Financial industry insiders use so much jargon that at least two websites — TheStreet.com and Investopedia.com — have posted their own glossaries for investors seeking clarity.
Which is why you can’t procrastinate.
When I give a seminar, I’ll often ask the participants to raise a hand if life has never kicked them in the teeth. Not a single hand goes up. And yet, so many people enter retirement without a thought beyond GROWTH. They’re so set in their ways after years in the accumulation phase, they can’t switch their brains over to the strategies needed to survive and thrive in the distribution and preservation phase. Or, on the flipside, they haven’t thought nearly enough about saving. If you’re waiting until you’re in your 50s or 60s, that’s a lot of catching up to do.
A few years ago, Prudential coined the term “retirement red zone” to describe the critical years immediately before and after retirement, when finances are most vulnerable to adverse market movements. Of course, Prudential was selling its financial products — but the term resonated because it touched on something real. If the market turns and you’re in the red zone, you may not be able to retire when you hoped or, if you’re already retired, you might have to go back to work.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
We saw it in 2000 and 2008, and it likely will happen again. But it doesn’t have to happen to you.
The secret? Stop procrastinating, and pursue a plan with purpose. Make that your mantra, and get moving.
*Guarantees provided by insurance products are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance carrier.
Kim Franke-Folstad contributed to this article.
-
How to Navigate Your Medicare Advantage Plan in a DisasterIf you're a Medicare Advantage member in an area that has been impacted by a disaster, you might be worried about access to care and medicine. Here's what you need to know.
-
Older Investors: Boost Your Savings and Retire EarlierThis one measure can help older investors retire up to two years earlier and potentially double their retirement savings.
-
I'm a Financial Adviser: This Is How You Could Be Leaving Six Figures in Social Security on the TableClaiming Social Security is about more than filing paperwork and expecting a check. When you do it and how you do it have huge financial implications that last the rest of your life.
-
The Big Pause: Why Are So Many Americans Afraid to Retire?While new research sheds light on Americans' growing reluctance to quit work in later life, can anything be done to help those with the retirement jitters?
-
Five Under-the-Radar Shifts Investors and Job Seekers Can't Afford to Ignore Under the OBBBBeyond the headlines: The new tax law's true impact for job seekers and investors lies in how it will transform industries and create opportunities in areas such as regional accounting, AI and outsourced business services.
-
I'm a Financial Professional: It's Time to Stop Planning Your Retirement Like It's 1995Today's retirement isn't the same as in your parents' day. You need to be prepared for a much longer time frame and make a plan with purpose in mind.
-
An Attorney's Guide to Your Evolving Estate Plan: Set-It-and-Forget-It Won't WorkWhen did you last review your will? Before kids? Before a big move? An update is essential, but regular reviews are even better. Here's why.
-
For a Richer Retirement, Follow These Five Golden RulesThese Golden Rules of Retirement Planning, developed by a financial pro with many years of experience, can help you build a plan that delivers increased income and liquid savings while also reducing risk.
-
Time for a Money Checkup: An Expert Guide to Realigning Your Financial GPSEven if your financial plan is on autopilot, now is the perfect time to make sure it's still aligned with your goals, especially if retirement is on the horizon.
-
Five Things to Do if You're Forced Into Early Retirement (and How to Reset and Recover)Developing a solid retirement plan — before a layoff — can help you to adapt to unexpected changes in your timeline. Once the initial panic eases, you can confidently reimagine what's next.
