When you retire, it's normal to wonder if you'll have enough money to cover all your needs. This can be especially worrying when you're advised to focus on long-term investments to make sure you have enough money for the rest of your life. Don't worry, though - there are several strategies you can use, like the "Three Bucket Strategy," to help with this. With this strategy, you take your retirement portfolio and divide it into three buckets. The first is used to fund day-to-day expenses. The third bucket funds longevity. And the middle is the go-between or transfer place to refill bucket number one as it is depleted. Now, let’s break it down further and take a look at bucket one. In there, you’ll find income-producing assets that could include CDs, money market funds, US Treasuries, pensions, fixed annuity, and Social Security funds – all things that will not decrease in value and are accessible when needed. Basically, this bucket is meant to provide money to live. If you place an amount that will cover about two years of expenses in this bucket, you won’t have to be concerned if the economy or investment markets take a dip. But what if you want to plan for longevity? That’s where bucket three comes in. In this bucket, you will find stocks, high-yield bonds, real estate, and other higher-return assets. All of these are long-term investments geared toward helping you keep from running out of money as the years pass. Co
Annuities have been in insurance agents' and financial advisors’ toolkits for decades. It’s a product designed to provide a steady income stream for retirees. It’s no secret that annuities have been a popular option, but are they always the best investment choice? Here’s the rundown of the pros and cons of annuities. Let’s see if they could be suitable for your financial strategy. Firstly, it's crucial to understand that every financial strategy has its place, including annuities. Many people value the relative financial security annuities can provide. However, annuities come with several drawbacks. One major issue is the lack of liquidity – meaning once you invest money in an annuity, you are often limited as to how and when you can get it out. At the very least, they’ll likely have a surrender charge. Some have even more limitations – like how much they can withdraw each year! Often, these products aren’t fully explained at the time of purchase, leading to confusion and frustration down the road. By the time you encounter an issue, the original salesperson may no longer be available to assist, leaving you to navigate the complexities on your own. So, there can be many challenges annuities offer, but how would investors know? Annuity companies are required to report all details to a third-party service. We can access these tools and provide you with a no-obligation annuity intelligence report. Thi