Once again we witness another horrible, horrible tragedy. This time it took place at the 2013 Boston Marathon where two brothers set off multiple bombs, killing three people and injuring 176 others, many of them severely. Some of those injured lost limbs and others are facing amputations and other injuries that are life-changing.

I (Mark) can’t imagine what the survivors and their families are going through right now. They have been hurt so deeply by this that their lives will never be the same. Those who were injured and those who lost family members will have this tragedy forever on their minds.

If you are a believer in God, I suggest  you be in constant prayer for those affected by this tragedy. There are also other ways to show support, such as various relief funds that have been established. Below is a list of ways to help some of the victims of the bombing. This list was taken from The Huffington Post website.

• Jeff Bauman, a spectator who lost both legs in the aftermath of the blasts, will likely face hefty medical bills as he begins to recover. To help offset the costs, friends and family have launched the Bucks For Bauman fundraiser. Bauman’s family is also asking people to send letters of support to Jeff. Mail can be sent to: Jeff Bauman, c/o Jen Joyce, 117 Tyngsboro Road, Westford, MA 01886 or Jeff Bauman, c/o Jen Joyce, P.O. Box 261, Chelmsford, MA 01824.
• In lieu of flowers, the family of Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old woman from Medford, Mass., who was killed in the explosions, has asked supporters to make donations to the Krystle M. Campbell Memorial Fund. Contributions can be sent to 25 Park St., Medford, MA 02155
• While waiting for their dad to cross the finish line, Martin Richard, 8, was killed in the blast and his younger sister, whose name has not been released, had her leg amputated in the aftermath. Their mother, Denise, was also hospitalized with serious injuries. To help the family get through this devastating period, friends and family have established the Richard Family Fund.
• Brothers Paul and JP Norden each lost their right legs following the Boston attacks and Paul’s girlfriend, Jacqui Webb, has already undergone two surgeries for shrapnel damage to her legs. To help the three victims pay for their overwhelming medical bills, friends and family have established the Jacqui, Paul and JP Recovery Fund.
• Friends and family of Patrick and Jessica Downes, newlyweds who each had a leg amputated after the blasts, are raising money for the couple’s medical bills.

This tragedy will be forever remembered along with 9/11 and will remind us of the evil that is in the world. Why do bad things happen to good people? I think the answer lies in the fact that we all have the capacity for good and evil. There is a battle going on in all of us and we are pulled back and forth between the two. We are affected by our own bad decisions and the bad decisions of others. No one is immune to this. This is evident by the recent suicide of the son of Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church. Rick is probably the most well-know pastor in our country today and author of the bestselling books “The Purpose Driven Life” and “What On Earth Am I Here For?” Yet, he has not escaped being hurt deeply by life.

Bad things happen, but good things come out of it. I don’t necessarily think “things happen for a reason.” Things happen. After things happen comes our response. How do we respond? Ultimately the good comes out of us. Look at the outpouring of support from our entire country in the aftermath of Boston. Rick Warren is starting a ministry based on mental illness as a result of his son’s death. We will see much more good come out of the Boston tragedy in the months to come.

Boston proves it. We are a world in need of a God and savior. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Life will hurt us and we need the support of our friends and family. What does it all mean? Why are we here? We think about this much more when events like Boston occur. I would suggest that you pick up a copy of Rick Warren’s book, “What On Earth Am I Here For?” Or better yet, there are small groups studying this book at CedarCreek Church.  It is great stuff and not to be missed. In the meantime let’s all band together and keep praying.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com.  Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC.  NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice.  The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. Call them at (419) 842-0550.

Tags: boston marathon, CedarCreek Church, Jeff Bauman, Jessica Downes, JP Norden, Krystle Campbell, Mark Clair, Martin Richard, Nolan Baker, Patrick Downes, Paul Norden, Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Monday, April 29th, 2013 at 8:20 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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Don’t you just love it when you slip on your jacket, check the pockets and find $20? Who doesn’t, right? One of the favorite parts of our job at The Retirement Guys is to help people find money when it comes to their investments. Finding money for clients is a two-part process that involves looking at the money going out and looking at the money coming in. Once we get started, money can usually be found in a lot of different ways.

Here are just a few ways that you, too, can find money.

