Entries Tagged 'Retirement' ↓

To help with retirement preparations, the U.S. government has released an extremely helpful and easy-to-use retirement savings calculator to help you calculate and understand your IRA and other retirement finances. To learn more about it, why it works and where you can get it – keep reading.

Background

The calculator’s accompanying guide is titled “Taking the Mystery out of Retirement Planning.” It was produced by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefit Security Administration branch. Essentially, the booklet provides a series of scenarios along with several easy-to-follow worksheets that help you calculate how much you need to set aside in long-term savings. The online worksheets are automated.

Where You Can Find It

The guide was previously only published in print format, with eight worksheets. However, it’s now available online with a great retirement savings calculator to help you do the math. Users can even store their information and results for up to a year (with a secure user name and password).

To order a printed copy, you can call 1-866-444-3272 or print it yourself right from the website. You can also access the worksheets and calculators online at dol.gov/ebsa (choose Publications/Reports).

Why It Works

The biggest advantage to using this simple 62-page booklet is how easy it is to use. Whether you’re doing the worksheets with the online calculator or by yourself using a printed copy, it’s easy to understand and follow. The tool is also very diverse and flexible. It lets you input a variety of scenarios, from extra part-time income after you retire to additional costs, like extended health care.

The next feature that makes this online retirement calculator stand out from the competition is its ability to make very complex assumptions. An example of this is how it treats health care inflation. Other retirement calculators simply assume that all expenses will inflate at a rate of about 3.5%, however this calculator knows that healthcare typically rises at about 7%. That potentially major discrepancy is accounted for.

Drawbacks to the Guide

The main drawback for the guide is that it appears to be written for people who are about 10 to 15 years from retirement. The online tools can help and assist recent retirees, but the main focus is on planning and saving in those last few, crucial years.

Another drawback? There’s little planning advice for those who suspect they may need long-term health care or the extra cost of assisted living – a reality for many aging adults.

That said, it’s still a fantastic retirement savings calculator. Overall, it’s a simple tool which is easy to use and yet still very complex. It also has a firm grasp of government regulations. Finally, it’s free so you could hardly ask for anything more.

Equity Release Mortgages and Lifetime Mortgages refer to the same mortgage, and are available to anyone who is age 55 or above. Lifetime Mortgages allow you to release capital from your home either as a one off lump sum or a combination of a lump sum and further drawdown’s. In some cases you may be able to release equity on a monthly basis. For those that are asset rich and cash poor, Lifetime Mortgages are fast becoming one of the main considerations in retirement planning.

Equity Release Schemes

Lifetime Mortgages are a serious decision and not necessarily the right course of action for everyone. Other considerations such as the use of existing savings and investments or downsizing to a smaller property could be more suitable, and because Lifetime Mortgages can affect eligibility to UK means tested benefits such as Council Tax Benefit, Pensions Credit and/or Pensions Savings Credit, it is always recommended that you seek advice form an independent adviser who specialises in Lifetime Mortgages. An independent Lifetime Mortgage adviser will assess your exact requirements and if appropriate will help you select the most suitable scheme for your circumstances from the full range of providers.

Lifetime Mortgages are designed to run for the whole of your life with the equity released attracting interest that rolls up against the amount borrowed. Typically interest rates are fixed so that it is easy to calculate how the debt increases over time, but the movement in house prices both up and down is always a consideration that requires particular consideration, especially if leaving an inheritance to your beneficiaries is important to you. With the growing flexibility in Lifetime Mortgages it is now possible to protect and guarantee a specific value in your property for your beneficiaries.

The amount you can borrow with Lifetime Mortgages depends on how much your home is worth and on your age. The older you are, the greater the percentage of your home’s value you can borrow. Nothing is repaid until the last survivor dies, moves into long term care or the property is sold, but interest is added to the amount you have borrowed each year and is ‘rolled up’ over the life of the loan.

Equity Release Mortgage Considerations

Whilst there are a lot of positive reasons for releasing some of the money tied up in the value of your property through Lifetime Mortgages , there are also other aspects that require careful consideration such as -

Interest-only mortgages
If you can afford to meet a monthly payment an interest only mortgage could be considered. With interest only Lifetime Mortgages you borrow a lump sum secured against the value of your home. You pay interest on the loan each month, and the lump sum you originally borrowed is repaid when your home is eventually sold. You need to be able to afford the interest payments out of your pension or other income, but this option does mean that less interest is paid than would otherwise roll up against the loan.

