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Maybe. Maybe Not.
By Bob Barber
I’m reading a fantastic book right now called “The New Retirementality” that I learned about at a national Christian financial conference in Orlando, Florida. This book exposes a myth we have come to believe in America: when we obtain a certain age like 65, we should retire, and retirement is automatically an easy, enjoyable transition.
While attending the presentation, the author, Mitch Anthony, had us do several assessments that really opened my eyes about the myth of retirement. Why? Retirement for many can actually create boredom, isolation, lack of structure, and loss of identity. On the other hand, if retirement is done right, is can be full of purpose driven activities, an active social life, community engagement, physical activity and supporting worthy causes. A wonderful thing!
I highly recommend that anyone who is about to retire, thinking about retiring, or is already retired, to read “The New Retirementality” by Mitch Anthony. Also, if you would like to take the assessments I completed at the conference that were so eye opening, please contact me. These assessments complement the Fit to Retire® coaching program we offer. As always, if you need a retirement guide, I am here to help you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”0px” bottom=”0px”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Check out our other newsletter sections below:
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1459541121828{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”The Messenger Newsletter” subtitle=”Retirement Edition”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4476″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”/2016/04/01/the-messenger-retirement-edition/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Are You Fit To Retire?” subtitle=”By Bob Barber”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4474″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/are-you-fit-to-retire/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Office Mascot Athena” subtitle=”Gets Put To Work”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4473″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/athena-news/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1459541131163{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Tactically Managed Accounts” subtitle=”Market Update”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4479″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/tactically-managed-accounts/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Is Retirement All It’s Cracked Up To Be?” subtitle=”Maybe. Maybe Not.”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4477″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Habitat For Humanity Volunteer Day” subtitle=”The First of 2016″][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4475″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/first-2016-habitat-for-humanity-volunteer-day/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”0px” bottom=”20px” bg_color=”#163463″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1454043641862{padding-bottom: 15px !important;}”]
Refer A Friend
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1454103438200{border-right-width: 20px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4076″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Do you have a friend, family member, or colleague that could benefit from our services? If so, refer them to our mobile friendly website, or we have a packet of information we would love to share with them to them. Just call our office at 830-609-6986 and we can get out the information to help your friends![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row top=”20px” bottom=”20px”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4474″ img_size=”Full” alignment=”center”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]As a certified Fit To Retire® coach I am here to help you with your planning and questions on your journey towards retirement. Our Fit To Retire® online assessment tool and “Readiness Roadmap” complements your overall retirement planning process.
This tool covers five main areas of retirement success during the three phases of retirement. These five main areas of retirement success are: Self Identity, Social, Health and Nutrition, Personal Relationships and Financial Security. The three phases of retirement are: Go-go, Slo-go and No-go.
Our Fit To Retire® online assessment tool allows us to better serve you, and the Fit To Retire® Readiness Roadmap is geared towards the baby boomer generation.This includes retirement transition support, as well as a variety of checklists to ensure that you are on the right path towards retirement. We want to help you successfully enter retirement with confidence!
Click here to view a short video and to take the Fit to Retire® assessment. Once you have taken the assessment, we will generate a personalized, 100 plus page workbook that covers all 5 areas of a successful retirement, as well as a 100 day playbook for your first 100 days of retirement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”0px” bottom=”0px”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Check out our other newsletter sections below:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1459541121828{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”The Messenger Newsletter” subtitle=”Retirement Edition”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4476″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/the-messenger-retirement-edition/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Are You Fit To Retire?” subtitle=”By Bob Barber”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4474″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Office Mascot Athena” subtitle=”Gets Put To Work”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4473″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/athena-news/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1459541131163{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Tactically Managed Accounts” subtitle=”Market Update”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4479″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/tactically-managed-accounts/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Is Retirement All It’s Cracked Up To Be?” subtitle=”Maybe. Maybe Not.”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4477″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/is-retirement-really-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_heading title=”Habitat For Humanity Volunteer Day” subtitle=”The First of 2016″][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_single_image image=”4475″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.ciswealth.com/2016/04/01/first-2016-habitat-for-humanity-volunteer-day/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”0px” bottom=”20px” bg_color=”#163463″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1454043641862{padding-bottom: 15px !important;}”]
Refer A Friend
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1454103438200{border-right-width: 20px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4076″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Do you have a friend, family member, or colleague that could benefit from our services? If so, refer them to our mobile friendly website, or we have a packet of information we would love to share with them to them. Just call our office at 830-609-6986 and we can get out the information to help your friends![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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A Verse For The New Year!
