Planning Ahead
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/43415/1/Planning-Ahead/Page1.html
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert is the founder of National Information Resource Services (NIRS), an organization committed to educating people on the home care industry. Currently residing in Newport Coast, CA, Rejoyce is the General Manager of MemorialCare Home Caregivers. She is also a nationally recognized advocate for the elderly
and is one of the most highly-sought after speakers in her field. She is a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and continues to work hard and help people realize their own goals.By Rejoyce Wilson-Herbert
Published on 07/15/2010
Teaching our children fiscal responsibility is teaching them
to plan ahead. Unfortunately, while many parents plan their children's lives from
birth to
college, after college those children are on their own to navigate life’s
different stages.
Those who've learned to plan ahead do more than just party and
spend money. They plan ahead.
For the past fifteen years I have dedicated a portion of my time to educating the elderly
on ways to plan for their future.
In my workshops I offer them the tools they need to make decisions
for their lives, even when they are no longer able to verbalize their decisions. The audiences for these planning seminars includes
mostly retirees and people planning for their retirement.
Ironically, it was a report on a morning television program that caught my attention when the host stated, “With many Americans living longer the possibility of running out of retirement money is likely,” (MSNBC). The reporter went on to say that half of the baby boomers will run out of money at some point during their golden years, while an even bigger portion of generation X retirees face the real danger of not having enough money when they retire.
According to the statistics, only thirteen percent of Americans will be able to maintain themselves for ten or more years after retirement. This information caused me to reevaluate my approach. Until that revelation I believed that the seniors needed the information to empower themselves for their future. However, the reality is that planning for the future should start the moment a parent gives a child a cell phone or a set of car keys.
Teaching our children fiscal responsibility is teaching them to plan ahead. Unfortunately, while many parents plan their children's lives from birth to college, after college those children are on their own to navigate life’s different stages. Those who've learned to plan ahead do more than just party and spend money. They plan ahead.
If all our young people would begin the planning process for their retirement years upon completion of their educational path, Americans would have the funds needed for their retirement instead of facing the real peril of not having enough retirement money. If all employers enrolled every employee in a retirement program and contributions were made to those funds by both employer and employee each payday, Americans would have a solid financial future for themselves.
With the exception of the extreme situations, such as a disabled person or someone who is unable to be gainfully employed, all Americans should be able to provide their own money for their long-term care, and should be able to make their own retirement plans.
The good news is that even if you've fallen behind the eight ball, there is still hope. If you decided that you will retire in five to ten years, you need to begin saving money for your retirement immediately. For some this will require a cut in unnecessary spending. This may mean eliminating practices and things that you actually can live without. For others this may mean seeking a part time job.
Planning a head can drop your risk of running out of money to up to twenty percent (MSNBC). We can always find millions of reasons why we cannot change our life-style from spontaneous spending to planned savings. We can readily argue that while we are young we should enjoy our lives and not get caught up in the future.
But the truth is that most situations and conditions in our world are within our control with one key exception: the aging process. Even with plastic surgery, Botox, and the plethora of expensive creams and lotions, everyone will grow older and everyone will come to a place in life where it is time to move over to make room for the younger generation.
Lotions and potions cannot reverse the reality of aging. Yes it's good to keep our bodies in shape by exercising and eating properly, but the real truth is our bodies will still deteriorate with age and time. Yes, it's taking longer for people to show real signs of aging, but by the age of seventy we will see changes. Planning for those changes is easier when the stress level is at its lowest point, and the financial responsibilities of living do not cause you unnecessary worry or stress.
The best decision that we can make for our lives is to plan ahead. Planning ahead will enable us to enjoy our present life while preparing for our retirement. Having peace of mind is a gift that everyone can give to themselves through knowledge and preparation. Planning ahead is truly the antidote to worry and fear.
Ironically, it was a report on a morning television program that caught my attention when the host stated, “With many Americans living longer the possibility of running out of retirement money is likely,” (MSNBC). The reporter went on to say that half of the baby boomers will run out of money at some point during their golden years, while an even bigger portion of generation X retirees face the real danger of not having enough money when they retire.
According to the statistics, only thirteen percent of Americans will be able to maintain themselves for ten or more years after retirement. This information caused me to reevaluate my approach. Until that revelation I believed that the seniors needed the information to empower themselves for their future. However, the reality is that planning for the future should start the moment a parent gives a child a cell phone or a set of car keys.
Teaching our children fiscal responsibility is teaching them to plan ahead. Unfortunately, while many parents plan their children's lives from birth to college, after college those children are on their own to navigate life’s different stages. Those who've learned to plan ahead do more than just party and spend money. They plan ahead.
If all our young people would begin the planning process for their retirement years upon completion of their educational path, Americans would have the funds needed for their retirement instead of facing the real peril of not having enough retirement money. If all employers enrolled every employee in a retirement program and contributions were made to those funds by both employer and employee each payday, Americans would have a solid financial future for themselves.
With the exception of the extreme situations, such as a disabled person or someone who is unable to be gainfully employed, all Americans should be able to provide their own money for their long-term care, and should be able to make their own retirement plans.
The good news is that even if you've fallen behind the eight ball, there is still hope. If you decided that you will retire in five to ten years, you need to begin saving money for your retirement immediately. For some this will require a cut in unnecessary spending. This may mean eliminating practices and things that you actually can live without. For others this may mean seeking a part time job.
Planning a head can drop your risk of running out of money to up to twenty percent (MSNBC). We can always find millions of reasons why we cannot change our life-style from spontaneous spending to planned savings. We can readily argue that while we are young we should enjoy our lives and not get caught up in the future.
But the truth is that most situations and conditions in our world are within our control with one key exception: the aging process. Even with plastic surgery, Botox, and the plethora of expensive creams and lotions, everyone will grow older and everyone will come to a place in life where it is time to move over to make room for the younger generation.
Lotions and potions cannot reverse the reality of aging. Yes it's good to keep our bodies in shape by exercising and eating properly, but the real truth is our bodies will still deteriorate with age and time. Yes, it's taking longer for people to show real signs of aging, but by the age of seventy we will see changes. Planning for those changes is easier when the stress level is at its lowest point, and the financial responsibilities of living do not cause you unnecessary worry or stress.
The best decision that we can make for our lives is to plan ahead. Planning ahead will enable us to enjoy our present life while preparing for our retirement. Having peace of mind is a gift that everyone can give to themselves through knowledge and preparation. Planning ahead is truly the antidote to worry and fear.