Reversion Schemes
Also within the same marketplace as Lifetime Mortgages are Reversion Schemes. With a Reversion Scheme you sell your home, or a part of it, to a reversion company that allows you to continue to live there for the rest of your lives. After you die, (or move out for whatever reason) the proportion of your home that you sold becomes the property of the reversion company. Anything left over passes to your estate. When considering Equity Release Reversion Schemes and a drawdown of the maximum lump sum available to you, you will generally get a higher amount than through an other equity release options, but you loose any future increase in the property value should values rise.

Other Lifetime Mortgage considerations

Would moving to a less expensive property be a better way of releasing money tied up in your home?

Have you got other nest eggs, such as premium bonds or savings, which you could use?

Have you considered your ability to move home in the future? The value of the loan outstanding reduces the amount you can spend on a new property, and could remove the ability to move home at all.

The value of your property can increase or decrease which will affect the amount of equity remaining in your property for you or your heirs after repayment of the lenders loan.

The equity stake that you currently have in your home could reduce to nothing due to the effect of rolled up interest and charges exceeding the future value of the property.

There are costs associated with taking out the loan such as a valuation fee and a lenders arrangement fee.

You will be committing to keeping the property in good condition and to keeping it insured.

You will not be able to use the property as security for any other borrowing.

If you are living with a partner and one partner dies, entitlement to means-tested benefits will alter. Any occupational pension entitlement derived from the partner can continue, stop altogether, or continue but at a reduced rate.

Debt Consolidation: – Taking out a lifetime mortgage to pay off other debts which are not secured on your home should only be undertaken after careful consideration, and probably as a last resort. As interest rolls up on a lifetime mortgage, the initial amount taken to consolidate the debt will grow and may become many times larger than the debt it paid off.

In addition, if you are having financial difficulties and are struggling to maintain payments on unsecured debts, you should speak to the Citizens Advice Bureau or National Debt line. It may be possible to come to an arrangement with your unsecured creditors which may include freezing the interest charged and making payments at a reduced level. If this is possible, it is likely to be a better and cheaper alternative in the long run to Lifetime Mortgages.

Equity Release Schemes

For more advice on Lifetime Mortgages simply follow one of the links in the article above.

Among the many preparations needed for retirement and estate planning, retirement savings provide a fantastic tax shelter. However, you need to understand Roth IRA rules and other contribution requirements to maximize those tax savings.

Essentially, contributions to a retirement savings plan are made on a pretax basis – employers match employee contributions to a plan, but that “income” isn’t taxable until it’s received, once the employee has retired.

With a Roth IRA, the contributions you make aren’t tax deductible, however the withdrawals that you make in the future won’t be taxed – making it a great option for those who expect to have higher incomes in their retirement.

To learn more about Roth IRA and traditional IRA rules, read on for information that can help you amp up your savings and earnings.

The Roth IRA

The limit for Roth IRA contributions is $5000 if you’re under the age of 50 and $6000 if you’re over the age of 50. After 2008, those limitations are expected to increase in increments of $500, depending on the inflation rate.

Unfortunately, Roth IRA contributions are subject to eligibility limitations too. For example, a married couple that jointly earned between $150,000 and $160,000 or higher, or a single individual who earns $95,000 to $110,000 or higher can’t contribute to a Roth IRA. Instead, they must depend on a 401(k) Roth.

401 (k) Roth

Employees can now opt to make some of their elective retirement contributions Roth contributions. Historically, any deferred salary or 401(k) contributions were deducted from your taxable wages. However, any contributions considered Roth contributions to a 401(k) Roth are now included in a person’s taxable wages, though they may be free from federal income taxation.

Roth 401(k) plans are typically more advantageous for individuals with high incomes than a standard Roth IRA account. There are no AGI (amount of your income that’s taxable) limitations, and the contribution limit is significantly higher (currently sits just over $15,000 – and if you’re over 50, that increases to $20,000). The return on investment is also potentially significantly higher.

