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	<title>agenotes.com &#187; Retirement</title>
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	<link>http://www.agenotes.com</link>
	<description>A Blog Discussion About the Aging Process and Anti-Aging</description>
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		<title>Things You Need To Take Care Of Before Making The Final Decision To Retire</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/things-you-need-to-take-care-of-before-making-the-final-decision-to-retire-1639.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/things-you-need-to-take-care-of-before-making-the-final-decision-to-retire-1639.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:35:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invest]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=1639</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is finally happened, you have decided to retire and enjoy life. However, before making the transition from the daily routine of sleeping in on weekdays, do you know if you are really ready for change? Here are some things you need to take care of before making the final decision to retire: 

1. CHOOSE [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is finally happened, you have decided to retire and enjoy life. However, before making the transition from the daily routine of sleeping in on weekdays, do you know if you are really ready for change? Here are some things you need to take care of before making the final decision to retire: </p>
<p><span id="more-1639"></span></p>
<p>1. CHOOSE A RETIREMENT DATE </p>
<p>Set an exact date for retirement a couple of things for you. If you know you absolutely want to stop working in 5 years, that will do whatever is necessary to ensure that happens. In parallel, setting the date also defines the time horizon over which you have to prepare. This makes it easier to figure out what to do to get ready for that day in the not too distant when you stop working. </p>
<p>2. MAKE AN INVENTORY FINANCING </p>
<p>Calculate how much money you need to save monthly to get enough money in retirement. </p>
<p>Expenditure </p>
<p>As a general rule, most retirees need between 70-80% of their current income in retirement. While this is a good starting point, as retirement approaches, it helps to be a bit more precise. This is recommended to arrive with a budget of their current living expenses to help you get an idea of what you need. Don&rsquo;t forget to consider the most important expenditures such as mortgage on your house (if any) and health care costs, and what affects, if any, inflation can have on their overheads. </p>
<p>Sources of Income </p>
<p>Also find out their costs, retirement planning also involves finding out how you will pay for these expenses stops once your regular paycheck from work. Traditionally there have been three sources of retirement income available to persons: Social Security, employer-provided benefits (i.e. pensions) and personal savings. </p>
<p>Social Security </p>
<p>The Social Security Administration sends an annual report to all employees who have paid into the system, detailing the benefits they are entitled. In general, not before a person is allowed to reap the benefits of Social Security retirement is at age 62. The time to begin receiving Social Security benefits depend on a number of factors, but more important when going into retirement and the needs of their income at the time. </p>
<p>Business benefits </p>
<p>Although employer-sponsored pension plans going the way of the dinosaur today, there are still a few companies out there that offer a benefit. If you are one of the lucky few whose company has a pension plan, when you approach retirement sure to contact your human resources department to find out: 1) if you are entitled to a benefit under the company plan of years; 2) how much the benefit would be if you are entitled to one, and 3) if you are eligible to receive, 4) whether the benefit comes at a cost of living adjustment associated with it (to take account of inflation ), 5) whether the survival benefits are provided in the pension plan; 6) If your company offers a choice of lump sum payments (we suggest you seek professional help to see if this option is best for you) .</p>
<p>Now lots of people are concerned about <a href="http://www.freeinvestmentblog.com/" target='_blank'>retirement investing</a>. Beyond any doubt there are no ideal and universal solutions on <a href="http://www.freeinvestmentblog.com/" target='_blank'>retirement investing</a> market that can satisfy everybody. But if you do your  due diligence of what is offered on this market - it will be much easier to make a wise and well balanced retirement plan choice.</p>
<p>If you want to make stock market investing to be part of your retirement plan, please make a nice use of these <a href="http://www.freestockmarketguide.com/" target='_blank'>stock market news</a>.</p>
<p>Nowadays we are living in the world where information makes life easier.</p>
<p>Due to this if you are properly armed with the information in your topic you can rest assured that you will always find the way out from any bad situation. So, please make sure to track this site on a regular basis or - the least time consuming way of doing it - sign up to its RSS feed. In such an easy way you will have a direct shortcut to the freshest info updates here. Blogs can be helpful, you just need to know how to use them.</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/finance" title="finance" rel="tag">finance</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/invest" title="invest" rel="tag">invest</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a><br />
