Rebel against rogue investing and the dark side of market forces with these 7 tips

12/15/2016

(BPT) - There is great unrest in the financial universe. The next disturbance in The Force is anyone's guess. Like the rebels in the forthcoming Star Wars film Rogue One, you seek a new hope. Fear not and reach for a promising investment future.

I. Look to the setting suns.

In Episode IV: A New Hope, a moisture farmer named Luke Skywalker contemplates his future as two suns set. Great challenges loom ahead. Preparations are critical. The same is true of your financial future. Do you have an emergency fund? Are you on track for retirement?

TIP: You must be looking now to see what can happen later.

II. The Force will be with you, always.

The keys to investing success lie inside you-though you shouldn't go it alone. Envision what you'll encounter. Create a strategy to meet those demands. Ask yourself:

* How much can I contribute
* In which areas?
* What does victory look like?
* When will objectives be met?

When fear for the future emerges, seek advice. In Star Wars, Jedi knights guide apprentices. All lean on master Yoda.

TIP: Navigate challenging times with an advisor or representative at your financial institution.

III. Rendezvous.

Before dangerous missions in Star Wars, the rebels convene. Strategy is detailed. Difficult questions are asked. Consensus is reached. Regarding your investment plan, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate your budget and increase monthly contributions to your portfolio.
"Schedule time on a quarterly basis to review your portfolio's performance," says Kevin Driscoll, vice president of advisory services at Navy Federal Financial Group. "It's a great idea to involve your financial advisor in this process. A second opinion can provide perspective and help you identify areas for improvement."TIP: Plans tend to impact others, so be sure to communicate and collaborate.

IV. Diversify your attack.

An effective strategy in battle employs multiple fronts. In Star Wars, missions combine air and ground tactics. Investing also incorporates "divide and conquer." Experts recommend investing in diverse assets: stocks, bonds, certificates, real estate and more.

TIP: To diversify your portfolio, invest in stocks and bonds across a variety of business sectors.

V. Stay in formation.

Your portfolio will be tested. Be mindful. In Star Wars, Jedi are trained to draw close to each other when threatened. Remember no matter how poorly an investment is performing, history shows the market corrects with time.

"When the market dips, purchase more shares with the same dollar amount. When the market spikes, your owned shares increase in value," Driscoll explains. This investing method is called dollar-cost averaging. It lowers the average cost of shares over time.

TIP: Avoid watching the market too closely. Resist the urge to bail on an asset. Invest consistently, with the long view in mind.

VI. Don't go rogue.

In Star Wars, The Empire has built a vast portfolio of assets on Darth Vader's watch. He offers enticing rewards to bounty hunters who support his regime. Your mission in financial planning is to resist the ever-present temptation to go rogue. Don't be seduced by others' success. Don't jump when a friend asks you to invest in his can't-miss venture (unless his goals align with yours).

TIP: Record your investment plan in writing, which firms up the details. When tested, fall back on the document.

VII. The saga will have many episodes.

Despite your best intentions, some investments will succumb to the dark side of market forces. Remember investing takes patience and fortitude. Like most journeys, the story of your portfolio won't be told in a single chapter.

TIP: Avoid making an investment decision when your emotions run hot or cold.

Get started.

If there's an example in Star Wars of what not to do in investing, it's Han Solo. He didn't believe in market forces (at first). At times, he struggled to manage obstacles. As we saw in Episode VII: The Force Awakens (and as early as Episode IV: A New Hope), Han didn't take debt seriously. Collectors were after him at every turn. In Episode VI: The Empire Strikes Back, his assets were frozen. Your destiny can be simpler. You don't have to be a swash-buckling smuggler. A moisture farmer from a remote desert outpost can make sound financial decisions toward prosperity.

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Face Your Financial Fears

8/31/2016

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Retirement is supposed to be a reward for decades of hard work, but if you haven’t planned well, the milestone may be a dark cloud on your horizon. New data shows that nearly 50 percent of Americans are most afraid of outliving their income or the inability to maintain their current lifestyle, and nearly 20 percent are worried about having enough money to cover health care expenses. Take control of the uncertainty and create peace of mind when it comes to retirement with these simple steps.