Switching from a Traditional to a Roth IRA

Unfortunately, you can only convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA if your Modified AGI income is less than $100,000 per year. Also, if you’re married, but file separately from your spouse then you are usually not allowed to convert your IRAs. However, your converted amount could be considered taxable income, though future growth is tax free. Finally, when you convert to a Roth IRA, you aren’t required to make withdrawals at age 70.5.

If you’re concerned about the Adjusted Gross Income restrictions currently in place for Roth IRA conversions, there is good news on the horizon. After 2010, new Roth IRA rules will eliminated the $100,000 income limit on conversions from traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs. Also, any taxes due on 2010 conversions can be paid in a two-year installment.

Today’s financial services and estate planning professionals for retirement preparation are expected to integrate knowledge from a variety of disciplines and sources: trusts and estates, estate planning courses, investments, Roth IRAs, insurance training, and credit.

However, most financial advisors are often not ready to take on such a wide range of responsibilities. Most have one knowledge base – like a focus on mutual funds or tax minimization. However, Internet-based and ongoing corporate training can help your employees achieve that additional knowledge and build those skill sets.

At a time when the demands on trust, estate planning and other financial professionals are greater than ever, many institutions find themselves with a serious gap between staff expertise and baseline skills needed to deliver a consistent level of service quality. As a result, many employers are turning to in-house corporate estate planning courses. But, what goes into a good course?

What Constitutes a Sound Training Program?

Knowledge. Information. Expertise. These are the drivers of financial services. No matter what an institution develops in the way of products and services, the bottom line is that when employees are face-to-face with clients, what is in their heads is far more important than what is in their briefcases!

Because financial services and estate planning are so complex and constantly changing, they need training programs and resources that are equally flexible. That means they must have:

* A thorough course list that’s specifically designed for their company and specific services;

* Confident experts delivering the information and providing practical expertise; and

* A sound process that covers all the essential skills and reinforces them.

The Steps to a Great Estate Planning Training Program

Step one to an effective estate planning training program is to set out the basics. For any financial planner working in estate planning, that means outlining their basic job requirements. Instead of having your planners focused on reeling in new clients or upselling insurance add-ons, get them to focus on their job – effectively planning estates and retirement packages.

Step two in an effective training program is to quantitatively assess the knowledge of your staff. That means, being able to test them and identify who needs work and on what subjects. If you don’t know where an individual stands, you won’t be able to effectively train the person. Without results that you can see, you will not only be unable to train your staff, but you’ll be incapable of assessing the effectiveness of your training.

Step three of an effective estate planning program is to constantly reinforce what they’ve learned. If your financial planners aren’t retaining what they’ve been taught then that training program is a waste of both money and time. You need your employees to prove they’ve retained the information from their estate planning courses, whether through ongoing workshops or testing.

Why invest in US Savings Bonds? Its a question that few people put much thought into these days, with everyone taking their chances gambling with the stock market, hoping and praying that they will strike it rich with that “sure thing” hot penny stock. While it may not be as exciting as investing in stocks, savings bonds can play a very important role in your portfolio.

So before you get stuck in the stocks vs bonds debate, lets have a look at the benefits of bonds.

First, lets start off by answering a basic question: What is A US Savings Bond?
Back in the day when only rich people could buy common stock, U.S. Savings bonds were a very popular long term investment, at a time when long term meant longer than a few weeks. So while there are plenty of savings bonds options available, the ones backed by the U.S. government are the best. At its basic level, a savings bond is a vow that if you lend money, you will get it back with interest. The risk is that the entity receiving the money may not be able to pay it off as agreed. With the U.S. government, the danger is minimal. Short of the American government going bankrupt, you will get your money back with interest.

For all intent and purposes, by buying a US savings bond, you are lending your money to the government. In these days of huge deficits, its more preferable for the US government to raise funds via savings bonds, than to have to go to foreign lenders (who normally insist on a much higher rate – causing US taxpayers to pay even more money).

Whats In It For You?
Its all about the magic of compounding interest. If you were start off with a $1000 initial investment, and made monthly deposits of $50, you would have a nest egg of almost $20 000 after taxes.

Increase the interest rate to 3% and you’ll have over $22 000. Think you can put away $100 a month? Say hello to over $42 000. There are also some tax benefits regarding education savings that you’ll want to look into.