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Most Important Things About Premature Retirement Arrangement Plan For You To Be Aware Of</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/the-most-important-things-about-premature-retirement-arrangement-plan-for-you-to-be-aware-of-1632.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/the-most-important-things-about-premature-retirement-arrangement-plan-for-you-to-be-aware-of-1632.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:19:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invest]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=1632</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Premature retirement arrangement plan takes a number of phases that you ought to begin the second you get in a job. Make a plan for how you pay out what you are paid with and that involves budgeting, savings, &#8220;way of life&#8221; scenarios, investments. When you find yourself at the point when you may begin [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Premature retirement arrangement plan takes a number of phases that you ought to begin the second you get in a job. Make a plan for how you pay out what you are paid with and that involves budgeting, savings, &ldquo;way of life&rdquo; scenarios, investments. When you find yourself at the point when you may begin making savings with the money you accumulated, select your assets prudently. If you find useful investments to input your money into, keep on putting more money into it as long as you earn more through the years. Last but not least, for your early &ldquo;giving up work&rdquo; scenario to do well, you ought to adhere to it to the moment that you have sufficiently to stop working.</p>
<p><span id="more-1632"></span></p>
<p>The NY early &ldquo;giving up work&rdquo; preparation has come under a lot of fire from plenty of the sides, at times from the employees who had benefited from it, as well. An illustration for this would be the NY premature retirement for workforce savings personnel. Per the statutes of the New Jersey early resignation deal, the workforce asset employees are not excluded. So, the NJ early on pension for workforce savings workers, people would have anticipated, should be only beneficial for them. If we take a look at the facets of the NY early &ldquo;giving up work&rdquo; for workforce asset human resources. </p>
<p>If the employee under investigation is at least 60 years of age, or above, and the figure of years of accredited service he or she has in either TPAF or PERS is in-between 10 and 20, the employee will receive 500 dollars every year for 2 years after resignation, beyond and above the retirement profits the individual is entitled to.</p>
<p>When the worker being under question is sixty one years old, or above, and doesn't have twenty six years of service approved in both PERS or TPAF they can become a part of the SHBP or SEHB programs that give paid medical settlement to community members of New Jersey, following their retirement. This means that their medical costs will be covered, at slightest to a certain point.</p>
<p>There are conditions on the topic of untimely withdrawal no doubt, together with New York early on retirement for workforce investment staff. As soon as they opt for this simple choice, they cannot amend their mind. They have till one week after they send in the request to come to a decision that they do not wish it, in the end. Another condition is that the individual may not become an employee of the State of New Jersey Managerial Division, irrespective of in which power, till 5 years have gone by subsequent to he or she select early on withdrawal. As well, every unit and every agency has the right to request one member of personnel, even if they opt for premature &ldquo;giving up work&rdquo;, to stay at work for a year. The boss has the power to take this verdict.</p>
<p>Contentious as those rules are, the NY untimely pension for workforce savings employees course of action is only one of many that have come under fire recently.</p>
<p>One of the most popular methods of investing is <a href="http://www.freeinvestmentblog.com/" target='_blank'>retirement investing</a>. It is natural that one thinks about future and has a desire to protect the future of the elderly age. This is where <a href="http://www.freeinvestmentblog.com/" target='_blank'>retirement investing</a> comes into help. We do not want to push you to making any specific choices - but the general knowledge of the retirement planning industry will help you a lot.</p>
<p>Need <a href="http://www.freestockmarketguide.com/" target='_blank'>stock market news</a>, because stocks trading is one of the parts of your pensions planning agenda? Then go to this site.</p>
<p>Right now we live in the world where information makes life easier.</p>
<p>Due to this if you are properly armed with the information in your sphere of interest you can be sure that you will always find the way out from any bad situation. So, please make sure to track this web site on a regular basis or - the least time consuming way of doing it - sign up to its RSS. In such an easy way you will have a direct shortcut to the freshest info updates here. Blogging can be helpful, you just need to know how to use them.</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/finance" title="finance" rel="tag">finance</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/invest" title="invest" rel="tag">invest</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a><br />
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Do You Know About Hidden Functions Of IRA Account?</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/do-you-know-about-hidden-functions-of-ira-account-1627.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/do-you-know-about-hidden-functions-of-ira-account-1627.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:33:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invest]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=1627</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Money talks! That is why everyone tries to save the maintenance and worry about IRA accounts and retirement investments. If you want to be full of zap when it is your retired years and you want to have got enough maintenance you have to know about IRA account and other ways to save your money [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Money talks! That is why everyone tries to save the maintenance and worry about IRA accounts and retirement investments. If you want to be full of zap when it is your retired years and you want to have got enough maintenance you have to know about IRA account and other ways to save your money for retirement investments. Just memorize that IRA account program is the one is your firm foundation for the retirement investments, you have to plan your retirement investments and you have to think about every rub in your retirement investments. So, you have to realize that IRA account has got some of hidden functions. In fact they are not hidden but just some part of people know about them that is why their title is hidden. You have to know about hidden ones because they will bring you more possibilities than popular ones. </p>