Face Your Financial Fears

Take action to save for retirement

(Family Features) Retirement is supposed to be a reward for decades of hard work, but if you haven’t planned well, the milestone may be a dark cloud on your horizon. In fact, new data shows that nearly 50 percent of Americans are most afraid of outliving their income or the inability to maintain their current lifestyle, and nearly 20 percent are worried about having enough money to cover health care expenses.

The research, released by the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC), also found that despite these very real fears, Americans are failing to take action to address them. For example, a quarter of Baby Boomers, the age group closest to retirement, have less than $5,000 saved for retirement and nearly one in five Americans have no idea how much they’ve saved.

The findings indicate that Americans are afraid of the unknown when it comes to managing their money and retirement. While you can budget for leisure and travel, health care expenses and life expectancy are unpredictable.

“Americans are living longer than ever, so it’s no surprise that the No. 1 retirement fear is that they’ll run out of money in their final years,” said Jim Poolman, executive director of the IALC. “Thankfully, there are strategies and products out there that can help you create sufficient retirement income to last throughout your lifetime, which can help with this crippling fear.”

To take control of the uncertainty and create peace of mind when it comes to retirement, here are some simple steps you can follow:

Make a budget.
Those who plan for retirement are estimated to save three times more than those who don’t. Take into account that your expenses may increase during retirement, specifically for items such as health care and travel. Also, be sure to revisit your budget periodically to make adjustments for new circumstances that affect how much you need to support the retirement lifestyle you desire.

Balance is key.
Investing in a 401(k) is a great way to start a retirement portfolio, but putting all your eggs in one basket is a common mistake. One method to provide balance to your retirement portfolio is to add some more conservative, low-risk products, such as Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIAs), which protect your principal regardless of market ups and downs. According to the survey, FIAs are an attractive choice for consumers, with 45 percent of Americans surveyed interested in this type of retirement product.

Plan to adjust.
A savings strategy that makes sense today might not fit your needs in five, 10 or 20 years. Factors like market volatility, changes in your career or personal life, can impact the amount you’re able to save and how much you anticipate needing when you reach retirement age.

Monitor the balance.
While it’s not as critical to track the ups and downs of your portfolio in your younger years, the closer you are to retirement, the more important it becomes to be aware of your account values. Your level of risk should reflect your age and your retirement goals. Generally, the younger you are, the greater risk you may be able to tolerate because market cycles generally rebound losses over time. When the window of time before retirement is tighter, you may not be able to recover from a dip as easily.

Small changes count.
Even seemingly little adjustments can have a noticeable impact on your finances over time. For example, packing your own lunch and giving up an evening out with friends once weekly or monthly will allow you to direct that money to a retirement account instead. Also, be sure to pay your credit card bills on time to avoid fees that not only affect your credit rating but deplete funds that could be directed to retirement savings.

Make it automatic.
Set up scheduled transfers so you don’t forget or aren’t tempted to spend the money you planned to save. Treat your retirement account as a debt you owe and be sure to pay yourself every month. If necessary, meet with a financial advisor who can help you determine a strategy to pay down debt without sacrificing your retirement planning.

Understanding Fixed Indexed Annuities
In today’s economy, experts recommend ensuring you have a diversified retirement plan and balanced financial portfolio that includes conservative, low-risk products that are less impacted by stock market volatility.

According to the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council’s research, 45 percent of Americans are interested in retirement products, such as Fixed Indexed Annuities, that offer steady lifetime income and protect your principal even if the stock market goes down.

Find more tips and tools to guide your retirement planning at FIAinsights.org.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Indexed Annuity Leadership Council

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The Money IDEA

Rebel against rogue investing and the dark side of market forces with these 7 tips

Face Your Financial Fears

Face Your Financial Fears

Take action to save for retirement

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