[/vc_column_text][vc_service icon_name=”fa-bookmark” title=”Isaiah 43:19″ position=”sb_center” icon_color=”#669900″]See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.[/vc_service][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”20px” bottom=”20px”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1451428958824{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]
5 Financial Areas to Focus on in 2016
Start The Year Off Right
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_single_image image=”3933″ img_size=”500×313″ alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]With a new year comes the opportunity to start the year off right and begin accomplishing all of those things that you have been needing to do, but have been putting off. Do not feel alone, as we all procrastinate! It is very easy to put off the things we need to do, especially when it comes to financial matters. We all have limited time and need to prioritize.
Here is a list of 5 important financial areas that should not fall victim to procrastination, as it can be very costly if you do.
Estate Planning
How long has it been since you have updated your estate planning documents? Has anything changed over the last 5 years? Don’t have an estate plan consisting of at least a will? Then it is time to schedule an appointment to get it done. Can you imagine what procrastinating about this could do to your family?
Risk Management/Insurance
How long has it been since you have gone over all your policies with an independent insurance advisor to assure you are well covered for the best value? Do you think you are well covered in the event of an accident? More often than not, we discover that property and casualty insurance was bought on price over adequate coverage. It would be a shame to be in an accident and think you are well covered when you may not be. Procrastination on this one…ouch!
Investments
How long has it been since you have had an annual review to make sure you are still on the right path for your specific situation? Are you well positioned for a potential major downturn in the markets, or a major rally to take advantage of the markets? Are you aware of exactly how all of your investments are positioned in old 401ks, 403bs or IRAs? Old brokerage accounts? Could you reposition your CDs or savings to another financial institution for a better rate of return? Procrastination for very long on this one could mean thousands of dollars in missed gains.
Tax Planning
How long has it been since you have gone over all of the potential legal tax strategies you could be using to lower your tax burden with an experienced advisor? Taking a proactive approach towards tax planning if you are a high income earner can make a huge difference. Procrastinating could be costing you thousands of dollars in unneeded taxes. Could you use that money for better causes?
Daily Tracking of Expenses
Do you know where everything is anytime of the day? 90% of the way we pay for ordinary expenses today like groceries, eating out, clothing, gas, etc. is with a debit or credit card. Many of us have multiple bank, investment, and even credit card accounts for personal and business expenditures that we pay off monthly. Fortunately, nearly all financial institutions today allow you to track your spending, investments, and account balances anytime with online access. You may be old fashioned and say, “I don’t want to look at any of my accounts online,” but hackers do not think that way. If you are not monitoring all your accounts with different institutions daily, how would you know if a hacker got into any of your accounts until it is possibly too late to do anything about it? With today’s technology, we have a system that you can monitor your accounts with different banks and credit unions, credit cards, and investment accounts (even your 401k) all at the same time on a daily basis! You can see these all on your computer or smartphone at any time of the day. I personally love this system, and I log in at least 2-3 times a day to monitor my finances.
This system does not allow any money to be moved or transferred, but it is strictly a monitoring system. It keeps track of all your expenses and consolidates them daily so that you will know at anytime what you spent in any budget category for the month. It even lets you know if you have gone over budget. This incredible monitoring system is offered free for clients of Christian Financial Advisors®. Why do you need it? Because those that know where they are financially do better than most of those who do not.
We can help you accomplish your goals in these 5 areas. Call our office today at (830)609-6986.
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Make 2016 The Year it Gets Done!
No More Procrastination
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_single_image image=”3932″ img_size=”500×313″ alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]Procrastination is the #1 reason for financial failure. Many find themselves in the vicious rotation described below of putting off financial matters that need to be done. Could you be in this cycle? Maybe it is time to step off of the spinning wheel.