<p><span id="more-1627"></span></p>
<p>For instance just take real estate way. Real estate way is the one for the people who have got ins and money to buy, to pay and to deal at all with possibilities and other ways. Real estate way is the swell one because you are able to buy luxury or simple real estate, you are able to get apartments as house as flat, you are able to get real estate in the United States of America or abroad, you are able to chose the real estate agency and you are able to invest your money in the field you are able and you want. To deal with real estate way in IRA account you have to be determined and you have to make up a specific and special plan. </p>
<p>Do not be afraid! It is not too complex but you will have to do enough hard work to plan it out. But if you have figure out all the ins and outs, all the demands you have got and all the expenses you may face you will be successful in your retirement investments by all means! Just remember &ndash; you have to get the aim, you have to have got enough skills and knowledge to deal with real estate. You have to be liker in real estate field because it is enough complex field to deal with it. In spite of this hidden way you must invest in some fields at the same time. It is reliable and safe way to deal with your retirement investments.</p>
<p>Want to get more info? If you want to get freeing retirement investments which will bring you gain and money, you will get the benefits and  maintenance for life you want! Plan your IRA account now and you get your aim now! Click us and get your plan for free with no exhaustion!</p>
<p>Looking for information about <a href="http://www.freeinvestmentblog.com/" target='_blank'>retirement income investing</a> -  go to this <a href="http://www.freeinvestmentblog.com/" target='_blank'>retirement investing</a> site. Only a person armed with pension planning strategy can make a wise choice.</p>
<p>Also think about using stock market as part of the retirement planning. This is when <a href="http://www.freestockmarketguide.com/" target='_blank'>stock market news</a> can help a lot.</p>
<p>Nowadays we live in the world where information quickly enhances the quality of our life.</p>
<p>Due to this if you are properly armed with the information in your sphere of interest you can rest assured that you will in any case find the solution to any bad situation. So, please make sure to track this site on a regular basis or - the easiest way to take care of it - sign up to its RSS feed. In such an easy way you will have your hand on the pulse of the latest informational updates here. Blogging can be helpful, you just need to know how to use them.</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/finance" title="finance" rel="tag">finance</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/invest" title="invest" rel="tag">invest</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a><br />
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		<title>Think Working Retirement</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/working-retirement-830.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/working-retirement-830.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:35:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aging Process]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[working retirement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=830</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have long been an advocate of a working retirement. One of the best productive retirement activities, for those who are inclined to want to continue earning, is website development. I do this myself, and find it highly stimulating and challenging. Lately, I've been taking on some clients for whom I'm constructing websites. Here's an [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have long been an advocate of a working retirement. One of the best productive retirement activities, for those who are inclined to want to continue earning, is website development. I do this myself, and find it highly stimulating and challenging. Lately, I've been taking on some clients for whom I'm constructing websites. Here's an example of one I just completed for a gentleman and his wife who are also of a certain age: <a href="http://www.deckmasterfinedecks.com/home"><strong>Master Deck Builder</strong></a>.</p>
<p><span id="more-830"></span></p>
<p>As other examples, I recently launched a website offering <a href="http://www.mountainbikesplease.com"><strong>Mountain Bikes for Sale</strong></a>, another analyzing various aspects of <a href="http://www.roadbikes101.com"><strong>Road Bikes</strong></a> and two new sites offering 1. <a href="http://www.tiresgazette.com"><strong>Major Tire Brands for Sale</strong></a> and 2. <a href="http://www.plentyofcoffee.net"><strong>All About Specialty Coffees</strong></a>. Also, I've recently launched some home improvement sites about <a href="http://www.paintsprayersusa.com" target="_blank"><strong>Paint Sprayers</strong></a> and another one <a href="http://www.chainsawhub.com" target="_blank"><strong>all about chainsaws</strong></a>.  And, be ready for Spring and Summer by visiting our <a href="http://www.mowerdeals.com"><strong>Lawn Mower Store</strong></a>. Of interest to older war veterans is a site about <a href="http://www.warmemorabiliahub.com/"><strong>War Memorabilia Collectibles</strong></a> and, for gift givers, <a href="http://www.fountainpenhub.com"><strong>Sophisticated Fountain Pens as Gifts</strong></a>. Ordinarily, I don't toot my horn about my stuff on this website, but I thought I should at least mention that for those of us moving well along in the aging process, developing websites, either for pleasure, or for profit is an excellent way to keep the old gray matter engaged and sharp. We know that's a large part of the formula for maintaining a healthy outlook as we become more chronologically advantaged.</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/aging" title="aging" rel="tag">aging</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/aging-process" title="Aging Process" rel="tag">Aging Process</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/website-development" title="website development" rel="tag">website development</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/working-retirement" title="working retirement" rel="tag">working retirement</a><br />
