Achieving Wealth, Retiring Abroad, and Other Boomer Readings

I enjoyed this short piece from AARP  which summarized a presentation speech at the AARP’s Vegas@50+ Member Event. First, the speaker identified the four different ways to accumulate wealth: marry it, inherit it, win the lottery,  or live beneath your means. Read more

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Variable Annuity Edition

Baby boomers are understandably fearful of another market meltdown. They continue their search for investments that will provide retirement income security with preservation of capital. That’s hard to achieve in a single package. Read more

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Home Repair Edition

This past week contractors finished several projects on the exterior of our Tennessee home: painting, Dryvit repair, and brick repair. These are just the beginning of a long list of repair and renovation tasks that need to be completed before we consider selling and downsizing. Although we are unlikely to put the house on the market for at least 19 months, it makes sense for us to spread the supervision and cost of these projects over time, particularly with so many contractors needing the work now. What are you thinking about downsizing? Read more

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Jobless Recovery Edition

The overall economic news this week was not good, either for workers or for retirees. I’m afraid that it will be some time before we start hearing better news. Many economists predict that unemployment will remain at today’s levels or get worse through 2010. In other words, if our economy is now in a “recovery” mode, it is a jobless recovery. That suggests that there is no real recovery. Read more

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Renewed Optimism Edition

This has been a week for renewed optimism in the possibility of a reasonable retirement. The markets have improved while interest rates remain low. I’m not suggesting a strong increase in equity allocation in your retirement portfolio. (More about that in a little announcement I have next week.) But if your retirement income needs are already secured, the stock market is presenting interesting opportunities for money you can afford to lose. Read more

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Entrepreneur Edition

Six weeks ago I was persuaded by experience and research to make some radical changes in our retirement planning philosophy. Four weeks ago I converted that changed philosophy into a new retirement investing plan. I developed spreadsheets and other tools to aid in developing and implementing our plan. Read more

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Back to School Edition

Son # 3 is winding down his internship and has us all thinking about his return to campus for his junior year. Time continues to fly by.

I read a number of interesting articles this week:

The Simple Dollar puts its spin on Dave Ramsey’s Money Makeover book, in this case discussing the “pay off the mortgage” issue.

Free Money Finance has some tips for parents sending kids off to college. Been there, done that.

U.S. News summarizes ten great places to live if you appreciate life long learning opportunities. For financial reasons, I wouldn’t find any of the listed cities attractive but others might.

Also, check out these carnivals where my writing appeared this past week: Carnival of Personal Finance, Money Hacks Carnival, and Carnival of Pecuniary Delights.

I hope you enjoy some of this. Have a great week!

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Memorial Day Edition

I’m not doing much writing this weekend, preferring to spend it with family. I read a few things this week that you may like.

The Corporate Barbarian presented a simple but effective analysis of why we should giving retirement funding a higher priority than college funding.

The Finance Buff wrote about how inflation affects Social Security and Medicare. This is not a huge issue today but it is likely to be in the near future.

Harvesting Dollars tells us about the 50′s landmine. I don’t know about you, but I am working hard to dodge those mines.

Also, don’t forget to check out the Carnival of Personal Finance hosted at Wisebread.

Enjoy what is left of your weekend and spend some time remembering our fallen veterans.

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Mother’s Day Edition

I hope all of our mothers out there received some appreciation and special treatment today. You deserve it.

There was some good reading again this week for those of us thinking about retirement. I say “good” in that the content is worth reading although not all of it brings good news.

Let’s start with Scott Burns’ article on the build up to inflation that we can expect in retirement. You had better start making plans now for adding inflation protection into your retirement portfolio.

Trent at the Simple Dollar wrote some simple (what else?) tips for saving on job-related expenses.  I started bringing my own lunch food to work in 2008 which has saved me hundreds of dollars. We need it for retirement don’t we?

Forbes published a list of the top 25 towns to “live well” in. I’m still trying to figure out what “live well” means but I know it doesn’t mean that the town is a retirement haven!

Finally, check out the articles in this week’s Carnival of Personal Finance and Carnival of Pecuniary Delights.

Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Home Maintenance Edition

We are preparing for company and you know what that means – taking care of a lot of deferred household maintenance items. That’s a good reason to have company. It makes you do things that have been put off for too long.

As usual, I did a lot of reading this week in the baby boomer and retirement worlds. I thought I would share a little of that with readers. Read more

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