MONTHLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES
 September 2017

  “If you find serenity and happiness, some people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.”    

 – Mother Teresa

 GOLF TIP

Putt with a sand wedge?

If your ball is just off the edge of the green in light rough or backed up on the outer edge of the fringe against a higher cut of grass, the flat blade of a putter might be a poor choice compared to the sharp and heavy clubface of a sand wedge. It can cut through thick grass more easily.

BRAIN TEASER
Addressing the Dresses.
Anne and Bonnie each have several dresses. Bonnie says to Anne: “If you give me one of your dresses, I will have twice the dresses you have remaining.” Anne replies: “If you give me one of your dresses, we will have exactly the same number of dresses.” So currently, how many dresses do Anne and Bonnie each have?* 

DID YOU KNOW?
One state, two hemispheres

Alaska is the only one of the 50 states to enter the eastern hemisphere, so it is not only the westernmost and northernmost state, but also the easternmost.4

   

 Retirement Calculators May Not Add in Everything  

You may turn to an online retirement calculator for a simple snapshot of your retirement income needs and your retirement savings progress. These calculators are everywhere and so easy to use – but just how realistic are their projections?

In truth, not very. They fail to consider many variables. While they may have you enter your present salary, the percentage of income you want to replace in retirement, your estimated retirement date, and the rate of return for your investments, they ignore things like taxes (especially with regard to retirement account withdrawals), relocation expenses, health care costs, inflation, and your Social Security claiming strategy. Even their basic calculations can vary: input the same data into three different calculators, and the amount that you are supposed to save for retirement can vary by as much as $300,000-$400,000. So, use one or more retirement calculators to run some numbers, but confer with a financial professional you trust to tackle planning for the factors these basic tools cannot address.         

Friends and Family Ties May Make a Big Difference After 65

Gerontologists, mental health professionals, journalists, and retirement planners are starting to recognize loneliness as a retirement hazard. AARP, in fact, now has a website (connect2affect.org) focusing on the issue and the resources that can help to counteract it.

From its research, AARP estimates that 17% of Americans over 65 are cut off from meaningful social interaction. This lonely state raises the risk of mortality by 26%, the organization concludes. It is all too easy to end up alone for some or all of retirement – in fact, 51% of Americans aged 75 and older live by themselves. In addition, the country has about 6 million seniors (defined as age 65 and up) who cannot leave their homes due to disabilities. To ward off loneliness, think about relocating to (or spending more time in) a livelier neighborhood or following athletic, social, or creative interests in the company of others. Romantic relationships are possible, not just platonic ones – and if you feel lonely with your spouse or partner, try going somewhere new, even if just for the day, or having a small adventure.2

On the BRIGHT SIDE
In a recent Allianz Life survey of U.S. consumers, a majority of respondents thought consumer prices would rise more than 4% a year during their retirement. Over the past 20 years, however, yearly inflation has averaged just 2.15%.3

 
Carla Merlak may be reached at
(779)220-9608 or [email protected]
www.merlaktax.biz

Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), a registered investment advisor.  BCM and Carla J. Merlak are independent of each other.
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty.

* BRAIN TEASER ANSWER: Stumped? Contact me for the answer (779)220-9608

CITATIONS.
1 – fool.com/retirement/2017/09/10/why-you-shouldnt-rely-on-a-retirement-calculator.aspx
[9/10/17]
2 – foxbusiness.com/features/2017/09/03/tips-for-baby-boomers-on-how-to-deal-with-loneliness.html [9/3/17]
3 – foxbusiness.com/features/2017/09/10/inflation-and-your-retirement-realities-vs-myths.html [9/10/17]
4 – list25.com/25-strange-and-interesting-bits-of-trivia-about-our-world/ [2/20/14]