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seniors, Gild your Golden Years with More Gold &#8211; Get to Work!</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/golden-years-work-1002.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/golden-years-work-1002.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:19:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[golden years]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pension benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retiring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senior employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seniors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social security]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=1002</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Listening, today, to CNN, it's been reported that the fastest growing component of the workforce is folks over 75. This is an outgrowth of  inadequacy in Social Security benefits and shrinking pension payouts.

I find the concept of "Golden Years" difficult to grasp. There's dignity in work - any work. How often have we heard [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Listening, today, to CNN, it's been reported that the fastest growing component of the workforce is folks over 75. This is an outgrowth of  inadequacy in Social Security benefits and shrinking pension payouts.</p>
<p><span id="more-1002"></span></p>
<p>I find the concept of "Golden Years" difficult to grasp. There's dignity in work - any work. How often have we heard about men, accustomed to vital activity in the workplace, dying not long after retiring?</p>
<p>I think there's far too much cultural fixation on a final goal of retirement. We're seeing, already, how elusive that so called happy state can be in the midst of the current economic crisis. Rather than setting retirement the holy grail of career closure, we'd be better off thinking in terms of creating choices.</p>
<p>Hooray for the over 75 crowd reentering or staying in the workaday world. I can think of nothing healthier or more life sustaining.</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/golden-years" title="golden years" rel="tag">golden years</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/pension-benefits" title="pension benefits" rel="tag">pension benefits</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement-income" title="retirement income" rel="tag">retirement income</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement-planning" title="retirement planning" rel="tag">retirement planning</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retiring" title="retiring" rel="tag">retiring</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/senior-employment" title="senior employment" rel="tag">senior employment</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/seniors" title="seniors" rel="tag">seniors</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/social-security" title="social security" rel="tag">social security</a><br />
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Federal Retirement Calculator and Other Retirement Planning Tools</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/federal-retirement-calculator-845.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/federal-retirement-calculator-845.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:02:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>William Blake</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[401k]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[federal retirement calculator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement savings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=845</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are a lot of variables to consider when planning for your retirement. It is one of the most important things you will ever do and it should be considered very early in life ??" as early as possible. One of the best ways to develop a good plan is to equip yourself with the right planning tools. For example, it is important to know the approximate amount of federal annuity that will be due you upon retirement. How can you determine that information? A federal retirement calculator is just what you need.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are a lot of variables to consider when planning for your retirement. It is one of the most important things you will ever do and it should be considered very early in life ??" as early as possible. One of the best ways to develop a good plan is to equip yourself with the right planning tools. For example, it is important to know the approximate amount of federal annuity that will be due you upon retirement. How can you determine that information? A federal retirement calculator is just what you need.<span id="more-845"></span> </p>
<p>The federal retirement calculator can only approximate what will take place. There is no way to definitely foretell the future. However, this useful tool will give you a good guideline by which you can figure what your retirement will be. </p>
<p>This calculator is useful for employers who need to determine certain benefits for their workers such as benefits paid to family members upon the death of the employee or annuities in CSRS, FERS or CSRS-offset retirement. </p>
<p>There are a few things that you should not use this calculator for, including to calculate annuities for employees with intermittent or part-time service, to take into account periods of service that require deposit or redeposit such as some military and temporary time, to calculate TSP benefits, provide estimates for the cost of health benefits or life insurance in retirement, and to calculate benefits for employees who die while employed by the USGS. </p>
<p>What Else Can Help? </p>
<p>Besides the federal retirement calculator there are other retirement planning tools that you can take advantage of as well, including the QuickAnswer retirement calculator which helps assess your progress towards retirement, the standard retirement calculator which tells you how much you should save for retirement, the RRSP accumulator which tells the power of compounded investment returns, post retirement calculator which estimates your retirement income, and the RRIP calculator which helps you to build a productive and successful withdrawal strategy.</p>
<p>A few others that estimate useful information that will help you develop a plan for your retirement are the life expectancy calculator and the annuity calculators.</p>
