“I believe making informed financial decisions can do more to improve the quality of your retirement than all the investment advice in the world”

“I believe making informed financial decisions can do more to improve the quality of your retirement than all the investment advice in the world” The economic landscape has changed significantly over the last decade or two, but it wasn’t long ago that preparing for retirement was considered a somewhat simple and straight-forward endeavor

During the historic bull market in stocks of the eighties and nineties a solid mutual fund or a handful of blue-chips was really all anyone needed to get started. You could then round out your portfolio with a few Treasury bonds or bank CDs and relax with the reasonable expectation your money was safe and would continue to grow.

But those days are over.

Today, CD rates are so low they’re measured by the fractions of a percent, the record-high stock market averages are more a reflection of FED monetary policy than traditional market valuations, and Social Security grows more insecure with each passing day.

Even In the best of times, you need to have a plan

A recent report suggests only about 1 out of every 4 Americans have ever sought the advice of a financial planner. Even more troubling – less than half that group maintained a relationship with the advisor after their original concerns were addressed.

That means relatively few of us are taking advantage of the guidance and resources they’re likely to need to better prepare themselves for the future. Considering we find ourselves in one of the most economically challenging periods of time seen in decades, it’s really no time to go it alone.

Dr. Robert Shiller, Nobel Laureate and Professor of Economics at Yale University said recently he believes, “everyone should work with a financial advisor. There is something to be gained by talking frankly about your situation, what you want for the future, and how you’re investing your money, because people do make mistakes.”

You’d never journey through the wilderness without having a map, so why try to achieve your retirement goals without having a plan?

Imagine one day having to travel to a place you’d never been before – what’s the first thing you would do?

You could ask for directions, or with a map, chart the course for yourself. A map allows you find your way with relative ease, but without it, you could get turned around or lost and may never reach your destination.

Charting a clear path for retirement can help you to avoid the financial obstacles you’re likely to encounter in the years ahead, in addition to the peace of mind you’ll have knowing your family’s future is safe because you decided on a rational, strategic plan of action.

In today’s world, having a common-sense plan for retirement is no longer an option – it’s a necessity.

When You're Ready to get Started

Throughout my life I’ve been fortunate to have met a number of people who made a tremendous impression on me. By sharing their thoughts, ideas, and perspective with me, these individuals profoundly impacted my life for the better, both personally and professionally.

I’m certain the same is true for you. When people who challenge and enlighten each other come together, extraordinary things can happen – questions have a way of finding answers, ideas come into better focus, and problems that may have once seemed overwhelming suddenly aren’t so big anymore.

Conversations like these can sometimes be life-changing.

That’s why I would like to extend an invitation to you, when you’re ready, to start a conversation. It’s a chance to ask a few questions and I’ll share my philosophy on the critical importance of planning for retirement in today’s economy.

Everything you need can be found on the contact page.

When you consider the sheer number of government and market sector forces aligned against you and your retirement, it’s really quite ominous. Fortunately, there are a number of simple, logical steps you can begin taking today to protect yourself from such obvious risks.

After a lifetime of working hard and playing by the rules, now is certainly not the time to lower your defenses.

At your service,

John F. Jamison, Founder – rpsmaine.com