Money going out

1. Buy the right investments in the right accounts. Consider holding tax-favored investments in taxable accounts. Many times, we find investors who own fully taxable accounts have investments that are 100 percent taxable each year. Instead, if the investments were shifted to a tax-free municipal bond, tax-advantaged real estate investment trusts or energy investments versus fully taxable strategies, less would go to taxes and more could be kept by the investor.

2.  Get life insurance policies that leverage money and provide long-term care benefits. Health care costs can wipe out the average family and even those with millions of dollars shouldn’t pay dollar for dollar for health care costs. Instead, leverage your money with insurance.

3. Cut investment fees and expenses. Sometimes it takes some work to add up all of the fees and expenses that are both disclosed and undisclosed in investments. Yet, once the effort is put in, wasted fees and expenses can be eliminated.

4. Eliminate debt. We talk with people all of the time who have a mortgage, credit card or car loans that cost anywhere from 4 percent to 15 percent; yet, they also have large balances in accounts that are earning less than 1 percent. By paying off the debt, they get to keep more of their hard-earned money.

5. Max out Roth IRA contributions. Roth IRAs offer the opportunity to get 100 percent tax-free growth and income for life. Roth IRAs aren’t just for young kids; they are a great option to consider for investors of all ages.

Money coming in

6. Old annuities. Minimum guaranteed rates in many older fixed annuities are much higher than what the average investor could get in other current safe accounts. Be sure to review how surrender changes could apply if any money is added into older annuities before you invest.

7. Life insurance policies that focus on maximum cash value can be a great approach. Insurance policies not only offer guarantees but indexed universal life insurance policies allow the account owner a higher potential return than most other fixed investments. Consider policies that don’t lock up your money.

8. Save in a company retirement plan. According to Aon Hewitt, 46 percent of American workers age 20-29 who have access to a pre-tax 401(k) retirement plan do not participate in the plan. Not only is it a mistake to not save for retirement, but the employee could also be missing out on free money if the company offers a matching contribution.

9. Pay attention to yield. Most investors focus mainly on the performance of their account. Although performance is important, the average investor has little control over the performance of the stock market in the future. Instead, focus on what can be controlled by concentrating on which yield can be increased by the proper investment selection. More yield from dividends and interest means more annual income.

These ways to find money do not consider your particular situation or risk tolerance. They should be used as a starting point in getting a comprehensive review done prior to making any changes. What we often find is that the average person is able to find money in several ways. So check out these nine ways with your money. Then visit us at ToledoFreePress.com and share with us some other ideas on how you have been able to find money.

Insurance guarantees are based upon the claims-paying ability of the insurance company. To qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, a Roth IRA must be in place for at least five tax years, and the distributions must take place after 59 ½ or due to death, disability or first-time home purchase ($10,000 lifetime maximum). Depending upon state law, Roth IRA distributions may be subject to state taxes.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550

Tags: Mark Clair, Nolan Baker, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 6:43 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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If you are not familiar with how federal estate taxes work, the government will tax your estate if it exceeds a certain amount. The problem is not only the potential tax, but that the laws are ever-changing. If you remember, years ago, the magic number was $600,000. Every dollar over the highest exemption amount was taxed at a rate as high as 55 percent. As time has gone on, that magic number has changed. The $600,000 number went up to $750,000 and then to $1 million, then to $2 million, then to $3.5 million and eventually to $5 million. The question is, where will it go in the future and how should you plan for it?

As humans, we all struggle with procrastination as we deal with everyday life, knowing in the back of our minds that we should eventually get around to planning for the future. None of us relish the thought of planning for our deaths. The problem is that our procrastination could end up biting our family members in the form of taxes if we do not happen to die in the right year. If you recall, George Steinbrenner, the famous and controversial owner of the New York Yankees, happened to die at the right time to take advantage of the tax laws. His family saved more than $500 million dollars because he happened to die in 2010 when the tax laws were favorable.

As the tax laws stand at the present time (anything more than $5,120,000, which has been adjusted for inflation from $5 million), you might think you don’t have anything to worry about if your estate is not close to that number. However, if nothing changes before the end of the year, the tax credit will revert back to the old number of $1 million. Add up everything you own in your head. This $1 million dollar number has the potential to affect a lot of people that would never think of considering themselves wealthy. When you add up the value of your home, retirement accounts, savings, investments, your toys and everything else, that magic number may not be hard to reach.