<p>Retirement is one of the most major and important times in anyone's life, and it is an issue that you should be thinking about early on in your life. The earlier that you can begin to plan and prepare for your retirement the better off you are going to be and whether that means using a federal retirement calculator or other retirement planning tool, the more you can do the better.</p>
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	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/401k" title="401k" rel="tag">401k</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/federal-retirement-calculator" title="federal retirement calculator" rel="tag">federal retirement calculator</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/financial-planning" title="financial planning" rel="tag">financial planning</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/personal-finance" title="personal finance" rel="tag">personal finance</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retire" title="retire" rel="tag">retire</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement-income" title="retirement income" rel="tag">retirement income</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement-savings" title="retirement savings" rel="tag">retirement savings</a><br />
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		<title>Social Security Cost of Living Increase is a Work of Fiction</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/social-security-cola-increase-fiction-592.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/social-security-cola-increase-fiction-592.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:01:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Robert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer price index]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cost of living increase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inflation rate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market basket]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicare premiums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senior citizens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social security]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=592</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While I'm taking note of the fact that I'll be receiving a 5.8% cost of living increase in my Social Security payments come January 2009, I have to laugh. This is touted as the largest increase in 25 years, but falls well short of real inflation. No one seems to know exactly what the "real [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While I'm taking note of the fact that I'll be receiving a 5.8% cost of living increase in my Social Security payments come January 2009, I have to laugh. This is touted as the largest increase in 25 years, but falls well short of real inflation. No one seems to know exactly what the "real inflation" rate is. But you can be certain it isn't nearly as low as 5.8%.<span id="more-592"></span></p>
<p>Last year a dozen eggs cost me $1.29 at my supermarket. Oddly, I keep track of this stuff in my head. Yesterday I paid $2.39. Folks, that's a 53% jump! While prices at the gas pump have fallen recently, they're still well above what we've seen over the last five years. And, does anyone believe they'll stay lower?</p>
<p>Now, I don't argue that cost of living increases should be tied to eggs. In fact, the Feds, in calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI), tell us that they weigh a whole market basket of goods and services. The problem is that these numbers can be manipulated, and are manipulated, to achieve political objectives, not to benefit retirees receiving social security.  Food and energy are excluded from the CPI calculation because they are so "volatile". What does that tell you? It's just part of a lie the government foists upon us.</p>
<p>In fact, one reason for lying to us about inflation is to keep a lid on payments to grandma and grandpa. Cheating senior citizens is nothing new. And, in past years, whatever increases were logged, have been offset, in large part, by increases in Medicare premiums. There's some indication, however, that there will be no Medicare boost for 2009.</p>
<p>It's illegal for businesses to cook the books, but the government has a free reign to do just that. In the final analysis, older Americans are being cheated out of billions of dollars. I guess that in light of the current, mounting financial meltdowns, that can be viewed as a good thing. Right?</p>
<p>Robert G. Knechtel</p>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/consumer-price-index" title="consumer price index" rel="tag">consumer price index</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/cost-of-living-increase" title="cost of living increase" rel="tag">cost of living increase</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/inflation-rate" title="inflation rate" rel="tag">inflation rate</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/market-basket" title="market basket" rel="tag">market basket</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/medicare" title="medicare" rel="tag">medicare</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/medicare-premiums" title="medicare premiums" rel="tag">medicare premiums</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retire" title="retire" rel="tag">retire</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/senior-citizens" title="senior citizens" rel="tag">senior citizens</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/social-security" title="social security" rel="tag">social security</a><br />
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		<title>A Look Back at the 1987 Market Crash</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/look-back-1987-market-crash-583.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/look-back-1987-market-crash-583.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:34:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Rothe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black monday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[derivative securities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dow jones industrial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[futures markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stock market crash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[us stock markets]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=583</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The increased volatility in the US Stock markets over the past few weeks has scared investors, now may be a good time to look at what happened in the 1987 market crash.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The increased volatility in the US Stock markets over the past few weeks has scared investors, now may be a good time to look at what happened in the 1987 market crash.</p>