Here is how we have seen procrastination happen when it comes to financial matters:
- It’s January but we are just now getting over December, could we get this done in March?
- It’s March but with taxes coming up In April, I’ll plan to take care of this in May.
- It’s May, but with kids and grandkids graduating, why don’t we tackle this in July?
- It’s July but with summer vacation, how about waiting until August?
- It’s August but with the kids/grandkids starting school, could we wait until September or October?
- It’s October but we are just so busy with the kids’/ grandkids’ school activities, I don’t think I’ll have time until next month?
- It’s November but with Thanksgiving coming up can we wait to get this done until December?
- It’s December and with all the Christmas parties and getting ready for family to come in, I think we need to wait until next year.
Is there ever really a convenient time? No, not really. Make this the year to prioritize and make that appointment to get all your financial matters in order.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”20px” bottom=”20px”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1451429001697{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]
Fulfill Your New Year’s Resolution
Get Your Finances Organized
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_single_image image=”3935″ img_size=”500×313″ alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is “Get My Finances Organized”. If that is yours this year, we can help! The Christian Financial Advisors® System provides the capability to bring together ALL of your financial accounts and holdings in one place.
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Investment
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Banking
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Retirement
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Credit Cards
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Real Estate
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and more
ONE login to view ALL your financial data.
You will have access to your own, personalized website to view your accounts, run reports, create budgets, and much, much more. Plus, we can help you set up a quick link on your mobile device for easy access. Contact us today and we will setup your personal profile and get you started![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”20px” bottom=”20px”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1451429014756{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]
Retirement Readiness
Fit-To-Retire®
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_single_image image=”3936″ img_size=”500×313″ alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]Are you contemplating retirement in the next 5-10 years? Bob Barber is now a certified Fit-To-Retire® coach! Visit the Fit-To-Retire® page to start a quick, easy assessment and check your retirement readiness.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”20px” bottom=”20px”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1451429028173{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]
Thank You For Your Prayers!
Shawn Peters’ Cancer Update
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”shadow”][vc_single_image image=”3937″ img_size=”500×313″ alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]Thank you for your prayers for Shawn Peters, husband of Jenna and son-in-law of Bob and Rachael Barber. A few months ago, we shared that he was battling cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy treatments, his doctor declared him N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease)! We thank God for His healing![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”20px” bottom=”20px”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Referrals
Do you have a friend, family member, or colleague that could benefit from our services? If so, we have a packet of information we would love to share with them to them. Just call our office at 830-609-6986 and we can get out the information to help your friends![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
It is estimated by many sources, that for the last few years approximately 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring daily in our country. This is expected to continue for at least the next ten years. (more…)
THE DONOR ADVISED FUND
Last week I introduced a tool for leaving a financial legacy called a donor advised fund. I also shared three scenarios where a solution for leaving a financial legacy was needed. In all three of these scenarios, a donor advised fund may be used to more efficiently accomplish short and long term giving goals while creating a legacy of giving. Below, I are two examples that could work for the three scenarios I went over last week.
Did you know the word “retire” only appears in the entire Bible one time? It is found in the Old Testament in Numbers 8:24-26. This scripture speaks of Levitical priests retiring at the age of 50 from serving in the temple, but it is not in the context we think of today. Instead it is instruction for the older generation to step down from leading in the work, but to continue helping and mentoring the younger generations in the faith.
PROVERBS 13:11 (NET)
Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.
29 years in business have left me with a lot of knowledge about how people obtain wealth. In all those years, I have come to learn that most people have obtained wealth like a lot of others. I have come up with the ten most common ways that I have seen people gain wealth. Some of these strategies can be used by anybody. So take a look and see what changes you may be able to make to acquire and keep more wealth. I will share five of them with you today and five of them next week.
In my nearly 29 years in business I’ve come to the conclusion that wealth is obtained 90% of the time in one of these 10 different ways. Last week I shared the first 5 (to visit last week’s blog, click here), this week the remaining ones that will be discussed are usually sudden, resulting in Sudden Wealth Syndrome and all the problems that come with it. I have personally seen individuals who have and suffered immensely from Sudden Wealth Syndrome or SWS in several of the following ways wealth is obtained listed below.