These may not seem like huge numbers, but, its a lot larger than your own bank account is receiving. Think about your kids and their education? $42 000 is a large down payment on a great education. An added bonus: you can purchase them at your bank.

For those who don’t like risk, you wont find a more risk adverse investment than savings bonds. Each type of investment has its own purpose. If you are looking to put some money away, US savings bonds are among the best investments you can make. If you are looking for a quick buck, this is not going to work for you. If you’re a trader like myself, taking your profits off the table and socking them into a savings bond is a great strategy to continue to build your capital, without putting your money at risk.

By buying U.S. savings bonds, you’ll help to ensure that your tax bill doesn’t have to be higher and know that your money is safe.

Investing in savings bonds is even easier than you think. Like equities, the trick is to understand what you are putting your money into well before you buy. So before we answer the question of “How do I invest in bonds?”, lets answer the problem of defining “What are bonds”.

The primary purpose of a savings bond is to lend money to someone for a fixed (specific) period of time and in return, get an agreed upon rate of return. In reality, when you purchase a bond, you are lending your money to a corporation (this may be a company or a municipality) for a fixed term, and receiving a coupon rate which is based on the original capital invested. The only tricky part involving bonds is how much of your savings should be invested in bonds. That’s something we’ll take on another day. For now, lets focus on what bonds are and how to invest in them.

The key advantage to bonds is in their constant income stream. Unlike equities, you know exactly what you are going to get, and when. For example, a bond with a 10 year term that pays 3.5% tells you that in 10 years, you will be getting your principal back, and, you’ll be getting 3.5% interest on that principal each and every year for 10 years.

A proven strategy to use when investing in bonds is to look at your investment timeframe. Are you thinking of investing in years or in terms of decades? Keep in mind, the longer the term, the higher the coupon rate. Successful bond holders spread out their bond investments to cover both a short timeframe (less than 5 years), medium timeframe (5-10 years) and long term (more than 10 years). Remember, the longer the bond, the bigger the coupon rate, but the longer your money is tied up. By spreading the investments around, you can always count on a short term bond maturing right around the time you need the cash.

The best way to answer the question about how to invest in bonds is to look at a strategy of selling your bonds before it matures. When the interest rates go up, the price of an existing bond goes down – who wants your bond that is paying 3.5% when the interest rate is 4.5%? On the flip side, when interest rates go down, the bond price goes up – leaving you with upside trading potential. Its more successful than investing in penny stocks.

Death Calculator: Nobody Can Tell How Long You Will Live! Useless => Death Calculator-How Long will You Live?

Take the Quiz!

Answer all quiz items as truthfully as possible – in other words, to the best of your knowledge. Don’t guess. Begin with 79 years, then add or subtract years based on the scoring of your answers on each item. Your completed (total) score is a rough estimate of your current life expectancy.

1. Where is your ancestral home? (if not given, enter a score of 0). US = minus 2. Austria-UK = minus 1. Canada-France-Italy = 0. Australia-Singapore-Sweden = plus 2. Japan = plus 3.
FACT: Life expectancy varies by nation due to genetic and cultural differences.

2. What is your gender ? Female = plus 1. Male = minus 2.
FACT: Life expectancy favors the female gender regardless of culture.

3. Do you have an annual physical exam? Yes = plus 3. No = minus 3.
FACT: Many diseases (cancers, hypertension) in later life are asymptomatic, go unnoticed and untreated.

4. Do you have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who lived to 85-plus? Add 2 for each 85-plus relative.
FACT: Research demonstrates that long-lived parents tend to produce long-living children.

5. Do you volunteer on a weekly basis? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.

FACT: Studies confirm that volunteering focuses attention away from ourselves and onto others.

6. Do you live alone? Yes = minus 3. No = 0.
FACT: Adults who live alone tend to be less well-nourished, more isolated, and less nurtured.

7. Are you able to laugh at and learn from your mistakes? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 3.
FACT: Laughter, humility, and a positive outlooks are linked to increased life expectancy.

8. Do you have a confidant who listens to your most intimate concerns? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.

FACT: Confidants offer emotional catharsis and a sense of personal worth to those in crisis.

9. Do you engage in daily mental exercises such as puzzles, games, learning or problem-solving? Yes = plus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Individuals that continually challenge their minds suffer fewer cognitive disorders.

