| The short answer to that question is: Of course you | | | | on after we retire is to begin planning for our |
| do! Why is it that we don't hesitate to go to a | | | | retirement long before the time comes. Finding a |
| doctor when we're sick, or a lawyer when we have | | | | place to invest your money is no problem if you are |
| a legal problem, but we really dig our heals in when | | | | only looking for the numbers of plans out there. The |
| told we need to seek the services of a financial | | | | fact you have so many different options is exactly |
| planner? In today's society we don't hesitate to lay | | | | why you need a financial planner. |
| the details of our lives out there for anyone to see, | | | | A qualified professional can explain all of the different |
| but we get all precious when it comes to anyone | | | | types of funds in great detail, and help you find your |
| knowing about our financial dealings. Maybe it's | | | | way through all the different complicated programs. |
| because money seems like something so basic that | | | | Many of the plans are very different from each |
| we should certainly be able to take care of it by | | | | other in the way they operate. Many of them also |
| ourselves. My answer to that is: Unless you perform | | | | have extremely different tax consequences. Your |
| your own surgery, defend yourself in a courtroom | | | | financial planner will not only explain all the |
| and wouldn't hesitate to go up against the IRS | | | | differences, both large and small, as well as helping |
| without assistance, you should probably have a | | | | you decide which plan will best fit into your own |
| financial planner. | | | | personal goals for your financial retirement. |
| One of the reasons people seem to be afraid of | | | | No matter where you invest your money there is |
| financial planners could be the misconception they will | | | | going to be some degree of risk. You can't avoid risk |
| be giving up control of their money to the | | | | altogether. As a general rule in investing the greater |
| professional. I'm here to reassure you nothing could | | | | the chance of reward the greater the risk will be |
| be further from the truth. A financial planner does | | | | involved. A good financial planner will help you balance |
| not make the decisions about what you are going to | | | | the risk/reward factor. This service alone will probably |
| do with your money. All they do is take you by the | | | | save you more money than what you will be paying |
| hand and show you the possible pitfalls of investing | | | | him for his services. On top of which, your financial |
| so you can avoid them. | | | | planner can not only help you with your retirement |
| Years ago our grandparents put any extra money | | | | planning, he can also give you assistance with your |
| they had into the bank, and there it sat until they | | | | estate planning, insurance needs to protect your |
| needed it, or until they retired and died. A savings | | | | family, and tax issues. |
| account was all they felt they needed and for the | | | | The bottom line is, while it's your money and you |
| most part they were right. Unfortunately, investing in | | | | have every right to make your own decisions about |
| today's economy is much more involved than it was | | | | what to do with it, your first decision should be to |
| in their day. Today the tax codes are so complicated | | | | seek the advice of someone who is trained in all the |
| it's even hard to get straight answers directly from | | | | ins and outs of the financial world. He can not only |
| the IRS office. | | | | help you protect your hard earned dollars, he will be |
| Today we can expect to live much longer lives than | | | | able to help you find ways to get those dollars to go |
| our grandparents were expected to, and it takes a | | | | to work for you and make even more dollars. That |
| great deal more money to live that longer life. The | | | | sounds like a pretty good deal to me. |
| only way to be certain we have the money to live | | | | |