Jerry Golden on Retirement

Inflation, Market Losses Impacted Your Income Plan?

July 1, 2022 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: Annuities, annuity payments, Go2Income, Income annuities, reduce risk, stock market crash

How the right plan now can get you back on track and reduce the risk going forward

You know what they say about the best laid plans going awry. Well, with what has been going on in the financial world this year, that’s what has happened to countless retirement plans.

For instance, let’s look at one hypothetical retiree who, until recently, thought she was all set. Our sample investor put off formalizing her plan for retirement income until she began taking Social Security at age 70 and making withdrawals from her rollover IRA. It was December of 2021. Inflation seemed to be reasonably under control; the markets were performing well; and with 50% of her $2 million portfolio invested in bonds it was pretty conservative.

Social Security and a pension totaling $60,000 per year helped her meet her starting income goal of $150,000. The balance of $90,000 was coming from her $2 million in retirement savings.

For Sustainable Retirement Income, You Need These 5 Building Blocks

June 12, 2022 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: Building blocks for retirement, Income annuities, plan for retirement income, retirement income, sources of income, successful retirement

Combining elements that you understand is the smartest way to create a secure retirement.

Sometimes we have all the elements for a great retirement, but until we put them together the right way, we don’t get the result we want.

I call it the H2O problem. We have plenty of oxygen in the atmosphere. Likewise, hydrogen. It seems simple, but until two atoms of hydrogen combine with one of oxygen, we will never get water.

Don’t Move to Another State Just to Reduce Your Taxes

When planning for retirement income, it is risky to wait for the right combination of elements to join on their own. They don’t just fall into place; you have to know what each can do and put them together in a way that produces a whole greater than the sum of the parts.

Don’t Move to Another State Just to Reduce Your Taxes

June 12, 2022 By Jerry Golden in Annuity Tags: grandchildren, move for better tax rate, state income tax rate

If you’re retired or near retirement, maybe a smarter plan for retirement income will allow you to stay put. Yes, your state income tax rate may be higher, but your spendable income will be, too.

We know lots of friends who are considering moving from a high-tax state, such as New York, to a state with low or no state income taxes. They think they will end up with more money, although they are torn because they may also be moving away from family and friends just to escape state taxes.

Choppy Market Impacting Your Retirement Income Plan?

June 11, 2022 By Jerry Golden in Market volatility Tags: Income annuities, market volatility, retirement income, stable retirement

Find calmer seas with a retirement plan that includes safe income and eliminates the sour stomach that comes with market corrections.

In response to the wild market swings caused by inflation and Russia’s attack on Ukraine, most investment advisers are publishing articles about staying the course during volatile times. I’ve found one problem with these suggestions, particularly when it comes to investors near or in retirement: The advice is focused on your investment allocation, when your own focus most likely will be on your income, now and in the future. You don’t want a small — or worse yet, a large — market correction to wipe out your plans for income along with what you want to spend it on.

So, my question is: How much of your current and future retirement income should be dependent on the stock market — no matter whether it is heading up or down at any given point?

Answer: Design a plan for retirement income and you’ll find your safe harbor.

Fed is Raising Interest Rates. How do Retirees Benefit?

March 23, 2022 By Jerry Golden in Market volatility Tags: Fed interest hikes, Income annuities, retirement income

Some sectors of the population may feel the pain of interest rate hikes, while current retirees, and those near retirement, could actually benefit.

Potential homebuyers frowned at the Fed’s mid-March quarter-point rate hike because they can expect mortgage rates to continue to climb steadily, as they have since January. Freddie Mac’s weekly research bulletin shows that between Jan. 20 and March 24, rates for 30-year mortgages increased more than 1.1 percentage points. A review by the Mortgage Bankers Association revealed that the higher rates are starting to dampen home-buying, with purchases declining by 6% week over week. We have to wait to see whether slowing sales affect how the Fed adjusts its rates.

On the other hand, many retirees are smiling as interest rates creep up. That’s because if a portion of your income is coming from fixed income investments, you can see those yields rise. And one group of retirees could be particularly happy: those who are planning to include annuity payments as one of their sources of income.