled a new way to combine online binvesting/b information: the Breakfast Bell, a daily email alert that brings together b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7864182cid=1257383670ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNHWQ3ZYWF4umPMTXmki0Zmha_1hCAKoor binvesting/b 1.2 bln francs in Credit Suisse/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fguardian.co.uk,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Koor is 50.5 percent owned by Discount bInvestment/b Corp, a subsidiary of conglomerate IDB Development. IDB also owns another 10 percent of Koor./font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D332:korean-firm-keen-on-investing-in-corn-postharvest-facilities%26catid%3D33:economycid=0ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNHuz0w-L-LMbdF3TUmkjSa0LTBLFAKorean firm keen on binvesting/b in corn postharvest facilities/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Mirror,nbsp;Philippinesnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (Philmaize) president Roger Navarro said Korea Overseas Grain bInvestment/b and Development Co. (Kogid) wants to set up the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2008/10/13/loose-change-101308/%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=0ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNGtx2y-S4JDjWGrHGbTKhTyshJJiQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=UeJ1SS3H5JsJimgurl=s.wsj.net/media/russell_art_200v_20081013084013.jpg width=56 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Wall Street Journal Blogs/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2008/10/13/loose-change-101308/%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=0ei=GyH0SJCPBqjk6gP36-iXDQusg=AFQjCNGtx2y-S4JDjWGrHGbTKhTyshJJiQThe Wallet covers the latest personal finance and binvesting/b news b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWall Street Journal Blogs,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Timing — the concept that unites good binvesting/b and good comedy. [Barron’s] -Dying to know about Russell Simmons’ binvesting/b strategies? It’s okay. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
investing - Google News

Commodities - The Next Big Wave of Fortune Building

Have you often wished you could have got in on... Read More

Can Your Annuity Do This?

Many people buy annuities according to their agent's recommendations. However,... Read More

5 Day Trading Tips for Success

1. How to Treat Gap Openings A gap up or... Read More

Just what is Arbitrage Investment?

In the simplest of terms, Arbitrage means to exploit price... Read More

The Dreaded Direct Question

(Please have a glass of water within reach before reading... Read More

Scots Beat Yanks in China Bank Deal

With visions of an ATM in every neighborhood in China,... Read More

Day Trading Strategy or Stock Trading Software? The Way You Pick Stocks Affects Your Results

The trading method you employ to approach the stock market... Read More

Investor Guide to Financial Health

Step 1: Spend less than you earnPerhaps the simplest financial... Read More

Mutual Fund Returns May Not Be As They Seem!

Arthur Levitt, during his tenure at the SEC, experienced many... Read More

Real Estate Clubs Hot Among Investors

Six or seven years ago, the stock market was booming,... Read More

Bad News - Why The Financial News Media Can Cost You Money!

The communication innovations we have around us today like the... Read More

Begging Your Trust in Africa

The syntax is tortured, the grammar mutilated, but the message... Read More

Global Markets: A Window on the World Economy

Expectations drive the market. Every stock price is driven by... Read More

Creating Wealth by Gearing Up

Gearing is where you borrow money to invest. As already... Read More

POOF goes your RRIF !

Some time ago I attended a seminar where participants were... Read More

Success Trading for New Traders: What Does Bid and Ask Mean?

Do you ever wonder exactly what's going on in the... Read More

Trading Baskets Part I

Q. What is a basket?A basket is a group of... Read More

Porters Five Forces Analysis

If you've ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing,... Read More

Critical Investors Business Daily Responsibilities - If not Followed Could Cost You Millions!

When thinking about the investors business daily responsibilities in today’s... Read More

Evaluating A Money Manager

Scams and frauds are designed to take your money through... Read More

How To Start Investing For Financial Independence, Part 1

Today, I am going to start a multi-part series about... Read More

My Way Or The Highway: Give Your Financial Professionals A Good Talking To!

All this talk about Investing is encouraging lately. Over the... Read More

Straddle Strategies in Option Trading

The straddle strategy is an option strategy that's based on... Read More

Making Every Penny Count

More and more workers are leaving their jobs and taking... Read More

Forex Trading Best Practices

FOREX, the term for the FOReign EXchange market, is an... Read More