<p>During October 14 and October 19, 1987, major indexes in the United States dropped 30 percent or more. On October 19, 1987, a day now know as Black Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 508 points, losing 22.6% of its total value, while the S&amp;P 500 dropped 20.4%, falling from 282.7 to 225.06.<span id="more-583"></span></p>
<p>The 1987 crash ended the five-year bull market that had seen the Dow rise from 776 points in August 1982 to a high of 2,722.42 points in August 1987. Unlike what happened in 1929, however, the market rallied immediately after the crash, posting a record one-day gain of 102.27 the very next day and 186.64 points on Thursday October 22. It took only two years for the Dow to recover completely; by September of 1989, the market had regained all of the value it had lost in the '87 crash. </p>
<p>Like today, many investors feared that the a stock market crash would trigger a major recession. Instead, the impact from the crash turned out to be surprisingly small. This phenomenon was due, in part, to the intervention of the Federal Reserve. The worst economic losses occurred on Wall Street itself, where 15,000 jobs were lost in the financial industry.</p>
<p>Numerous explanations have been offered as to the cause of the crash, although none may be said to have been the sole determinant. Among these are computer trading and derivative securities, illiquidity, trade and budget deficits, and overvaluation. Below are some of the major theories of what happened.</p>
<p>1: DERIVATIVE TRADING</p>
<p>Initial blame for the 1987 crash centered on the relationship between stock markets, index options and futures markets. In the former, investors buy actual shares of stock; in the latter they are only purchasing rights to buy or sell stocks at particular prices. Thus options and futures are known as derivatives, because their value derives from changes in stock prices even though no actual shares are owned. The Brady Commission [also known as the Presidential Task Force on Market Mechanisms, which was appointed to investigate the causes of the crash], concluded that the failure of stock markets and derivatives markets to operate in sync was the major factor behind the crash. </p>
<p>2: COMPUTER TRADING </p>
<p>In searching for the cause of the crash, many analysts blame the use of computer trading (also known as program trading) by large institutional investing companies. In program trading, computers were programmed to automatically order large stock trades when certain market trends prevailed. However, studies show that during the 1987 U.S. Crash, other stock markets which did not use program trading also crashed, some with losses even more severe than the U.S. market. </p>
<p>3: ILLIQUIDITY </p>
<p>During the Crash, trading mechanisms in financial markets were not able to deal with such a large flow of sell orders. Many common stocks in the New York Stock Exchange were not traded until late in the morning of October 19 because the specialists could not find enough buyers to purchase the amount of stocks that sellers wanted to get rid of at certain prices. As a result, trading was terminated in many listed stocks. This insufficient liquidity may have had a significant effect on the size of the price drop, since investors had overestimated the amount of liquidity. However, negative news to investors about the liquidity of stock, option and futures markets cannot explain why so many people decided to sell stock at the same time. </p>
<p>4: U.S. TRADE AND BUDGET DEFICITS </p>
<p>Another important trigger in the market crash was the announcement of a large U.S. trade deficit on October 14, which led then Treasury Secretary James Baker to suggest the need for a fall in the dollar on foreign exchange markets. The fear of a lower dollar led foreigners to pull out of dollar-denominated assets, which then caused a sharp rise in interest rates. </p>
<p>One belief is that the large trade and budget deficits during the third quarter of 1987 might have led investors into thinking that these deficits would cause a fall of the U.S. stocks compared with foreign securities (this was the largest U.S. trade deficit since 1960). However, if the large U.S. budget deficit was the cause, why did stock markets in other countries crash as well? (Unexpected changes in the trade deficit were bad news for one country; it would be good news for its trading partner.)</p>
<p>INVESTING IN BONDS AS AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE </p>
<p>Long-term bond yields that had started 1987 at 7.6% climbed to approximately 10% during the summer before the crash. This offered a lucrative alternative to stocks for investors looking for yield. </p>
<p>6: OVERVALUATION </p>
<p>Many analysts agree that stock prices were overvalued in September, 1987. Price/Earning ratio and Price/Dividend ratios were too high [Historically, the P/E ratio is about 15 to 1; in October 1987 the P/E for the S&amp;P 500 had risen to about 20 to 1]. Does that imply that overvaluation caused the 1987 Crash? While these ratios were at historically high levels, similar Price/Earning and Price/Dividends values had been seen for most of the 1960-72 period. Since no crash happened during that period, we can assume that overvaluation did not trigger crashes every time. </p>
<p>In looking back at the 1987 crash we can see that there are not many similarities to today's financial markets. Bonds are not at attractive levels, stocks are not overvalued and computer trading has evolved significantly over the past 20 years.  Emotional fear is in the market. Once the fear subsides, it will be back to business as usual.</p>
<div class='resource'>
<div style='italic;' class='about'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='links'>John Rothe is President and Chief Investment Officer of the Rothe Financial Group. To receive information on <a href="http://www.absolutefolios.com">retirement planning</a> in a bear market visit http://www.absolutefolios.com.
