This video talks about one of the beginning steps to getting your financial house in order, budgeting! He then talks about getting debts paid down or completely paid off.

Free Retirement Plan Financial Planning Best Ways To Reduce Debt

Many people do not know where to start when it comes to paying off debt. This video discusses how to get the process started to being debt free.
The best way to pay off debt is to create a budget so that it’s clear how long it will take to pay off the debt. Learn about restructuring rates on money that is owed to others with help from a financial services specialist in this free video on paying off debts.

Expert: William Rae
Contact: www.hbwfl.com
Bio: William Rae has been licensed in the insurance and financial fields for over 30 years.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Duration : 0:3:0

Resources:

Federal Trade Commission: Facts For Consumers

Motley Fool: 9 Ways To Pay Off Debt

how much is this health care reform actually going to cost…what is the financial planning…? and what can you forecast about this healt care reform..? what do you think is it good or bad having this reform?

It is a HORRENDOUS bill, and does NOT go after what all is wrong with the present system. Cost……………it will cost FAR MORE than what the WH tells you. Just look at the track record of any entitlements from the Fed Gov’t, the costs have ALL spiraled out of control. Furthermore, they HID many costs in OTHER LEGISLATION that should have been included in this HC bill.

In the world of financial management there are several phases. This article examines the part called wealth accumulation. The phase of wealth accumulation is the part that if it is not accomplished will mean that there is no retirement. Additional resources are contained at the end of this article.

Free Retirement Plan Wealth Accumulation

This is the phase that everyone wants to talk about but few do anything about. The news and popular media talk about wealth and the trappings that go along with it. Popular culture, movies and entertainment tout the benefits of large houses, cars and expensive toys. Rarely do they talk about true wealth and how to accumulate it.

Getting Started .

Let’s get to the nitty gritty of it all. There are a few steps that you need to take before you even get started:

1. Write down every dollar that you spend over the next month. Examine why you have each expenditure, and is it necessary? Could you do without it?
2. Examine your debt. What can be reduced? Put your debt in two lists. Sort one list by size and the other by interest rate. Payoff the small debts first. Create some small successes. As you pay some smaller debts off, look to also eliminate some of the higher interest loans.
3. Make sure and pay your biggest fan first, YOU!! You should save at least 10% of your salary with the goal of taking that to 20%
4. Set a goal of giving 10% of your earning to the charity of your choice. For many that may mean donating your time in the beginning. Use your earnings per hour in your career as a guide.
5. Take advantage of all three of the savings buckets available: Tax deductible savings – Employer sponsored plans. Tax deferred savings – Life insurance, ROTH IRA’s. Taxable savings – These are plans like passbook savings accounts, CD’s and money market accounts. Used for emergency savings.

This is the most important phase that most overlook. You will want to have a liquid account with a value that equals 6 months of your necessary expenses. This is in the event of a job loss, illness, natural disaster etc. so that you household could maintain itself for that period.

The other goals that you will want to accomplish, is to have paid off all your debts that are attached to major purchases over the period of 18 to 36 months. The only debt that should remain is for housing. The goal would be to have housing debt paid off within 48 to 60 months. You would then want to stretch the life of these purchases to 10 to 15 years.

Once you have accomplished all of the goals, except housing, you can move that cash flow towards retirement savings with a vengeance. When housing is paid off, then that should represent a quantum leap in your retirement savings. A key element is to avoid the temptation of “keeping up with the Joneses”. This can mean doing things a little different than others. An example would be cooking your own meals rather than eating in restaurants the majority of the time. Take the difference and apply it to your retirement plan, saving or debt reduction. Spending money on self-improvement is more productive than spending money on entertainment. Each expenditure should be examined and the decision made it this more important than meeting our risk based or retirement needs.

These are decisions that should be continually reviewed. As income increases and / or debt and expenses are decreased you must reallocate your net income.

What is my chosen career?

When making a career choice, keep in mind this is what you are going to do for the next 35 to 40 years of your life. It is important that you make a choice that you will be able to stay with and not lose your sanity. There are many assessments that will help you best determine a career that suits who you are. It is better to chose something that works toward your natural strengths.

Trial and error may come into play. You may have to try a number of jobs before you find the career that will be the right one for you. Career selection is a highly personal choice. For some being able to work outdoors and not be confined to an office is desirable. These jobs become less desirable as a person ages. Usually these careers pay more in the early years, relative to office jobs. This career path requires a level of physical fitness and somewhat less mental fitness. Over time the physical activity becomes harder to maintain and even harder to increase. On the other hand, an office career usually starts out relatively lower in pay. However, over time it becomes easier to increase one’s mental capacity instead of rather than physical ability. This however also comes with a price. A sedentary life style has negative effects on one’s physical health. It may be desirable to schedule exercise as a part of your off time.