What do you do? The answer: create a plan that will take maximum advantage of the rules, no matter what they are. The Retirement Guys call this process “Detaxification Legacy Maximization.” Detaxify! Like detoxing your body from poison, detaxify your estate from these dreaded taxes as much as possible. My spell checker is telling me that “detaxificaton” is spelled incorrectly. That is because it is not a word. We made it up. The key is overcoming the procrastination and making that dreaded trip to the attorney’s office to talk about your planning options.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Create a plan that takes advantage of the maximum federal estate tax credit. A trust can be created that includes language, which will deal with this situation if needed. You can create what would be like a “toggle switch” that can be flipped if needed. This is the “detaxification” part.

2. Consider the potential cost of probate. Probate is not necessarily bad, but if you have a lot of assets that will be probated, the cost of the estate administration may be unnecessarily high. A living trust might be the way to go to deal with this issue. This is the “legacy maximization” part.

3. Don’t forget about income taxes. Please note: income taxes, not estate taxes. Your retirement account, such as an IRA, 401k, 403b, etc., may be one of the biggest assets you own. Remember, if it is a traditional retirement account, the dollars remaining in the account have never been taxed. This is an issue that many estate planners never address. The IRS now allows what is called a multigenerational stretch-out of income taxes by heirs who inherit retirement accounts. A special separate retirement account trust may something to consider. This is another way to create “legacy maximization.”

There are many other issues to consider when creating your plan. Don’t count on being lucky in death like George Steinbrenner. Avoid human nature and stop procrastinating. Detaxify and maximize before it is too late. As always, The Retirement Guys wish you a happy and relaxing retirement.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com.  Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC.  NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice.  The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550.

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 24th, 2012 at 10:00 am and is filed under Retirement Guys.
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A couple of weeks ago, we wrote a column about our community give back campaign, part of which is adopting a troop. Letters are written, goodies such as games, books, magazines, etc., are collected and sent to a troop overseas in an effort to give them some diversion from the daunting task of serving our country and keeping all of us safe.

The Retirement Guys invite our clients, listeners of our radio show and readers of this column to join us in the effort.

The fifth-graders of Crissey Elementary School in Springfield Local Schools and their teacher Anjanette Newcombe responded by writing letters and collecting items to be sent to our adopted troop. Dana Nehren from our office has coordinated the entire effort and she, myself (Mark) and my partner Nolan Baker, had the opportunity to go to the school to meet these young children who, to me, are examples of goodness and character demonstrated by their efforts. I was touched by meeting these young people and had the opportunity to congratulate them on what a great thing they were doing. I told them that they should be proud that they are helping those that are doing a job that not many of us want to do — keeping our country safe. I also encouraged them to continue to do good things and to continue to help others.

You can see in the picture of this group the beautiful faces of children who have great potential, and will grow up to do great things. It is beyond imagination that children just like these were massacred in the horrific tragedy at Newtown Elementary in Connecticut. These children and their teachers at Newtown and the children at Crissey are examples of good that is in the world. Yet the kids at Newtown were murdered by what is an example of the evil that exists in human hearts.

This is just one man’s opinion, but that is where I believe the struggle between good and evil lies — in our hearts. We all have the potential for good and to do great things. Yet, we all have the potential for bad as well. We have all made mistakes and have made bad decisions. Think about your own situation. All of us have regrets and have made decisions or done things that we wish we could take back. All of us are dealing with something. All of us have been damaged by life. Whether it is our own bad decisions or the bad decisions of others.

Crissey Elementary students recently collected cards and items to send to servicemen and women overseas. Courtesy photo.

The good news is there is hope. These Crissey fifth-graders are a prime example. The previous column about adopting a troop talked about freedom. The freedom to live the way we choose. We also have the freedom to make choices. We know there are consequences to bad choices, yet our humanness causes us to continue to make them. How can we overcome this? I believe it has to be with the help of each other and staying connected to what is good. When we choose to do good things like the Crissey fifth-graders, we are making a difference and are more likely to feel good about ourselves and stay in a positive mind-frame. Yet, it is hard to do this alone. We need the support and direction of others.