10. Do you engage in some form of daily aerobic exercise such as swimming, jogging or biking? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Exercising at one’s target heart rate strengthens the heart and boosts metabolism.

11. Do you eat a balanced diet, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Balanced dieters experience lower risk of both genetic and culturally related diseases.

12. Do you smoke a pack of cigarettes daily? Yes = minus 5 for men, minus 10 for women. No = 0.
FACT: Smoking causes nearly half a million cancer and lung disease deaths every year.

13. Do you live with, work with, or spend time with people who smoke? Yes = minus 1 for men, minus 2 for women. No = 0.
FACT: Although close association with smokers is thought to reduce a person’s life expectancy by one year, recent research suggests this association may reduce life expectancy by two years.

14. Does your body weight “yo-yo” as you go on and off diet fads? Yes = minus 5. No = 0.
FACT: Unorthodox dietary regimens stress the heart and immune system, increasing the risk of disease.

15. Do you own a pet? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Peer-reviewed scientific journals substantially support longevity benefits of pet companionship. (Note: Avoid exotic pets, such as parrots, monkeys, reptiles, or rodents. These animals have been known to carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.)

16. When writing, which hand do you use? Left-handed = minus 1. Right-handed = 0. Life is stressful for lefties living in a made-for right-hand world.
FACT: Lefties live in a world where most objects are designed for right-handed people. Objects such as scissors, pencil sharpeners, door openers, and can openers are rarely designed for left-handed people.

17. How tall are you? For every inch of your height that exceeds 5’8” = subtract six months.
FACT: Size does matter, but not in any way you may have thought. Shorter people live longer.

18. Do you belong to any religious group, and do you practice your faith? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Attending to both physical and spiritual needs lowers morbidity and mortality.

19. Do you have two or more daughters? Yes = plus 3. No = 0. Daughters are elder caregivers.
FACT: Daughters provide the bulk of eldercare. Even daughters-in-law provide more care than do sons.

20. Do you use stress management techniques such as meditation, quiet time or visiting a spa? Yes = plus 4. No = minus 3.
FACT: Because there is no escape from stress in our modern society, stress management is the best response.

21. Do you walk to work? Yes = plus 2. Ride to work? Yes = plus 1. Drive to work? Yes = minus 3.
FACT: Walking offers fitness benefits, as well as a sense of self-reliance and personal freedom (no gridlock!).

22. Have you had cosmetic surgery? Yes = plus 5. (But subtract 1 for each additional surgery during the same decade.)
FACT: Cosmetic surgery reduces age phobia and age discrimination and evokes a positive response from a youth-obsessed world. Too many cosmetic surgeries (that is, more than one every 10 years), however, may actually accelerate the aging process.

23. Do you fear the uncertainties of growing old? Yes = minus 1. No fear = plus 0.
FACT: Fear of aging increases your risk of emotional illnesses such as self hatred, denial and depression.

24. Do you routinely use cannabis? Yes = minus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Scientific studies claim that frequent cannabis use increases the risk of physical and mental disorders—such as lung and heart disease and psychosis—by as much as 150 percent.

25. Are you sexually promiscuous? Yes = minus 6. No = 0.
FACT: Engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners greatly increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

26. Are you engaged in a long-term relationship of trust and mutual respect? Yes = plus 5. No = 0.
FACT: A relationship of this nature fulfills emotional, social, and physical needs and lowers morbidity and mortality risks.

27. Are all your friends the same age as you? Yes = minus 2. Do you have friends of different ages? Yes = plus 1.
FACT: Having friends from a younger generation counters an age-related decrease in your social network. Social isolation sets the stage for a variety of age-accelerating conditions. Those who live alone, for example, have a shorter life expectancy due to poor nutrition; the absence of companionship and someone who can intervene during periods of depression or physical illness; a decreasing need to get dressed and groomed; and safety issues (for example, the hearing impaired often misinterpret abnormal sounds, such as bathroom water pipes gurgling, as human voices whispering) and no one is present to tell them otherwise.

28. Do you keep a written list of specific life goals with time frames for completion? Yes = plus 1. No = 0.
FACT: Studies of performance behavior link specific goals and achievements to quality of life.

