Don’t Let Your Heartstrings Control Your Purse Strings

Jeff Motske, CFP®

December 7, 2018

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Giving to charitable causes can be a very emotional thing. You’re supporting something near to your heart, possibly with a deep personal connection. However, if you’re not mindful, it is possible to give at the expense of yourself. Be sure you don’t let your heartstrings control your purse strings.

Forethought and planning should extend over all your financial decisions, including charitable giving. For a variety of reasons, many don’t follow a plan. Some give whatever’s left in their budget, perhaps not as much as they’d like or tempting them to give more than they can afford. Others give at the end of the year for the tax break. Alternatively, perhaps charitable giving isn’t planned for at all, which allows one to be swayed by emotion when the right cause comes along. Suddenly, they can be committing based on what they feel rather than what’s best for their finances.

Once you decide to factor your charitable giving into your annual financial plan, you can start doing your research. Not only do you determine which causes you want to support, but you can also investigate various organizations that service that cause. There are many websites that evaluate charitable organizations to ensure that your financial contributions or going where you want. Additionally, having your charitable giving worked into your financial plan allows you to turn down other charitable requests graciously. Should you be approached, you can mention your annual giving plan and that you will consider them for the following year.

Being mindful about your charitable giving also gives you the opportunity to influence your children or loved ones on how to do the same. Your actions become the example to your values. While you needn’t share all the details, you can openly share how you formulated your plan and why. The more people who become aware of how to consciously create an annual giving plan, the more people are actively working towards their financial independence.

I don’t think it’s possible to take all emotion out of your connection to a charitable cause, and I don’t think you should. However, I will always be an advocate of folks proactively working towards their financial independence. The key to that is approaching your finances with reason and logic, relegating our emotions to the backseat and holding firm to your purse strings.

Understanding the Importance of Age 59½

Reaching the age of 59½ is a pivotal moment in your retirement journey for several reasons:

Penalty-Free Withdrawals: The IRS permits penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, providing greater flexibility in managing your retirement funds.
Catch-Up Contributions: If you’re over 50, you can make additional contributions to your retirement accounts, helping to boost your savings significantly.
Approaching Social Security: You are within a few years of being eligible for Social Security benefits, allowing you to plan more effectively for your retirement income.

Building Your Retirement Savings

Despite the importance of saving for retirement, many Americans find themselves with insufficient funds. According to financial experts, you should aim to have at least $1 million in retirement savings to support a comfortable 30-year retirement. However, the reality is that many people have far less saved.

Strategies to Enhance Your Retirement Savings:

Catch-Up Contributions: If you’re 50 or older, you can contribute additional amounts to your retirement plans. For example, you can make $6,000 in catch-up contributions to 401(k) plans and $1,000 to IRAs annually.
Prioritize Saving Over Spending: Shift your focus from spending to saving, ensuring you allocate a portion of your income to retirement accounts at the beginning of each pay cycle.
Seek Professional Advice: An Executive Financial Planning advisor can provide personalized guidance to help you maximize your retirement savings and take advantage of all available options.

Staying Healthy in Your Golden Years

Maintaining good health is essential for enjoying a fulfilling retirement. As you age, your health needs change, and it’s important to stay proactive about your well-being.

Health Tips for Older Adults:

Regular Check-Ups: Keep up with medical appointments and screenings to catch potential health issues early.
Healthy Diet and Exercise: A balanced diet and regular physical activity can help maintain your vitality and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Mental Health: Staying socially active and engaged can improve your mental health and overall quality of life.

Seeking Professional Financial Advice

Navigating the complexities of retirement planning requires experienced guidance. At Trilogy Financial, we offer Customized Retirement Solutions and Private Wealth Services to help you pursue your financial goals. Our services include:

401K Asset Management

Investment Strategies for High-Net-Worth Individuals

Estate and Inheritance Planning

Life and Long-Term Care Insurance

Philanthropic Financial Planning

Our team of financial professionals is dedicated to helping you pursue financial independence and secure a comfortable retirement.

