What We Do
We help you build a solid foundation for your financial future.
Warren Buffett’s 2 Rules:
1. Don’t lose money.
2. Don’t forget rule #1.
Three largest dangers causing retirees to outlive their money:
RISING TAXES
INFLATION
MARKET VOLATILITY
Understanding the impact of these dangers is vital to building a strong and reliable foundation.
Did you know that taxes are at an all-time low? Where will taxes be when you retire? You’re encouraged to put money into an IRA or 401(k) because “You’ll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire.” Will you really? Are tax rates likely to drop when they’re already at an all-time low? These plans were created in the 1970s when tax rates were as high as 70%. Remember: the money in your 401(k) or pension is not all yours: don’t forget about your business partner, Uncle Sam!! To net $100,000, you’ll need to pull out $150,000 so you can send $50,000 (one-third of your money!!) in taxes to Uncle Sam and your friendly state!
Inflation affects everyone and will double the cost of living in under 5 years. That means, the dollars you have now will be worth less in the future. Inflation happens when the government prints money to deal with its rising national debt and underfunded obligations such as Social Security. The growth on your 401(k) or IRA is not predictable and will not keep up with or outpace inflation, and you could be in danger of outliving your money.
Did you know that your 401(k) or IRA can LOSE money? What’s good about that?!! Would you leave money in your bank savings account if the bank couldn’t promise that it would still be there next month? Of course not! Most Americans lost as much as 40% of the value in their IRAs and 401(k)s from 2000–2003. It took four more years (until 2007) just to recoup what they lost.
Three greatest opportunities to combat these dangers:
TAX-ADVANTAGED VEHICLES
LINKED TO INFLATION
INDEXED FOR SAFETY
We have opportunities to be protected from these dangers.
Let us help you get your money taxed at today’s rates, not tomorrow’s. With tax rates likely going up in the future (to unknown amounts!), getting taxes over and done with now can be financially critical. We can set you up with vehicles where—when done optimally, in accordance with Internal Revenue Code guidelines—it is not regarded as taxable income: the $100,000 you access equals $100,000. Zero dollars go to taxes!
Indexed strategies are linked to the same things that inflate. Using indexed strategies combined with compound interest, tax-free growth, and protected principle (zero loss due to market volatility), growth outpaces inflation.
Your principle is protected from market volatility. Your money is linked to the market through indexed strategies. When the stock market performs well, you participate in the market gains. And, if the market loses, your money is protected with a guaranteed floor. We call this “Zero is your hero,” because the floor is typically zero, and you never lose money due to market volatility. When a segment matures (typically one year), your growth locks in and is protected from market loss in future years.
Three key elements of a prudent financial strategy:
LIQUIDITY
SAFETY
RATE OF RETURN
When it comes to your finances, look for flexibility and stability.
When life situations happen, you may need access to your money in a hurry. Home equity is not accessible. Money in IRAs, 401ks, pensions, and annuities is not easily accessible and may come with penalties. We help you put your money into vehicles that have liquidity.
Imagine: Your money is in a safe institution, and all the money is safe from market loss. The principle never loses value due to market volatility, and every year, that year’s growth locks in and is safe from market loss going forward. When helping you reposition or place your money, we choose only institutions and vehicles that have these qualities.
Indexed strategies combined with compound interest and protected principle (zero loss due to market volatility) creates predictable growth, whereas with traditional vehicles like IRAs and 401(k)s, the growth is dependent on the market and not predictable.
“Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.”
― Martin Luther King Jr