29. Do you have a family (blood relatives) history of cardiovascular disease or cancer prior to age 50? Subtract 2 per occurrence.
FACT: Family history demonstrates just how many cultural risks are increased by genetic predisposition. Culture (lifestyle) and genetics (inherited conditions) moderate the aging process. For example, some ethnic groups share a history of longevity, as do the children of long-lived parents.

30. Do you have a family history of obesity, diabetes, or chronic depression? Subtract 2 per occurrence.

FACT: Family history demonstrates just how many cultural risks are enhanced by genetic predisposition.

31. Do you take a once-daily dose (physician-approved) of an anti-inflammatory agent? Yes = plus 4. No = 0.
FACT: Scientific studies of anti-inflamatory drugs such as aspirin and statins show a reduced risk of cardio-vascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

32. Do you have an annual physical exam that includes a review of diet, over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, and dietary supplements? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Without oversight, combining prescription and over-the-counter medications with dietary supplements can be life threatening.

33. Does your dental care routine include daily brushing and flossing, plus a six-month checkup and cleaning? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.

FACT: A lack of preventive dental care and poor oral health habits raises the risk of infection elsewhere in the body, such as the heart.

34. Do you compute your daily caloric needs, then reduce caloric intake by 20 percent? Yes = plus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Research demonstrates a strong relationship between reduced caloric intake and longevity. If you answered “No” to this question, read the chapter, Thoughts for Food, for more information about computing your daily caloric needs and the benefits of reducing your caloric intake by 20 percent.

35. Do you have one daily serving of red wine (7 oz), purple grape juice (7 oz), or RDA grape-seed extract? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.
FACT: The agent in purple grapes enhances cardiovascular health by flushing cholesterol from the arteries.

36. Do you have one daily serving of oatmeal or oatbran (one -half cup, or one 70- gram granola bar)?
Yes= plus 1. No= minus1.
FACT: The fiber in oatmeal enhances cardiovascular health by flushing cholestoral from the arteries.

37. Are you involved in supervised strength training 3 times per week? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.
FACT: Muscular strength, flexibility, and coordination are essential to daily living and reduce the likelihood of tripping and falling.

38. Do you have a daily exercise routine that consists of at least 20 minutes of supervised cardiovascular training at your target heart rate, as well as warm-up and cool-down periods? Yes = plus 2, No = 0.
FACT: Cardiovascular and metabolic benefits occur when exercise is performed at your target heart rate. If you answered “No” to this question, read chapter five, Full Body Contact, for more information about calculating your target heart rate and the benefits of a regular exercise routine.

39. Is your home and indoor work space adequately ventilated by frequently opening windows, or equipped with air filtration that can filter microscopic particles? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 1.
FACT: Environmental studies have documented increasing evidence of cardiopulmonary diseases generated from indoor air and materials. Common items you have and use in and around your home – such as carpets and furniture, insecticides, cleansers, and paint and varnish – can release toxins into the air. In addition, all homes absorb toxins from the outside environment through normal cracks in foundations and walls.

40. Do you eat or drink more than two daily servings of caffeinated products, such as coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate? Yes = minus 2. No = 0.
FACT: Caffeine helps headache pain, but its toxic affect elsewhere elevates the risk of cancer and heart disease.

41. Is your BMI (body mass index) 25 or greater? Yes = minus 4. No = 0.
FACT: A Body Mass Index of 25 or above increases the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and hypertension. Clinical obesity has multiple negative and long-term effects on organs throughout the body. If you do not know how to calculate your Body Mass Index, read chapter five, Full Body Contact, for more information.

42. Is the average time you take to consume your meals more than 30 minutes? = 0. Less than 30 minutes? = minus 1.

FACT: Your brain requires 30 minutes to measure fullness, by which time you’re often on a second or third helping.

43. Do you eat, drink, or use a cell phone while driving your vehicle? Yes = minus 1. No = 0.
FACT: These distracting behaviors elevate your risk of frightening close calls and outright accidents.

44. Do you have a consistent work schedule (i.e., work 9 to 5)? = 0. Or do you have an inconsistent work schedule (shift work that changes schedule)? = minus 2.

FACT: One in four workers is in a shift-work occupation that results in chronic sleep deprivation.