Congratulations to teacher Anjanette Newcombe and principal Steve Lee for steering their students in a positive direction. Their students are bearing the fruit of positive influence and wise instruction. As these kids continue to do good things they will continue to be productive citizens.

John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” It is vital to stay connected to the life source. To remain in what can bring the good out of all of us. If we are cut off, we are left to our own devices to wither away and die as a result of bad choices.

Helping the troops may be a small act of kindness, yet it is a huge act of character. A big thanks to Crissey Elementary for being a huge inspiration to all of us at The Retirement Guys. Let’s all continue to support each other and stay connected to the life source. Good and great things will be the result.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 PM on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. 419-842-0550.

Tags: Crissey Elementary, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 22nd, 2012 at 5:52 pm and is filed under Opinion, Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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The S&P 500 has gained more than 100 percent since it bottomed out back in March 2009. Economists will continue to debate when the next crash or recession will occur. Some will be right and most will probably be wrong, and trying to figure who to listen to can make the average investor’s head spin. Eventually a decline will happen; it is a normal part of our economy and has been that way forever. Instead of trying to time it just right, use these four tips to get your portfolio ready before a decline occurs.

1. Don’t always stay fully invested in the markets.

In general, risky investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and variable annuities, are long-term investments. The less the investor needs to rely on these accounts for current income, the more risk the investor could be willing to take. I, Nolan, remember my professor in college telling me that over time, stocks and bonds go up in value. In theory he was right, yet he didn’t mention that investors need to factor time into that equation. A good rule of thumb is as investors gets older, they should be safer with their money, especially with money they need in the next few years. Realize that no one can predict the markets in the short term. Sometimes it makes sense to either not take the risk at all or have an exit plan in place prior to markets getting bad. If an investor is taking current income from risky investments or isn’t sure what the exit strategy would be if the markets declined, this would be a good area to review now.

2.  Stress test your investment plan.

The American Heart Association on www.heart.org says a stress test helps a doctor know the type of exercise that is right for you. The test helps a doctor figure out how well a patient will do when stress occurs. The work this association is doing is saving lives and extremely important. The same principles can be applied by the average investor. Monitor how investments are currently doing. Get an investment EKG, if you will, that shows what percentage of your money is at risk versus principally guaranteed, how much income is flowing in monthly and what the maximum drawdown the portfolio could decline. If an investor hasn’t reviewed these numbers before or it has been a while, now is the time to look at the potential warning signs before an unexpected problem occurs.

3. Remove emotions, use logic.

Using logic assumes the average investor will use correct and reliable evidence. The problem is when it comes to investing; logic can go out the window. We get it — in today’s society the average investor is bombarded with investment decisions, most of which play on their emotions, which is why logic usually gets clouded. Don’t let this happen to you. Try and make decisions based upon facts. If you are considering making changes, does the change logically make sense or is it  just to solve a short-term emotional concern? If an investor doesn’t logically understand his or her investment plan, now is the time to talk with a professional and have it explained.

4.  Diversify beyond traditional investments.

In our opinion, true diversification goes beyond owning a few different investment accounts that go up and down at the same time. Although traditional investments like stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and variable annuities have done well in the past few years, the same principle applies today as it did years ago; don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. If all the accounts an investor owns go up and down just like the stock market, he or she probably isn’t fully diversified. One tip for an investor right now is to review the correlation of the investment holdings. Try to diversify into several different potentially profitable strategies that have different correlations.

Hopefully, the stock market continues to go up for a long time to come. Yet, our country is at a crossroads and global issues still loom, so we have a long road ahead of us. Even if a stock market crash doesn’t happen any time soon, taking these four tips and reviewing them with your plan will only make you a better educated investor and put you in a position to be more prepared than you were before.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550. Diversification does not guarantee against loss. It is a method used to manage risk.

The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Individuals cannot invest directly in any index.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2012 at 3:20 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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So, what does it look like? Walking on the beach at sunset with a cool breeze blowing through your hair? Is it drinking coffee, reading books and sitting in the easy chair? Not having a care in the world other than what’s for lunch? I am sure this sounds good to some, but possibly boring to others.

