Well, as long as we’re on the subject… I guess we do need to talk about it.
I mean, I’ve touched on a number of my thoughts about retirement… or should I say non-retirement, but there is still this financial component to life that never gets too far from our consciousness.
So, just in case you need another reason to stay in the game… I mean a reason outside of making an incredible impact, mentoring others, giving back, or furthering important causes…
A reason beyond staying sharp, relevant, vibrant and interesting, or just maximizing your mental, emotional, and physical health for the benefit of yourself and those you love…
Yes, if none of those are important… then, there’s always money!
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Yesterday the U.S. Postal Service reported that it would “offer” nearly 150,000 employees the “opportunity” to take an “early retirement”. That’s nice. Similar “offers” have been made to millions of people across the country by corporations great and small.
Of course, such “offers” are only offers if you choose to accept them. If you decline… if you say no, it suddenly goes from being a kindly offer… to a mandatory release of employment. Being booted into retirement is not generally the preferred method, especially if you didn’t see it coming.
From a strictly financial point of view, this type of early retirement… or termination… layoff… downsizing… or whatever they call it… can be fraught with danger. The reason, of course, is that your income stream(s) suddenly dry up… and you begin to live off the pile you’ve hopefully stashed away somewhere.
A lot of piles have gotten significantly smaller in the last seventeen months.
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There are just too many unknowns to put your financial future in the hands of corporate executives, investment brokers, or politicians.
As the leader of your family… of your life… who better do you trust to put your loved ones, your causes, and your priorities first… but you? And if it’s your business, it’s unlikely that you’ll be at the short end of a surprise plant closing some Monday morning down the road.
In a conversation with friends recently, one commented on my belief that everyone should get something going for themselves. Do I really believe anyone can do that? My response is always the same: “Yup… pretty much.”
In fact, if you’re reading this… I know you can.
And if you enjoy it… and you can invest in others… and if it keeps you young and playful and… yes, even wealthy… well, I just think that the “living off the (reduced) pile” theory loses much of its attraction.
Let me know what you think.
Questions:
The market is down about 49% from its high in October of 2007. If you had one million dollars in your retirement account at that time, how much do you have now?
Forget for a moment that the DJIA has lost 22% since the election, and 17% since the beginning of the year. If you were able to earn 6% per year, every year, and never have another losing streak… how long would it take to get back to where you were in October of 2007? How long will it then take to double that?
Which lifestyle strategy do you prefer: Multiple sets of dynamic income streams (cash flow), or a singular static investment pile (IRA / 401k / Keogh / etc)? Why?
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