Depressive or Impressive Retirement?

Retirement is subjective. Since 1986 we have been given sole responsibility to build our retirement. We past the buck, literally; past our hard earned "bucks" to someone else to manage. Are we depressed or impressed with our results?

I'm one of those in my early 50's learning more about how I can create an impressive retirement. A retirement portfolio that takes care of giving me a strong sense of security and the satisfaction of what I accomplished. The government won't have a hand in my retirement because I learned how to play their game. I learned how to keep my portfolio protected and safe to use without penalties. Isn't it time you do the same? www.MoneyMama.biz

I read an article from Andrea Coombes in MarketWatch on Social Security. As she pulled the statistics on how many use Social Security for their sole retirement portfolio, it was amazing and sad at the same time. WOW, really sad to see someones lack of responsibility for their own welfare. In reality, did they have a choice? We were handed the sole responsibility to manage and grow our own retirement since 1986. The government handed it back to us, sadly without any direction. The only choice was to hand our money off to someone who sold us on them knowing what they were doing. In essence, we gave our money to someone who saw a need and started up a business. If they can do it, why can't we? We can start up our own business and build our retirement within the same boundaries as they can. www.MoneyMama.biz

I want to be the one who is secure from my own efforts. Learning the game and play by the rules, rules the government set up. Andrea states: "if you're in your mid-50s or younger, it's time to make alternate arrangements.The program's dismal outlook has long been known, but the recent economic crisis further scarred the program's finances, bringing closer the day of reckoning when receipts no longer cover benefit payouts."

Social Security was a great plan. A plan for those who worked their whole life for someone else. A system for the government to take care of their elderly. What happens if you didn't take that path? or you didn't retire from a "job" after 30 years? Now what? Here's a few thoughts; Working for someone else, the slave, save, retire theory isn't working in 2010. Jobs were created to recover from the Great Depression era, that was the Industrial age. We are now in the Information age. Traditional education grew out of competing for jobs, doing what was required to show employers you are better qualified. Once again, set up to get through the Industrial age. What can we do to position ourselves in the Information age?

Let's learn from the past and learn how to harmonize the two eras. The Industrial age, during and after the Great Depression was a time people had years of nothing, then years of great abundance. They learned how to stretch the dollar vs learning how money works and grows. When the abundance started dying down, credit cards came into play. Buy now and pay later. Look at where that has got us? So in debt and we don't have a clue on how to get out. We haven't learned how money works and grows! 1% of the wealthy have earned and built their wealth through business ownership and real estate investing. Are you ready to join the 1% club? Go to www.Moneymama.biz

Create yourself a great day!
Jody

Tired or Retired?

Interesting conversation today I had with my son. I was looking at articles about retirement and got into the Social Security stuff. Retirement is a HUGE deal for me, I’m one of those that never knew how to build for retirement, thinking I had a back up with Social Security but also knew I didn’t want to work till I was 70 to get my full SS payout. I also learned from my Mom’s wealthy friends it’s good to supplement if possible.
I looked up the Depression. I honestly can say I didn’t realize it went on for so long, twelve years? It began in 1929 and officially ended in 1941. Crazy stuff!!! My greatest memory of the depression. Hope was lost during this horrible time. The survival skills learned were more how to stretch the dollar vs learning how the dollar works and grows.
Now we are 3 yrs into our current recession. How much hope has been lost? I believe this recession has hit us like a sunburn. Playing out in the sun all day then come nightfall your skin starts feeling a bit tight but still unaware of a sunburn. Come morning you look hot pink and can hardly move :) It truely has caught most of us unawares! Now we begin the search for something to sooth our current situation.
I’m not getting into this to be depressive but to IMPRESS upon you how most of us feel like we are swimming up stream. I have talked with so many people, those who have earned 6 figures and now out of a job. Their lifestyle took them out of the game. They are downsizing not because they really wanted to but to survive they have to. My neighbor, $750,000 home, beautiful. Paid cash for toys and more toys and thought life is good so he took out a 2nd mortgage to start investing .... no education just a belief he knew what he was doing. His wife stayed home with the kids. They traveled and was living the “dream” However, He has lost it all. Investments did not sell, borrowed money from family members, home is currently in foreclosure. Now renting and living paycheck to paycheck with his wife back to work.
It’s time we define our dreams and have a burning desire to achieve them!!!!
Start with putting together your dream board. Don’t just put pictures of things you want, get your picture along side that item...car, house etc. The most important part of a dream board is to dream. Dreaming is not where you want to live day by day, let it be your path. Dream big, now put those dreams up on the shelf. Those dream are not the here and now but allows the law of abundance to kick in understanding where it’s directed to go. Now get to work, a burning desire is a must. My dream board says “Open the doors, I’ll do the work”. Awesome!!! Now you know where you are going and you will recognize it when you get there!!!

Create yourself a great day!
Jody