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/age" title="age" rel="tag">age</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/black-monday" title="black monday" rel="tag">black monday</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/derivative-securities" title="derivative securities" rel="tag">derivative securities</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/dow-jones-industrial" title="dow jones industrial" rel="tag">dow jones industrial</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/futures-markets" title="futures markets" rel="tag">futures markets</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retire" title="retire" rel="tag">retire</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/stock-market-crash" title="stock market crash" rel="tag">stock market crash</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/us-stock-markets" title="us stock markets" rel="tag">us stock markets</a><br />
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		<title>Ltci And Survivorship Benefits</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/ltci-survivorship-benefit-555.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/ltci-survivorship-benefit-555.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:01:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Terry Stanfield</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[long term care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[long term care insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ltci]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[survivor benefits]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=555</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The survivorship benefit is very important if you are looking into getting a long term care insurance quote. This is one of many benefits you should consider and there are many reasons why. Here are six things to think about with the survivorship benefit that might impact you if you get a long term care insurance policy.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Six Things You Need To Know About Ltci And Survivorship Benefits</strong></p>
<p>We know that long term care insurance can be tricky in terms of what's actually covered and what isn't. Many of the policies carry survivorship benefits and there are some things it's well to keep in mind as you evaluate your situation.<span id="more-555"></span></p>
<p>The survivorship benefit is very important if you are looking into getting a long term care insurance quote. This is one of many benefits you should consider and there are many reasons why. Here are six things to think about with the survivorship benefit that might impact you if you get a long term care insurance policy.  </p>
<p> 1. You must be married to get a survivorship benefit. This must be a valid marriage. You cannot be living with a person but they must actually be your spouse. In addition, some insurance companies do not recognize homosexual couples and they also might not recognize common law marriages.   </p>
<p> 2. The long term care insurance cost will be higher if you should choose the survivorship benefit. The more benefits you add to your package the more money you will pay into the policy. However, remember this is like a savings account and it will still benefit both you and your spouse.  </p>
<p> 3. A survivorship benefit usually has a stipulation to it before you can actually use the benefit. This stipulation is in years and will usually require approximately 10 years of paying on the policy without having a single claim to the company. This means that you or your spouse will not have been hospitalized for any reason or had any other claim to the company throughout the entire duration of a set time frame.  </p>
<p> 4. The survivorship benefit on a couple's long term care insurance policy means that if one of the people in the marriage dies, the survivor of the relationship no longer has to pay the premiums for the rest of their life.   This is designed to help a person remain on the policy because most likely their income has been cut in half because of the death.  </p>
<p> 5. When survivorship is on the long term car insurance quote and a person in the marriage dies, the other person receives full benefits for life also. This means that they will receive the entirety of what they were paying for before the person died.   </p>
<p> 6. The long term care insurance policy will not change when a spouse dies. The benefits being paid for before the time of death will remain in effect and active for the rest of the living person's life.  </p>
<p> When you get a long term care insurance quote and you are married it is important to consider the survivorship benefit on your policy. Don't get a policy without it or you could be in trouble if your spouse dies.</p>
<div class='resource'>
<div style='italic;' class='about'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='links'>Before you go out and buy a policy go to <a href="http://www.longtermcareinsurance-guide.com">Long Term<br />
Care Insurance Guide</a>, ask questions and request a<a href="http://www.longtermcareinsurance-guide.com"> long term<br />
care insurance quote</a>. We represent 20 of the top LTCi<br />
providers. This gives you tremendous options.