As The Retirement Guys always say, time is short. Time is flying by and we are speeding toward the latter part of our lives. As we realize this is happening, we get more and more concerned about what it will look like. The first thing that needs to happen in our minds is making sure we have a sense of security financially. We ask folks on a regular basis when they come into our office, “What is your biggest concern?” Nine times out of ten the answer is “having enough.” “Not outliving my money.”

This is where The Retirement Guys have found our niche: Helping people get things in order for retirement. Giving them ideas on how they can increase the likelihood that they will have a happy and relaxing retirement. We talk all the time about how many times it takes a “mind shift.” A change of thinking may be required if you are used to doing things a certain way. If you are used to investing your money a certain way, if you have certain spending habits, if you are used to a certain amount of income, etc. If you are approaching or are in retirement it may now be time to examine how to not only change your thinking, but to change how you go about things.

There are different analyses to be done and different steps to take to move toward having this financial security in retirement. If you take these steps it can lead to the peace of mind folks are looking for for that relaxing retirement. But, wait. Perhaps you do not want to “relax” in retirement. Perhaps there are many things you want to go do. It is a great big world out there, and we are of the opinion that you ought to go see and experience it.

It seems we all go through certain stages in life. As a child, we can’t wait to grow up. We have thoughts about how good it will be when we graduate from high school, get our first big career job, get married, have children, etc. We then go through the phase of establishing ourselves with our families and careers. Our main concerns are finding a career in which we can be happy, productive and make enough money to support our families and live a nice life. Then eventually comes the midlife crisis. Life is now passing us by and we want to experience things before it is too late. For me (Mark) it was learning how to ride a motorcycle, playing electric guitar and seeing more of the world. For some it can mean making drastic decisions with what they are doing with their lives. These decisions don’t always end up being good ones.

After the midlife crisis is over, many of us then start to ask ourselves, “Why are we here?” “What is the meaning of life?” “What is really important?” If we have established some sense of financial security, and our children are on their way to establishing their lives, we start wondering what is the best way to spend what time we have left. I have wondered the same thing and feel that even though I am in the “second half” of life, I still have a lot to offer and a lot to do. I have a little while to retirement yet, but as time continues to fly by, I have begun to wonder how best to spend my time on things that are significant. Regardless of whether you are retired, many of us want to be engaged in something that we feel strongly about so that we remain productive citizens. Our sense of self can come from our productivity. We talk a lot in our public workshops about what inspires us to action. Faith, family and our work keep us motivated to get up each morning and get back at it. Recently, I read a book by Bob Buford called “Halftime.” The author had successfully established himself in his career and began a quest to go from success to significance. He wanted to spend way more time on what he considered significant, which in his case turned out to be his faith in God and the idea of helping and serving others. His book has been widely read and has given many people direction on how to figure it out.

How about you? Have you figured it out yet? If not, maybe you should start to think about it. Time short, so get moving. As always, The Retirement Guys wish you the best.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in at 1 p.m. Saturdays on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., member FINR/SIPC. NEXT Financial Group Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Dr., Suite 100, Maumee OH, 43537. (419) 842-0550.

Tags: Mark Clair, Nolan Baker, retirement questions, The Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 26th, 2012 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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It was late 1979 and I (Mark) was 18 years old and heading off to Michigan State University for the beginning of my college adventure. I was excited about leaving home and venturing out on my own and was looking forward to what college life might bring, but my situation was somewhat complicated by the lack of mobility. I did not own an automobile and I was on crutches as the result of having knee surgery because being injured playing high school basketball. Not only would I have to navigate the MSU transportation system to get from one side of the campus to the other for classes, I would also have to “crutch it” on some of the long distances from the bus stop to the classroom. I can recall being so tired at the end of the day that when I arrived back at my dormitory room I would just collapse on my bed in exhaustion. My knee injury was so severe that my doctor referred to me as “the guy with a knee of a 50-year-old.”

I eventually shed the crutches, but this did not solve my other transportation problem. I had no wheels. Fortunately, once you were on campus there was not a great need to have a car, but I am sure you all remember at that age that having your own transportation was important. My dad, who in some ways was quiet like me, never really communicated certain types of things, so when he showed up one day at college with a car, I was completely floored. Not only was it a car, it was what would be considered today a “classic” car. It was so cool it seemed “classic” then, but I don’t really know how a 1969 Camaro could be considered “classic” 10 years later. Maybe I felt that way because at age 18, 10 years was a long time.