Post high school education will not guarantee you a higher salary, but it will help. Either trade or vocational schools or colleges and universities will improve your opportunity to earn more over time. Both of these will require a financial commitment. For an initial period even after your education is complete you may not make as much as those with less education or training. This will be offset over time. The important thing is to get education in an area that you feel you will be able to work in throughout your working career. The next thing to remember is to be prepared to change directions later in life.

Post retirement

Technology will change things as you age. Things that were necessary to society and highly valued may become worthless as you grow older. Buggy manufacturers in the 1800’s were prized but today are very valued. Typewriters in the 1960’s and 1970’s were an important part of business, but today you can’t give them away. Continued study and willingness to adapt will serve you well throughout your career. As science continues to increase our productive lifespan, this may even become necessary.

In the early 20th century, the life expectancy for the entire world was 30 to 40 years. In 2008, the average life expectancy of the world is 66.12 years of age. The United States has a much higher average. The current average life expectancy for the United States is 78.06 years. This means since 1900 life expectancy has increased by 66%. In 1900 you were even expected to live to the current retirement age of 65. Many insurance companies are basing their insurance policies on an age of 120. If this were to happen, it would mean that savings of 35 to 40 years would have to support a life style that would last for 55 years past retirement. You will either have to choose a longer working career, a part-time career, a higher savings rate, or a lower standard of living after retirement or some combination.

Another factor to consider is inflation. Let’s assume you have a retirement income need of $5,000 per month. If we use an age of 65 and assume a life expectancy of 90 having an inflation rate of only 3% will increase that income need to $10,468 per month.

Health insurance is another often overlooked factor. Health insurance costs are rising faster than inflation. This means either you will have to make health insurance a part of your retirement package from your employer, plan for rising costs that will outpace your investment earnings or continue to work for insurance benefits. This along with the cost of home health care in the event of a chronic illness or injury could wipe out your entire retirement nest egg

Summary of How to Achieve Retirement Success

In summary, there are several things to take into account when preparing for retirement.

1. Take advantage of your most valuable asset, TIME! The earlier you get started the sooner compounding can help you.
2. Starting with a relatively more aggressive allocation in younger years and then gradually becoming more conservative as you get closer to retirement is an advisable strategy.
3. Eliminate debt as early as possible.
4. Create a systematic strategy towards eliminating debt and savings.
5. Pay yourself first.
6. Educate yourself.
7. Be flexible
8. Make decisions based a long term strategy.
9. Consistent returns are better than extreme highs and lows

You should always seek the advice of a financial professional prior to making changes in your financial plan. The examples contained in the above article may or may not match your personal situation.

Disclosure

Resources:

EHow

Investopedia

I’m employed part-time at a financial planning company and, earlier this year I got my state life insurance license through their "sponsorship." I want to leave but I don’t know how it will affect (the ownership of) my license. I’ve reread the employment contract and it doesn’t mention license portability.

Licenses are portable. All you need to do is fill out the appropriate paperwork with any new agency you work for.

Every person in an economy is happy when the financial markets are bullish, with high rates of economic growth. Public spending levels are high, investment levels are soaring, and the expectations about returns from investment are sky-high. Financial planning is necessary in these periods are necessary in these periods, but not so much so as in periods of recession. When recessionary forces hold sway, market economics project bearish markets and low growth levels. During these times, finance planners and proper planning is of utmost importance in order to ensure that investments are not affected too badly, and a swift recovery remains possible.

Recessionary phases come as a harsh reality check for the investment market, where expectations remain invariably optimistic during bullish conditions. These phases of economic downturn are the times when personal financial planning proves to be extremely valuable. It is common that investors (who generally predict returns as high as 20 percent during good times) become extremely pessimistic in their expectations during recession, and may indeed, drastically cut down on their investment levels.

This is where finance planning comes in handy. Financial plans, when done in a proper fashion during recession, can help investors achieve their targets, even during a market downturn. Planning should be based on expectations that are neither too optimistic (as during bullish periods), nor too bleak (as is often the case during recession). Financial planning, especially during a deflationary market, comprises of the following strategies:

a) Revision Of Investment Targets: Common investors always have certain targets in mind as they frame their finance plans. These targets are also generally accompanied by well-defined time-frames within which to achieve them. However, the ability to invest is adversely affected during a recessionary phase. In such a scenario, the initial investment plans might need to be revised and/or toned down according to the situation.

