The Key to Retirement Success: Stick to Your Investment Plan

The Key to Retirement Success:

Stick to Your Investment Plan

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Investing for retirement is like dieting - it only works if you stick to the plan. Both take effort but yield important results that will impact the quality and comfort of your life. Many people erroneously assume that financial planning is only for the rich or people with complex finances, but that is not true. Saving for the future is important for everyone, and everyone can do it with the right structure and discipline.

There are different levels of financial planning. A skilled financial planner is able to help draft a savings plan that will work for you. Even putting a little money aside every month helps - and the right investments can make something out of nothing. Having a plan that is adaptable and measurable, regardless of complexity, is of the utmost importance. Learning how to effectively do that is priceless.

Sage Rutty has a few upcoming workshops lead by our financial advising experts that can help you design a savings plan that will prepare you for your retirement and your future.

• Retirement Income Enhancing Strategies

with Christine Palmiere, RICP®, First V.P., Financial Advisor

What is your current retirement income strategy? With employment-based pensions becoming a thing of the past, it is increasingly difficult to maintain an income stream to support your lifestyle during retirement. In this workshop you will learn how to maximize your current retirement income, avoid unnecessary penalties, as well as some new strategies to create the income you desire so you can enjoy the retirement you deserve

• Retirement Road Map

with Doug Parker, CFP®, Senior V.P., Financial Advisor

The road to retirement is unpredictable; rising costs, market volatility and longevity will each have an effect on your plans. We have identified the period when a misstep has the greatest potential of derailing a successful retirement and outlined the 10 critical issues you’ll want to focus on. Whether retirement is just on the horizon or you’re already there, you’ll find actionable suggestions in this program.

• Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning

with Christine Palmiere, RICP®, First V.P., Financial Advisor and

Aaron Young, CFP®, Associate Financial Planner

Do you picture yourself enjoying a comfortable retirement, saving for the cost of college education for a child or grandchild, or providing financial security for your family? Financial planning is a process that can help you reach your goals by evaluating your whole financial picture; then outlining strategies tailored to your specific needs. In this presentation, we will discuss the framework of financial planning to start you down the path of accomplishing your goals.

• Get Your Affairs in Order

with Kris Dowejko, First V.P., Financial Advisor

Would your family know what to do if something happened to you? Have you been named Executor to handle someone else’s affairs? In this session, we’ll discuss Probate and how to avoid it, what the role of the Executor really means, and you’ll learn our simple two-step process to make things easier for your loved ones.

All our workshops are held in the Sage Rutty Educational Center located in our offices at 100 Corporate Woods, Suite 300, Rochester, New York. You can learn more about our upcoming free financial workshops and sign up on our website, www.sageruttyuniversity.com, or call 585-512-2309.

Don’t Wait to Plan Your Estate

Believe it or not, you have an estate - nearly everyone does. Your estate is comprised of everything you own: your car, home, other real estate, checking and savings accounts, investments, life insurance, furniture, and other personal possessions. No matter how large or how small, everyone has an estate and something in common - you can’t take it with you when you die.

What is Estate Planning?

When your time comes, you probably want to control how your possessions are given to the people or organizations you care about most. To ensure your wishes are carried out, you need to provide instructions stating whom you want to receive something of yours, what you want them to receive, and when they are to receive it. You will, of course, want this to happen with the least amount paid in taxes, legal fees, and court costs. 

How to Create a Successful Estate Plan 

These items should be included in a thorough estate plan:

1. A Will: Name who will inherit your belongings and choose a guardian and inheritance manager for minor children.
2. Health Care Directives: Include a living will and a power of attorney.
3. Financial Power of Attorney: Grant someone legal authority to act on your behalf regarding financial issues if you become incapacitated and are unable to make those decisions yourself. 
4. File Beneficiary Forms: Naming a beneficiary for retirement plans and any bank accounts makes the funds automatically "payable on death" to your beneficiary and allows for the probate process to be skipped altogether. 
5. Life Insurance: Can help provide immediate cash at death. 
6. Preplan Your Funeral: Planning ahead enables you to make financial arrangements to cover your funeral costs. Even if you are leaving behind sufficient money, will your survivors be able to access it? Funeral insurance and funeral trusts are sound financial planning options you can consider ahead of time.

Individuals put off estate planning because they think they don’t own enough, they’re not old enough, they’re busy, think they have plenty of time, they’re confused and don’t know who can help them, or they just don’t want to face it. But what if something happened to them? Sage Rutty can help by offering step-by-step guidance to put you at ease. By evaluating and addressing any financial concerns, Sage Rutty provides peace of mind regarding important questions about personal estate plans.

Learn more about estate planning and how we can help by visiting SageRutty or calling 585-232-3760.