Paul Ferraresi

Here are a few simple strategies to build your wealth:

• SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN. You can’t make your money grow if you spend it all.
• LIST YOUR FINANCIAL PRIORITIES. Put your retirement at the top of the list.
• ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY FUND. Low-risk, accessible cash will lessen the temptation to dip into retirement savings in an emergency.
• MAKE SAVINGS A HABIT. Even a little can add up, thanks to the power of compounding.
• PAY YOURSELF FIRST. Stock away at least 20% of your pay. Have the money automatically deposited so you’ll never miss it.
• CUT EXPENSES. It’s one of the fastest and best ways to make money. Clip coupons, buy second-hand on eBay, eat out less often. Funnel this “found money” into your investments.
• CREATE INCOME. Take a second job, rent out a room or downsize and invest the profits.
• INVEST REGULARLY. Use time and timing to get into the marketplace. If you don’t know how to invest, find out how! Go through training, read books, ask an expert and then apply your knowledge. Remember: Don’t work for money. Let money work for you.
• CREATE LONG-TERM WEALTH. Money in a savings account is safe, but inflation will erode its value. Stocks provide long-term growth.
• DIVERSIFY. The best way to balance your risk is with a portfolio that spreads your money out over a variety of financial instruments.
• REVIEW. Revisit your spending plan, savings and goals monthly to be sure you are on track.
• AVOID BAD DEBT. Don’t borrow for things such as vacations, clothing or furniture. Borrowing to remodel a home, on the other hand, may be good debt that can provide long-term financial benefits.
• BEWARE OF HIGH-INTEREST LOANS. Look at the total cost of repaying the principal and interest, not just the low monthly payment.
• GET OUT OF BAD DEBT. Otherwise, finance fees eat up principal that could be earning interest.
• HANDLE CREDIT CARDS WISELY. Keep only one or two cards. Transfer high-interest balances to zero-interest cards.
• PLAN TO RETIRE LATER. If you’re doing what you love, work is fun! You can work longer, work part-time or become a consultant.
• DELAY TAKING SOCIAL SECURITY. Benefits will be higher when you start.

I find that people who have not saved properly for retirement always rebuff my comment to build a retirement fund assuming you will live to be 100. They laugh it off and I say…but, what happens if you do live to be 100? What is your plan? The fastest growing segment of Americans is those living past the age of 100.

A host of experts are predicting what the future will bring. Ken Dychtwald, a leading “age wave” expert, characterized the 10 physical, social, spiritual, economic, and political crises we will face as we age in the 21st century in the following list. (You can learn more at www.agewave.com.)

1. A Pandemic of Chronic Disease
2. Mass Dementia
3. The Caregiving Crunch
4. Coping With Death and Dying
5. “Gerassic Park”
6. An Inhospitable Marketplace
7. Changing Markers of Old Age
8. Financial Insecurity
9. Age Wars
10. Elder Wasteland

Let’s hear what Dr. Dychtwald has to say about one of these issues, #5. What about “Gerassic Park”? As Dychtwald writes,

All future-oriented public policy in America, including policy regarding Social Security and Medicare, is based on the assumption that there will be no meaningful breakthroughs that will affect longevity or biological aging. So what happens if we wake up tomorrow morning and there is a breakthrough?

Might it be a “Gerassic Park” in which, instead of cloning entire humans, we find a way to clone organs? What if we learn to manipulate the body’s immune system to increase longevity? Can we imagine a future without cancer, a world without Alzheimer’s or heart disease? It is possible…. The biotechnology century is coming; we should expect the unexpected.

–Dr. Ken Dychtwald, “THE 10 PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL CRISES THE BOOMERS WILL FACE AS THEY AGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY,” American Society on Aging (www.asaging.org)

I see medical breakthroughs each day. That is why, as a Certified Financial Planner, I am bound to do planning for my clients assuming a life expectancy of 120 years.

You may think that living 120 years is far-fetched. When I was in my early teen years, as my grandfather retired at age 65, it was expected he would be dead by age 70. Over the past 50 years, with medical advances, the Insurance Institute states that a married couple reaching age 65 can expect one of the spouses will easily live to the age of 95.

Better plan for at least 30-40 years of retirement funding.

Discipline or regret!

I find that as each new year comes, people often state, “Gee, where did the year go? It went by so quickly.” And yet, other times people bemoan that things are moving too slowly. Since we, in general, are here on this planet for 100 years and then pass away for eternity…here is a glimpse of how long eternity is….

“In the cold northern wastes there is a mountain a thousand miles long, a thousand miles high. Once each thousand years a small bird flies north. This small bird flies north to sharpen his beak on the cold hard stone of the mountain. When the mountain is thusly worn down, one second of eternity shall have passed.” –Tibetan Poem

In less than 11 months from now a new Congress will be elected. In addition, you may have the same or a new administration in the White House.

What will the economy be like? What will be the “mood” of Americans? Monetary policy has been used up, and only fiscal policy tools remain. A major fiscal tool is tax policy.

The present tax law is set to expire on December 31, 2012. Will politicians kick the can down the road again? Everyone knows that there are a few major changes that need to be done to have the U.S. economy thrust forward with dynamic vigor. One aspect that must be noted: Any tax policy change must be cemented in place for at least five years. Any prudent individual or business cannot do any worthwhile planning or changing behavior with any shorter time period.

Here are a few changes that will transpire when the extended “Bush tax cuts” expire. Remember, it was the largest tax cut in history when first implemented and got us out of the 911-tech stock implosion of 2000-2003. Consequently, if it is not extended…it will be the largest tax increase in history. Here are just a “FEW” of the changes:

• All tax rates basically go up around 5%. The 10% bracket is eliminated and will be at 15%.
• Dividend rates will go from the present 15% rate to your ordinary tax rates.
• Capital gains rates go from the present 15% rates to rates of 25%. (Gee, I wonder what this will do to your stock market investments? DUH!)
• Elimination of the tax credit for having children. (This will hurt the unwed parents and illegal immigrant parents.)
• The marriage penalty tax will go back into effect. (This will encourage married people to not stay married.)

Since it is obvious that you will be taxed more in every area of your life, doesn’t it make sense to develop a plan to place your monies into programs that will never be taxed? We are here to help at any time.

Come November 2012 it may be beneficial to heed the words of the former Mayor Daly of Chicago, “Vote early and vote often.”

A great new web site by FraudAvengers (www.fraudavengers.org) has recently started. It is a non-profit group with the goal to educate the public on how crooks use online payment options and technologies to commit fraud.

It is a Texas-based group with the slogan, “Pros preventing cons.”

The site has blog articles to inform individuals and businesses on how to reduce their risk of fraud.

Check it out and sign up. I think it will be very helpful.