Realistic expectations are of the utmost importance in planning during deflation. When an economy experiences a downturn, individual incomes are adversely affected, reducing their ability to invest. This, in turn, results in individual debts being paid off less quickly than what might have been imagined initially. Additional payments on individual mortgages and debts are difficult to come by, and the time-frame required to achieve one’s investment targets may need to be extended during recession.

b) Proper Estimation Of ‘Risk-Tolerance’ Levels: Based on how ready an investor is to take risks in order to gain higher returns, (s)he can be classified as ‘risk-lover’, ‘risk-neutral’ or ‘risk-averse’. Awareness regarding ‘risk-tolerance’ grew rapidly after 2000 (after the dot com bubble burst). During recession, individuals need to accurately asses their risk-tolerance levels, and then choose the investment plans that would suit his/her preferences.

c) Restructuring The Individual Portfolio: After a revision of investment plans, a restructuring of portfolios that are currently held is also important. Sector diversification is an effective strategy, since owning a mix of small-cap, mid-cap and large-cap stocks effectively lower one’s risk, while maintaining a high rate of return attached to a portfolio,

d) Revision Of Insurance And Estate Plans: Insurance plans are generally made in order to plug the gap between desired levels of lifetime expenditures and portfolio incomes. During recessionary periods, portfolio income might go down. Consequently, one needs to expand his/her insurance plans. A thorough revision of real estate plans is also necessary.

These components of financial planning, if carried out properly, can help investors a great deal during recession. Hence, finance plans are of great importance during these periods.

Sam Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/finance-help-the-importance-of-financial-planning-in-a-recession-market-716485.html

As a manager of a financial planning business you have two financial planners, Phil and Francis. In an hour, Phil can produce either one financial statement or answer 8 phone calls, while Francis can either produce 4 financial statements or answer 10 phone calls. Does either person have an absolute advantage in producing both products? Should these two planners be self-sufficient (each producing statements and answering phones) or specialize? Be sure to show your work.

google it

There has always been a need for retirement planning and today is certainly no different. There are 401(k)s and many other types of retirement plans that are available to you. You will need to take the time needed to evaluate what your current financial needs are and what you expect the future to hold.

Recent events, such as the rise in energy costs and the ever-skyrocketing health care costs need to be factored in. Although gas prices have been fluctuating lately, I think they are going to go back up, possibly even surpassing the extremes we saw all too recently. These types of events can take a toll on your retirement plan very quickly. Prudent planning begins early and you need a good source of information. Websites like http://jag-info-resources.com/retirement/ are an excellent resource to go to find answers to the questions you may have.

Did you know that most retirement plans have a ceiling of 10% of your pre-tax wages that you can contribute? While that may sound good when you view it against a 2% inflation rate, you must keep in mind that your planning today is not just for the ideal future, but the future that will be reality for you if things turn out to not be ideal or according to your plans today.

By starting early and contributing the maximum that you can afford, you will have a better chance of being prepared for the unforeseen. This is made much easier today because your 401k plan is now transferable from one employer to another. This allows you to continue to grow your retirement account even when you choose to change jobs or even careers.

Unsure of what you will need for retirement? There are calculators like the one at my site as shown in my author box below that will help you figure it out for yourself. This is a helpful tool that lets you see if you are on track or not. Don’t forget that life expectancy is getting longer. When Social Security was passed in the 1930s people lived about 2 years after retirement. Today you can expect to live 20-30 years past retirement and, suddenly, the amount you need to retire comfortably with a major change in lifestyle gets very large.

Lets say that today you need $40,000 to live on and you retire in 20 years, you will need a minimum of $850,000 to carry you through retirement. That is assuming that you will live an additional 20 years after you retire and are in good health. There is something to be said for debt reduction as being part of your retirement planning, as well, since the last thing you want to do is go into retirement with a ton of debt still hanging over your head.

Having $40,000 a year to live on with little to no debt will obviously go farther than if you still have the same debt load as you do now. If you reduce your debt load by the same amount that you save for retirement, you double your retirement savings.

One cannot have a conversation about retirement without the subject of taxes coming into it. The money you put into your 401(k) is pre-tax so you will pay taxes on it when you get disbursements. The 401(k) is intended for retirement, so there are also very heavy tax penalties if you withdraw any funds before you turn 59.5 years of age. If at all possible, do not make any early withdrawals from your retirement account, since most people have found that in addition to the heavy tax penalties for doing so, the prospect of paying it back, even with good intentions, is tougher than it seems.

Jon Arnold
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/how-to-do-retirement-financial-planning-70586.html

Hedge funds make money in bonds by separating treasury bills for a higher profit, creating better leverage for the bond investment or getting better loan rates on bonds. Get a higher after tax rate of return on bonds through hedge funds with information from a financial consultant in this free video on investments.

Expert: Roger Groh
Bio: Roger Groh is the founder of Groh Asset Management.
Filmmaker: Bing Hu

Duration : 0:1:23

I have a college assignment to but really stuck on a question, so any help would be great. the exact question is

describe the main elements of the financial planning process in an engineering business and the sequence in which the planning takes place.

you can ignore the engineer bit if you want to – just a general idea to help me out would be good and ill incorporate the engineering bit later

You need to talk to your tutor. Asking for the answer in the internet is CHEATING.

http://blog.investtalk.com Steve Peasley is a financial advisor and host of InvestTalk, a weekday program that looks at new and relevant investment topics each weekday. He answers questions about financial and retirement planning, money management as well as general concerns about the stock market. http://blog.investtalk.com

Duration : 9 min