45. Within a 24-hour day, do you sleep nine or more hours? Yes = minus 1. Do you sleep 6-8 hours? Yes = plus 2. Do you sleep 5 hours or fewer? Yes = 1.
FACT: On average, most people need between 6 and 8 hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with poor concentration, more frequent accidents, and substandard effort.

46. Can you list symptoms associated with colon cancer? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.
FACT: It is not necessary for this cancer to be so dangerous to your health. Get a checkup, now.

47. Can you list symptoms of adult-onset diabetes? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Genetics, lifestyle, dietary habits, or a combination of the three are all risk factors.

48. Women only: Can you list breast cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3.
FACT: Preventive measures such as breast self-examination and mammography remain under-utilized.

49. Can you list high blood pressure symptoms? Yes = minus 2. No = 0
FACT: There are no symptoms associated with high blood pressure; therefore, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly.

50. Women only: Have you had a bone density test as a preventive step against osteoporosis? Yes = plus 1, No = 0.
FACT: Osteoporosis is more prevalent in women and increases the risk of back and hip fractures. Start monitoring early. As a preventive health measure, women should monitor their calcium needs as early as age 23 and their bone density as early as age 30.

51. Men only: Can you list prostate cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 2.
FACT: After age 50, your doctor should monitor prostate health by reliable digital or PSA testing.

52. Men only: Can you list testicular cancer symptoms? Yes = 0. No = minus 1.
FACT: Avoid clothing fabric or styles that elevate testicle temperature. Monitor on a regular basis by inspecting the soft tissue of the testicles for lumps and painful areas; if found, see your doctor for a professional examination.

53. Women only: Can you list ovarian cancer symptoms? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 2.
FACT: Early risks exist but increase after menopause, and in association with advancing age.

54. Can you list heart attack symptoms? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.
FACT: Learn the symptoms and immediate interventions. Learn Cardiopulmonary Resusciation (CPR) for protecting loved ones.

55. How would you rate your sex life? Satisfactory = plus 1. Not sure = minus 0. Not satisfactory = minus 1.
FACT: Overstimulation by advertising, entertainment, and fashion results in a genuine need for a positive sexual outlet. The many ways in which the body benefits from a satisfying sex life are well documented at the National Institutes on Aging Web site located at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualhealthissues.

Now add it all up. Your score is an estimate of how long you can expect to live. A score of less than 79 years should alert you to take positive action. In fact, 75% of longevity predictors are based on lifestyle, not genes. Remember, long life depends on seven factors: genetic inheritance (good genes give you a good head start), physical fitness, mental fitness (exercising your mind), emotional fitness (meaningful lives last longer), spiritual fitness (interpreting the purpose of life), food fitness (healthy nutrition and diet) and environmental fitness (limiting our exposure to toxic chemicals). Remember, the key to a long and healthy life is more than smart genes and dumb luck.

Low score? It’s never too late to make positive lifestyle changes. A complete lifestyle plan, in an interactive question & answer format is available in Dr. David Demko’s book, “Live Well Now, Dr. David Demko’s Anti-Aging Plan to Youth’n Your Life”.

Copyright Next Decade, Inc. 2005

Barbara Kimmel is a publisher and publicist. She is the publisher of David Demko’s book. For more information about this book and other healthy lifestyle publications visit http://www.nextdecade.com – To Read more info about Death Calculator browse SpicyBuzz.com

One of the most difficult things you may have to do in your life is to admit that you may not be able to stay in your own home anymore. Retirement communities in the past have had a stigma attached to them. Most notably, people sometimes confuse them with ‘Nursing Homes’.

Retirement communities today are a far cry from a nursing home. In fact, some people celebrate the day they can retire, sell their house and move to a retirement community in Florida! Visions of playing golf, boating and fishing every day are very appealing – especially after a long winter of shoveling snow and navigating icy streets.

Baby Boomers are just now coming of age to start thinking about long, leisurely days spent with plenty of friends surrounding them. Or perhaps, if you’re not ready to retire yet, maybe you’re helping your parents find an assisted living community where they can continue to be independent yet have plenty of help when they need it.

Whatever stage you’re in – active, need some support or total care, today’s retirement communities have it all. They are attractive, clean and attractive places to live. Letting go of your old home may be difficult, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how nice modern retirement communities are nowadays.

When it comes to advertising, I’m a cynic. I don’t have faith in the message being thrown at me from every medium. Internet, billboards, newspapers, radio and TV. So much noise selling me a sense of a lifestyle that I am missing out on because I haven’t purchased this new product.

Often, when it comes to these new pills, the message on the screen has nothing to do with the product. Apparently, if I take this new blue pill, I’ll be chasing a kite in a field on a nice summer day, assuming I dont experience any of the potential side effects such as headaches, nausea, grow a third arm or experience weakness of the knees. Sign me up.

I’m an investor at heart. Nothing gets my heart pounding like thrill of a successful trade. During the last 6 years, I’ve done well for myself which has allowed me to buy a larger tv with which to watch more commercials with. However, certain commercials have me puzzled since I’m clearly missing the message.

I’m a huge Paul McCartney fan. Dont get me wrong, I’d give up a lifetime of flying a kite in a field that the little blue pill would give me, for a chance to speak to him. However, what exactly does my investing in Fidelity Investments have to do with Sir Paul that his billion dollar portfolio wasn’t from investing in Fidelity Mutual Funds. Maybe I’m wrong, but, I’m pretty sure he’s made his fortunes investing in himself.

Which gets me back to my original question. Why do advertisers continue to sell a lifestyle we’re never going to achieve. Sure, I love to live the dream like the next guy, however, I wont be living the life of McCartney by investing in Fidelity. Just a guess really.

Show me a story of a guy who worked hard, put his life savings into Fidelity, and is now retired 20 years earlier than he ever dreamed thanks to his mutual fund investments. There is an ad for a Canadian bank where a couple is discussing how to put their daughter through med school. Thanks to the bank, the daughter is off to med school and the father is wondering if Dr Sophie will make house calls. That made me want to give them a call and see what they can do for me.

Advertisers miss the mark constantly by going for style instead of substance. Sell me the benefits of your product, not some unrealistic dream that I’ll never achieve.

Unless its chasing a kite in a field on a nice summer day.

For those of you who don’t have Paul McCartney’s talent for songwriting but are interested in learning about the stock market, mutual funds or even penny stocks, check out 1source4stocks.com

Is time running out for you to create your retirement income?

If this describes your final holiday situation you need to read this article.

It will also be true that you’ll likely fall into one of these two catogories:-

CAN’T GET OUT OF THE RATFACE
There is no doubt about it the Baby Boomers like to spend now and repay later. How do we know that? Credit card balances and other forms of credit have never been higher and are growing each year to new record highs.

You have spent everything that comes in to keep up with the Jones. And even hocked yourself to the eyebrows to do it sentencing you and your family to a life of repaying debt.

Or

A MAJOR FINANCIAL INCIDENT
Maybe you are less fortunate and have gone through a divorce or bankruptcy in your forties. If that is the case it is very likely you have never recovered financially from this and probably you don’t even own your own property, share portfolio or any other significant assets. Your super has also likely been savaged as a result of a family court settlement.

Either way you know you’re in dire straights. You’ve done your sums and have discovered it is impossible with the income you have to save the money for retirement your financial planner is telling you you need just to survive.

Save $2000 a week for the next ten years !! I can’t do that I’m only just surviving as it is…..

Unfortunately this is an equation many babyboomers are facing at age 55 wanting to retire at 65.

Is there an alternative to ……

=> spending the kids inheritance?
=> reverse mortgages?
=> living out your twlight years in poverty?

Really ?

The answer is YES !!

Before I tell you the solution just imagine for a minute that your Boss or industry body came to you and said

“We have a new plan that we think will be good for employees and the company.

We all have access to the internet and automated support systems so you can now all work from home.

We want to teach our employees and business partners everything we know about our business

So EVERYONE can help to build the business opportunity

We’re going to share the revenues with those who refer us to good productive employees or business partners and the more your portion of the company produces, the more money you will earn

And as a bonus for helping our company become more profitable

We’ll schedule you for early retirement within 2 to 3 years

And, continue to pay you a percentage of the production of your network of employees and business partners

Creating a money making opportunity For LIFE !!

How would you like to work with that organisation?

Using a business plan to Attain Financial Freedom

That’s exactly how the network marketing business works.

And network marketing is also the solution to your problem. If you haven’t already explored the money making opportunity possibilty for producing additional retirement income I would urge you to do so.