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/age" title="age" rel="tag">age</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/long-term-care" title="long term care" rel="tag">long term care</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/long-term-care-insurance" title="long term care insurance" rel="tag">long term care insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/ltci" title="ltci" rel="tag">ltci</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/retirement" title="Retirement" rel="tag">Retirement</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/survivor-benefits" title="survivor benefits" rel="tag">survivor benefits</a><br />
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		<title>Beware of Reverse Mortgage Scams</title>
		<link>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/beware-reverse-mortgage-scams-158.php</link>
		<comments>http://www.agenotes.com/retirement/beware-reverse-mortgage-scams-158.php#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:48:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Terry Stanfield</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[long term care insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reverse mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reverse mortgage lender]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scam artists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seniors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.agenotes.com/?p=158</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Reverse mortgages are being used by more and more seniors in an effort to get a loan that does not have to paid back until they move or die, giving them the funds they need to pay for their own long-term care, without relying on family or insurance. It is an incredibly popular practice for those over the age of 62, who own a home and don't want to be a financial burden on their families. In fact, they are the most popular type of loan for Americans over the age of 62.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Reverse mortgages are being used by more and more seniors in an effort to get a loan that does not have to paid back until they move or die, giving them the funds they need to pay for their own long-term care, without relying on family or insurance. It is an incredibly popular practice for those over the age of 62, who own a home and don't want to be a financial burden on their families. In fact, they are the most popular type of loan for Americans over the age of 62.</p>
<p><span id="more-158"></span></p>
<p>However, seniors who are in need of some loan cash sometimes fall into the traps of reverse mortgages scams through fake websites and reverse mortgage companies who charge too much. This is a horrible situation for a senior to be in, because they may lose thousands of dollars to the scam artists, turning them into a severe financial burden for them family.</p>
<p>Usually, the scam is perpetrated through telemarketing, with the senior being contacted by phone and convinced into giving up their personal information for the 'loan'. The personal information is then used to steal the senior's identity, often taking out a loan in their name, but making the senior foot the bill for the interest charges and monthly payments.</p>
<p>In the case where the senior thinks they are dealing with a legitimate company, they may be dealing with a phony reverse mortgage companies. These companies will charge six to ten percent of the entire loan amount just for the senior to get the name of a reverse mortgage lender. This is one of the most common types of scams. You can actually get information on who provides reverse mortgages, free of charge, from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.</p>
<p>As a result, if you are looking for a reverse mortgage, you need to be incredibly careful not to fall into the trap of a reverse mortgage scam. You should always make sure that before you sign anything, even if the agent is urging you to, you do your research into the company to find out if they are a) legitimate and b) financially stable.</p>
<p>It is also an excellent idea to sign the contract in the presence of a lawyer, advisor, or your children. This will help to avoid the tactics that have been laid by the reverse mortgage scam artist. However, if you simply want to avoid becoming a part of reverse mortgage scams, then you should simply not do your reverse mortgage dealings over the internet or phone.</p>
<p>Conclusion Reverse mortgage scams are one of the worst scams perpetrated by scam artists because it prays on the elderly and their desire to be financially secure after they have left the workforce. All reverse mortgage scams do is rob them of their money by forcing them to pay large sums up front, or by stealing personal information. To make sure you do not fall into a reverse mortgage scam, do your research and never, ever sign anything under pressure, or pay money up front without consulting an adviser first.</p>
<div class='uawresource'>
<div style='italic;' class='uawabout'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='uawlinks'>Before you go out and buy a policy go to <a href="http://www.longtermcareinsurance-guide.com">Long Term Care Insurance Guide</a> and read <a href="http://www.longtermcareinsurance-guide.com/ simplifying-long-term-care-simplifying.html"> Simplifying Long-Term Care</a>.
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

	Tags: <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/age" title="age" rel="tag">age</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/long-term-care-insurance" title="long term care insurance" rel="tag">long term care insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/reverse-mortgage" title="reverse mortgage" rel="tag">reverse mortgage</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/reverse-mortgage-lender" title="reverse mortgage lender" rel="tag">reverse mortgage lender</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/scam-artists" title="scam artists" rel="tag">scam artists</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/scams" title="scams" rel="tag">scams</a>, <a href="http://www.agenotes.com/tag/seniors" title="seniors" rel="tag">seniors</a><br />
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