What might a Custom Retirement Solution include?

Multi-Generational Wealth Planning

Multi-Generational Wealth Planning is essential for ensuring that your financial legacy benefits future generations. This involves creating strategies that protect and grow your assets while considering the needs of your children and grandchildren.

Trust Fund Management

Trust Fund Management plays a critical role in managing and distributing your assets according to your wishes. This professional ensures that the trust operates smoothly and that beneficiaries receive their designated assets without delays or legal complications.

High-Net-Worth Tax Strategies

High-Net-Worth Tax Strategies are designed to minimize tax liabilities and maximize the growth of your wealth. Working with a knowledgeable tax advisor can help you implement these strategies effectively.

Customized Wealth Management Plans

Customized Wealth Management Plans provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of high-net-worth individuals. These plans consider your specific financial goals and circumstances, offering a personalized approach to managing your wealth.

Legacy Planning for High-Net-Worth Families

Legacy Planning for High-Net-Worth Families ensures that your wealth is transferred according to your wishes and provides for future generations. This includes creating comprehensive estate plans that address your family’s unique needs and goals.

The Takeaway –

Age 59½ marks an important milestone in your retirement planning journey. With the right strategies and professional guidance, you can optimize your retirement savings, navigate Social Security benefits, and maintain your health for a fulfilling retirement. At Trilogy Financial, we specialize in High Net Worth Retirement Planning, Executive Financial Planning, and Private Wealth Services, providing tailored solutions to meet your unique needs. Contact us today to discover how we can help you achieve your financial goals and enjoy a prosperous future.

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Schedule a Meeting: Reach out to us to arrange a one-on-one consultation with our financial professionals.
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Schedule a No-Strings-Attached Portfolio Review today and embark on a path to financial success guided by professional advisors. For more information and to schedule your consultation, visit www.trilogyfs.com/yourmoneyamplified. With the right knowledge and professional guidance, the journey of investing becomes an exciting venture towards achieving financial security and growth. This way, you're not just dreaming of an ideal retirement but actively working towards making it a reality.

Investments Advice Retirement Planning Advice

Can Life Insurance Help You Retire? Protecting You Beyond Market Risk

Gonzalo de Leon Plata

September 27, 2017

When you put the words, “retirement,” “investments” and “risk” in the same sentence, most of us will automatically think about market risk, you know, the possibility for an investor to experience losses due to overall performance of financial markets1. According to the 2014 Annual Retirement Confidence survey, 88% of retirees are worried about maintaining the same standard of living. While Market Risk is a very real reason to worry, there are other risks that may throw a wrench into your financial plan. This time we will discuss the possible need for Advance medical care, how much it could cost, and how to be ready for it.

The Risk: There is a 50% chance that any of us will need some form of Advance Medical Care2. In other words you or your spouse WILL need Advance Medical Care. The risks are so high and yet most investors don’t prepare of it.

The Cost: Know the potential damage. The numbers don’t lie. The average cost of long term care in the US for Nursing Home Care for a Semi -Private room is a whopping $225 per day3. The average stay in a Nursing home is 892 days. For easy math you are looking at a $200,000+ cost above and beyond your living expenses.

The Solution: Use small dollars to cover big expenses. Get life insurance with living benefits.

One solution that is becoming more and more popular is getting a life insurance plan that can be used to cover Advanced Medical Care. Some insurance companies offer something called Living Benefits Riders. These riders allow you to “advance” a portion of your death benefit if certain conditions are met, such as Terminal illness, problems with the Activities of Daily Living and life threatening conditions.

Building a Financial Plan that can withstand the risks of life is complicated. Make sure you hire a Financial Coach to help you prepare for the unknown. Thinking outside the box may be a way to protect your golden years.

[1] www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketrisk.asp

[2] http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/learning-center/probability-long-term-care.php

[3] www.genworth.com/about-us/industry-expertise/cost-of-care.html#