The Camaro was blue with a white vinyl top, white mag wheels and a white racing stripe on each side. It had a 450 4-barrel engine that gave it a lot of power when you hit the accelerator. Being from Detroit, I had grown up listening to the rock and roll radio station WRIF and the famous DJ Arthur Penhallow (better know as “Arthur P”). He had this thing of saying “baaaaaaaaaabbbyyyyyyyy!!!!!” WRIF came out with bumper stickers that said “Baby!,” so I had one affixed to my back bumper. I was cool, or at least thought I was.

I had a lot of fun at Michigan State, but after a year there realized I was having a little too much fun. I wasn’t getting done what I went there to do (like classwork, studying, etc.), so I reluctantly made the decision to transfer to a small Christian college in Springfield, Mo. I thought this would get me into a better environment so I could concentrate more on my studies. It was the best move I ever made, because there I met my then-future wife Lisa. On our first date we were driving down the main drag in Springfield on our way to a movie, when we stopped at a traffic light. My Camaro would sound like a boat when it came to a stop, “blubblubblubblubblubblub.” Lisa turns to me and says “boy, that car next to us sure sounds bad.” I about died laughing. It was my Camaro that was making that sound and here we are on our first date and this is what she says! A precious moment that will never be forgotten.

The Retirement Guys have been talking about how “things ain’t like they used to be” and how “the old plus the new” can equal a better retirement. It may not be the same as the past when you could rely on working for one company your entire career and retiring with a nice pension and Social Security. Therefore it is critical that we be as self-reliant as possible. We can do this by drawing on lessons we have learned from the past like working hard, being persistent, making sacrifices, persevering and combine those qualities we learned from our parents and grandparents with the new technology that is available today. Cars aren’t as cool as they were in the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, but because of advances they sure are a lot safer and more fuel-efficient. If you think back, seat belts were not even standard equipment on a new car. The same goes for the world of investing and financial and estate planning. There is new technology and new tools available that you may not be aware of. Make it a point to find out what they are.

As for my precious Camaro, it eventually rusted out and I had to sell it for $900. It grieves me to this day that I did not even think to take a picture of it. All I have left are the memories.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in at 1 p.m. Saturdays on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., member FINR/SIPC. NEXT Financial Group Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Dr., Suite 100, Maumee OH, 43537. (419) 842-0550.

Tags: 1969 Camaro, Mark Clair, Nolan Baker, technology and tools, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 8:00 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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The Retirement Guys have been talking on the radio for years (13 years now — wow, how time flies) about taking a comprehensive approach with your retirement planning. As we say on the introduction of our show, which airs every Saturday at 1:00 on AM1370, “helping you manage your money, preserve your hard-earned assets and efficiently planning your estate.” If you are like me (Mark), you like a system you can follow. A checklist of recommended things to do that will lead you to have a better chance of reaching your goals. Kind of like 1+1=2. Do this, then do this, then do this, and if you do, it will lead to success.

Speaking of 1+1=2, we have been talking a lot about a “formula” for success. In my mind, this formula comes in two parts. Thought (or theory), and action steps. First, let’s examine the theory. It seems that accomplishments originate with thought. If we want to have a happy and successful retirement, we will be thinking about what steps we should take. I read an old book written decades ago called “The Success System That Never Fails” by W. Clement Stone. I enjoy old books because I feel that in many cases the message, although expressed a long time in the past, can be just as valid today. The book was Stone’s rags-to-riches life story in which he shares the principles of what made him very successful. He broke it down into three elements: Inspiration, Knowledge and Action. If you are not inspired, you will probably not acquire knowledge to be successful nor take any action. Think about what inspires you. My guess it is the same things that inspire The Retirement Guys — faith, family, life’s work, etc. Once you know what inspires you, it helps you to gain knowledge through experience. Nolan and I have gained a lot of knowledge throughout our careers that our clients can tap into. All the inspiration and knowledge in the world becomes meaningless without action. The key is doing something. Even if it is in little steps. Begin to move forward in the process.

Now that we have talked about the theory, let’s break it down a little further. Remember the 1+1=2? The “do this, then do this, then do this”? In order to make it easy to understand and better help our clients see the big picture, we have broken the retirement planning process down to three steps. Again, as we say on the radio, “manage your money, preserve your hard-earned assets and efficiently plan your estate.”  We have created a Retirement Guys’ “Road Map for Success” that illustrates the three main areas of planning and what issues should be considered. The three main areas of action are

1. Investment planning
2. Asset preservation
3. Estate legacy planning.

These three areas typically overlap and can have an effect on each other depending on what steps are taken. In the area of investment planning we consider things like how should your money be invested, what are your risk tolerances, when will you need income, diversification of strategies, tax planning ideas such as Roth IRA conversion analysis, your current age, liquidity, and many more. Asset preservation considers the idea of even if we do a great job with investment planning, how might a health care crisis severely damage your assets? These first two areas are more of the “what’s in it for you,” which translates into benefits for your loved ones if you do not end up needing to use all of your assets. This leads us to consider area number three. Where do you want all of your assets to go when you are gone? Estate legacy planning will consider issues like probate avoidance, plan of distribution, income tax liability for heirs, health care directives, etc.

So, there you have the 1+1=2 ( I guess it is really 1+1+1=3 since there are three parts, but you get my drift). As we say on the radio, “helping you manage your money, preserve your hard-earned assets and efficiently planning your estate.” If you would like a free copy of The Retirement Guys “Road Map for Success,” go to www.retirementguysnetwork.com and request a copy. It is pretty simple, but it will get you thinking. 1+1+1=3.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in at 1 p.m. Saturdays on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., member FINR/SIPC. NEXT Financial Group Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Dr., Suite 100, Maumee OH, 43537. (419) 842-0550

Tags: asset preservation, estate legacy planning, investment planning, Mark Clair, Nolan Baker, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Friday, July 13th, 2012 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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Spring is here and before we know it we will be in the middle of summer. I (Mark) have been enjoying our weather here lately since the perfect day for me is sunny and in the mid-70s. It has been beautiful and I have been taking advantage of it by riding my motorcycle to work to enjoy the nice breeze.

Hopefully, as you read this column things are going well for you and you are enjoying life. Spring typically brings a feeling of fresh new hope. The grass turns green, the flowers bloom, the sun comes out and it is time to enjoy a new day, a new season. Myself being a baseball fan and a dyed-in-the-wool Detroit Tigers fan, I enjoy taking a few days off here and there and going to a ballgame to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells at the ballpark. Unfortunately, my Tigers have so far been disappointing. The acquisition of slugger Prince Fielder got everyone all excited about the possibility of winning it all this year. So far Prince and almost everyone else are not hitting the ball too well. The good thing is that it is a long season and things can change quickly. Many times as the weather heats up, so do the batters. Only time will tell.

As summer approaches I hope that you have some fun things planned to do this summer. Go to some ballgames, go sit on the boat at the lake, go on a cruise or some other vacation to an exciting place you have never been. Lisa and I recently had the opportunity to go on a cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate her birthday. While on the cruise she was reading a book that when she was done she had enjoyed it so much that she bugged me to death about reading it. I finally gave in and picked it up and could not put it down. To that end, if you go on vacation, it is always nice to have a good book to read. Here is a brief list of a few books that Nolan and I would highly recommend that you check out:

“Same Kind of Different as Me” (the book Lisa was reading) by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. This is a true story about a man who grew up in virtual slavery picking cotton in the South, an international art dealer, and the inspirational woman who bound the two together. Great, captivating story that is a very easy read. I would highly recommend this book while you are on vacation and so would Lisa.

“The Success System That Never Fails” by W. Clement Stone. If you like motivational reading, this is the rags-to-riches life story of a man who started out peddling newspapers on the street corner to becoming a very successful businessman and author. The Retirement Guys have taken concepts from this book and applied it to our own business. The book shares the formula for success.

“The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks. OK, I have to say I (Mark) typically do not read romance novels (kind of like a guy watching a “chick-flick,” which you probably only do because your wife or girlfriend makes you), but Dana Nehren here in our office highly recommends it, says it is an easy read and it is in theaters as a movie (Dana says the book is much better). Check it out.

“Heaven Is for Real” by Todd Burpo. A little boy’s astounding trip to heaven and back. Ron Hall, who co-wrote “Same Kind of Different as Me” recommends it.

“The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck. The story of the Joads, who were forced off their land in the Great Depression and their journey to California in the hope of finding a new life. Deals with the issues of equality and injustice in American society. Was first published in 1939 and is considered an American classic. I love anything by John Steinbeck and I would also highly recommend the old black-and-white movie starring Henry Fonda.

Be sure to enjoy the rest of the spring and summer and we hope to see you soon at one of our educational workshops. As always, when you think retirement, think The Retirement Guys.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in at 1 p.m. Saturdays on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., member FINR/SIPC. NEXT Financial Group Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Dr., Suite 100, Maumee OH, 43537. (419) 842-0550.

Tags: Mark Clair, Nolan Baker, summer reading, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 26th, 2012 at 4:08 pm and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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Insurance has been around since the days of the Greeks and Romans. For almost every American family having insurance is a must. Yet, just because your family has insurance doesn’t mean everything is covered when it counts. Sometimes, the best of plans a consumer buys turns out to be far less than expected and at worse worthless coverage. According to the Insurance Information Institute, each year Americans spend more than one trillion dollars on insurance premiums. Mark and I are no different than the average consumer; we both own multiple types of insurance coverage and are always looking for the best bang for our buck. So how does the average consumer or retiree really know what type of insurance they need and which insurances they might be wasting money on? Here are a few guidelines our roughly 40 years of combined licensed experience can share with you.

Policy owners should always read their contracts and make sure they understand what is and what isn’t covered. Let me share a story with you. Mary came up to me at a public workshop before the presentation started and pulled me to the side of the room. She came to the workshop because she wanted to share with the attendees what happened to her. What she told me and later the group is the fact that she lost her husband and got nothing from his life insurance. Come to find out her husband had only accidental life insurance, meaning that death benefits were only paid if her husband passed away in an accident. Since he died of natural causes, zero benefits were paid. Had she understood before the fact on how her husband’s life insurance paid out, a different type of life insurance policy could have been chosen years ago.

Another policy owner that I know had a terminal illness rider on his life insurance policy. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But because his policy had the rider, he was able to use a portion of his life insurance benefits while he was alive to take time off work and spend time with his family. Thus, make sure you know how the life insurance policy you own works and what riders and benefits are included.

Protecting assets from a health care crisis is often a concern for many seniors and retiree’s, but is buying traditional long term care insurance the best option for your family? Many consumers assume that traditional long term care insurance is the only option, yet at least 4 other options are available. Along with buying traditional long term care insurance the other options are asset based planning, life insurance policies with LTC riders, Veterans benefits, and Medicaid planning. If a health care crisis happens having traditional long term care insurance can be a great benefit. Yet, if no crisis ever happens a policy owner could have paid in thousands of dollars and received zero benefits paid out. I would recommend that consumers should become educated all each of the options to protect their assets and then make a decision based upon their own individual situation.

Annuity guarantees are also a major focus by the insurance companies of America for seniors and retirees. Our company does recommend annuities for certain situations, but it has been our experience that this is an area the average consumer is very confused on how the guarantees really work. One problem is the vast difference in types of annuity guarantees. Not only do guarantees often vary depending upon fixed, indexed, or variable annuities, but they also vary based upon various products offered by the same insurance company. Knowing how benefits work can mean literarily the difference between a family having income for life or running out of money when they least expected it. If you have an annuity or are considering an annuity, make sure you read the contract and ask questions on how and when benefits will and won’t be paid.

New insurance rates and benefits change on a regular basis. Sometimes the policy that was purchased years ago still offers better guarantees than what a new product would offer. At other times, new product designs and benefits might offer the consumer more cost savings or bang for their buck. The best thing a consumer can do is every other year do a complete inventory of all of their insurance coverage and become educated on what is really covered and where there could be gaps in coverage. Just remember to read the entire contract for a complete understanding of coverage.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 PM on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. 419-842-0550

All guarantees are based on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company, who is solely responsible for all obligations under its policies.

Tags: insurance, The Retirement Guys

This entry was posted on Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 7:54 am and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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