« Older Entries

Baby Boomers Have Retirement Regrets

If you were born between 1946 and 1964, then you are officially in the baby boomer age group. That being said, during the year 2010, all baby boomers were turning 46 to 64 years old! Are you part of this oh so famous group, if so, Jeanie Ahn of Yahoo Finance wrote in an article today that if you talk to enough baby boomers or new retirees about what they wish they could do differently, chances are many of them would mention a retirement plan do-over of some kind.
And even if you’ve managed to build up a sizable nest egg, executing on the right way to withdraw those funds is just as important as saving. Crucial mistakes along the way can jeopardize the money you’ve worked so hard to save up.

Below are some of the costly mistakes Dorrell says you can avoid:

Regret #1: Relying on your pension

Two summers ago, I think I got about 55 phone calls from clients who expected that they would continue to get a pension from [their company], and all of a sudden they were getting called to a retiree meeting where they were being told: “Here, we’re going to just cash you out,” or, “You can continue with an annuity with this company that we’ve partnered with, but we’re not going to do it anymore.” Others have said, “It’s your responsibility to invest it or put an income stream to yourself from it.”

My advice for people who are left with a bucket of money is to invest it safely. The last thing you want to do is put that money in the stock market and risk it – that may mean back to work you go! And who wants to do that in their 60s?

I would suggest safe bank-insured investments like CDs or money markets. If you can stomach a longer-term investment for a better return, then utilizing a fixed index annuity with an income rider to guarantee an income for life, similar to a pension, is recommended.

Regret #2: Having too many accounts

The most I’ve seen is 16 different retirement accounts at different institutions. It becomes overwhelming. So while they’re trying to have this nest egg, what ends up happening is they have a bunch of scrambled eggs. They have things all over the place and they laugh when we talk about this, but it is a source of concern because they just tend to not open those statements.

All About Healthy Lifestyle

To you, the term healthy lifestyle might mean an uninteresting lifestyle rife with carrot juice, but that simply is not true. Having your body’s well-being in mind while living is not as hard as one might believe, it will definitely makes you live longer. Life is beautiful and you don’t want to bog yourself down with needless health problems. Today, your vital organs (kidney, intestines, heart, gall bladder, lungs, liver, stomach, etc) may be working well, but they may not be tomorrow. Do not take your good health today for granted. Take proper care of your body. Good health isn’t just about healthy eating and exercise – it also includes having a positive mental health, healthy self-image and a healthy lifestyle. A long road of happiness and enjoyment still awaits you with these changes if you do it right. Healthy living is within your reach, start it today. Sure, healthy living is a continuing commitment. But there are steps you can take right now that will make your today healthier than your yesterday and pave the way for healthy living tomorrow, too.

Do you want to live a healthy lifestyle and leave your couch potato days behind? All you have to do is follow a few simple steps highlighted below:

1. Exercise Whenever Possible. This does not necessarily mean stretching to aerobics a few times a week; you can do it as you go about your day, too. Instead of taking the elevator, use the stairs. Instead of driving to a place not that far away, walk. There are many things that you can turn into a workout when you have them in mind. If you wish, you can have you friends and family members join you in your tasks. The involvement of more people will help you to be able to keep yourself motivated. Not just a few times a week, but every day. Movement is life. Exercising daily brings incredible benefits to our health, including lowering of risk of diseases, increase of life span, higher bone density and weight loss. Increase activity in your life.

2. Eat Healthy: This is very significant. You are willing to finish off that cake that a neighbor brought over; it will only lead you to trouble and undesirable pounds later. Look into recipe book that specialize in utilizing fruits, vegetables, and other healthy ingredients instead of giving in to sugary sweets. Fruits are a plethora of vitamins and minerals. Fill your palate with watermelon, apricots, avocado, apple, cantaloupe and so on.

3. Cut Down on Stress. You are putting a lot of strain on your body when you worry, this can lead to health problems if left unchecked. Listen to comforting music, take time to relax and maybe go in for a hobby that will make you stay busy.

You are not only benefiting yourself when you change your ways and adopt a healthy lifestyle, but also those who care about you. No matter what anyone might say, taking care of your body is of the utmost importance. Always remember, you are not meant to be a couch potato; not if you don’t wish to be.

Tags:

Click Your Way to a Photography Diploma with an Online Course

With a City & Guilds Diploma in Photography you can learn the skills and techniques of the professionals and take your interest in photography on to the next level.Using today’s modern cameras anyone can produce impressive results with relative ease, but if you want to go one step further and really learn how to get the most out of photography, a City & Guilds Photography Diploma is the ideal way to begin. City & Guilds courses are comprehensive and inexpensive, and lead to qualifications that are recognised throughout the industry, making them ideal if you’re looking to begin a career in photography.City & Guilds Diploma in PhotographyThere are two main City & Guilds Diplomas in Photography available:
City and Guilds Basic Photography
City and Guilds Black and White Photography
Each one can be studied through an online course, allowing you to work through your studies in whatever way suits you best, taking as long as you like to gain your diploma.An online course gives you a degree of freedom in your studies that traditional teaching methods simply cannot match. With no need for lectures or classes you can pick and choose where and when you work, fitting the online course around your existing lifestyle.Many City & Guilds Photography Diploma course providers offer extensive online support for their students, with the very best providing forums, tutor support and online learning resources.Photography Diploma – Subjects CoveredAll City & Guilds Photography Diplomas provide extensive instruction in photographic equipment, professional techniques and the principles of composition. Some of the areas you’ll learn about include:
Camera and lenses
Film, light and techniques
Composition, picture design and presentation
Final portfolio techniques
Taking a City & Guilds Diploma in Photography enables you to capitalise on your interest and develop a set of professional skills built on real practical knowledge. Whether you want to pursue a rewarding career in photography or just want to learn how to get the most from your hobby, gaining a City & Guilds Photography Diploma through an online course lets you fulfil your ambitions with the minimum of inconvenience and expense.

Tags: