A recent article on the Huffington Post aimed to share the key to leaving stress behind in retirement.
I’m not the psychotherapist in my family, my wife is–but when it comes to retirement I’ve got some ideas on how to deal with stress. Start by defining the sources of that stress.
First, while planners deal with “longevity” risk, individuals are worried about “mortality” risk, or when they’ll pass away. Investors shouldn’t have to bear either of these risks, financially. It’s why they have life insurance, income annuities or both!
Second, investors are often stressed by deciding between generating income and leaving a legacy. Our advice – take care of your income first.
Third, there is the stress of how markets and interest rates can rock your plan. Again, you can manage and minimize this risk, and pass on market risk to your kids.
I hate to say it, but the article and I agree–current planning approaches are not stress-relievers.
I just read that the European Union is asking Apple to pay the Irish government $14 billion in taxes that Apple avoided through forming shell companies in Ireland.
Individual investors don’t have to go that far to save tax money in retirement – and to increase spendable income. This article on “How to Build Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Strategies for Retirement” goes a long way to identify some of the (completely legal) strategies to do just that.
The problem is that solutions seem to be available only to investors with their own financial planners or very astute tax accountants.
It’s our view that we ought to democratize this advice and make it available with minimal, if any, charge to everyone.