Retirement

Staying on Track with Your Retirement Investments

July 23, 2020 by Hans Blake, CFA, CPA

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Compounding is your best friend

It’s the “rolling snowball” effect. Put simply, compounding pays you earnings on your reinvested earnings. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you invest $100, and that money earns a 7% annual return. At the end of a year, the $7 you earned is added to your $100; that would give you $107 in your account. If you earn 7% again the next year, you’re earning 7% of $107 rather than $100, as you did in the first year. That adds $7.49 to your account instead of $7. In the third year with a 7% return, you’d earn $8 and have a total of $122. Like a snowball rolling downhill, the value of compounding grows the longer you leave your money in the account. In effect, compounding can do some of the work of building a nest egg for you.

The longer you leave your money at work for you, the more exciting the numbers get. For example, imagine an investment of $10,000 at an annual rate of return of 8%. In 20 years, assuming no withdrawals, your $10,000 investment would grow to $46,610. In 25 years, it would grow to $68,485, a 47% gain over the 20-year figure. After 30 years, your account would total $100,627. (Of course, these are hypothetical examples that do not reflect the performance of any specific investment and assume that no taxes are paid or withdrawals are made during that time.)

If your workplace savings plan contributions are made pretax, as most people’s are, compounding really becomes a powerful force. Not having to pay taxes from year to year on either your contributions or the compounded earnings helps your savings grow even faster (though you’ll owe taxes on that money when you start withdrawing from your account). The value of compounded tax-deferred dollars is the main reason you may want to fully fund all tax-advantaged retirement accounts and plans available to you, and start as early as you can. Investing money over time can help compounding produce potentially significant returns. With time on your side, you don’t necessarily have to aim for investment “home runs” in order to be successful.

Diversify your investments

Asset allocation is the process of deciding how to spread your dollars over several categories of investments, usually referred to as asset classes. A basic asset allocation would likely include at least stocks, bonds, and cash or cash alternatives such as a money market fund. The term “asset classes” also may refer to subcategories, such as particular types of stocks or bonds.

Asset allocation is important for two reasons. First, the mix of asset classes you own is a large

factor–some say the biggest factor by far–in determining your overall investment portfolio performance. How you divide your money between stocks, bonds, and cash can be more important than your choice of specific investments. Second, by dividing your portfolio among asset classes that don’t respond to market forces in the same way at the same time, you can help minimize the effects of market volatility while maximizing your chances of long-term return. Ideally, if your investments in one class are performing poorly, assets in another class may be doing better and may help stabilize your portfolio.

Remember that during any given period of market or economic turmoil, some asset categories and some individual investments historically have been less volatile than others. You can manage your risk to some extent by diversifying your holdings amongvarious classes of assets, as well as different types of assets within each class. Taking steps that can help manage the amount of volatility you experience can help you stay with your game plan over the long term.

Take advantage of dollar cost averaging

One of the benefits of participating in your workplace savings plan is that you’re automatically using an investment strategy called dollar cost averaging. With dollar cost averaging, you acquire shares of an investment by investing a fixed dollar amount at regularly scheduled intervals over time. When the price is high, your investment buys less; when prices are low, the same dollar investment will buy more shares. A regular, fixed-dollar investment should result in a lower average price per share than you would get buying a fixed number of shares at each investment interval.

The accompanying graph illustrates how share price fluctuations can yield a lower average cost per share through dollar cost averaging. In this hypothetical example, ABC Company’s stock price is $30 a share in January, $10 a share in February, $20 a share in March, $15 a share in April, and $25 a share in May. If you invest $300 a month for 5 months, the number of shares you would buy each month would range from 10 shares when the price is at $30, to 30 shares when the price is $10. The average market price is

$20 a share ($30+$10+$20+$15+$25 = $100 divided by 5 = $20). However, because your $300 bought more shares at the lower prices, the average purchase price is $17.24 ($300 x 5 months = $1,500 invested divided by 87 shares purchased = $17.24).

In addition to potentially lowering the average cost per share, investing the same amount regularly automates your decision-making, and can help take emotion out of investment decisions.

Stick to your strategy

Try to resist the impulse to change your investment strategy with every news headline or investing tip from a relative or coworker. Timing the market correctly is very difficult; even professionals find it a challenge. Most people fare better by having an investment game plan that can weather good times and bad, and then sticking to it. That doesn’t mean you should simply forget about your investments altogether. At least once a year, you should review your portfolio to see if your choices are still appropriate. Even if your circumstances haven’t changed, market movements can affect how your money is divided among various types of investments. For example, if one type of asset has been very successful, it may now represent too large a share of your holdings. To rebalance your portfolio, you could sell some of an asset that’s now larger than you intended and buy more of a type that is lower than desired. Or you could keep your existing allocation but shift future investments into an asset class you want to increase. But if you don’t review your holdings periodically, you won’t know whether a change is needed.

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

Source: Some of the material comes from Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.

Financial Planning: Helping You See the Big Picture

July 16, 2020 by Hans Blake, CFA, CPA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It starts with your goals

Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached. That’s where financial planning comes in. Financial planning is a process that can help you target your goals by evaluating your whole financial picture, then outlining strategies that are tailored to your individual needs and available resources.

Why is financial planning important?

A comprehensive financial plan serves as a framework for organizing the pieces of your financial picture. With a financial plan in place, you’ll be better able to focus on your goals and understand what it will take to reach them.

One of the main benefits of having a financial plan is that it can help you balance competing financial priorities. A financial plan will clearly show you how your financial goals are related–for example, how saving for your children’s college education might impact your ability to save for retirement. Then you can use the information you’ve gleaned to decide how to prioritize your goals, implement specific strategies, and choose suitable products or services. Best of all, you’ll know that your financial life is headed in the right direction.

The financial planning process

Creating and implementing a comprehensive financial plan generally involves working with financial professionals to:

Develop a clear picture of your current financial situation by reviewing your income, assets, and liabilities, and evaluating your insurance coverage, your investment portfolio, your tax exposure, and your estate plan
Establish and prioritize financial goals and time frames for achieving these goals
Implement strategies that address your current financial weaknesses and build on your financial strengths
Choose specific products and services that are tailored to help meet your financial objectives*
Monitor your plan, making adjustments as your goals, time frames, or circumstances change

Some members of the team

The financial planning process can involve a number of professionals.

Financial planners typically play a central role in the process, focusing on your overall financial plan, and often coordinating the activities of other professionals who have expertise in specific areas.
Accountants or tax attorneys provide advice on federal and state tax issues.
Estate planning attorneys help you plan your estate and give advice on transferring and managing your assets before and after your death.
Insurance professionals evaluate insurance needs and recommend appropriate products and strategies.
Investment advisors provide advice about investment options and asset allocation, and can help you plan a strategy to manage your investment portfolio.

Remember, the most important member of the team, however, is you. Your needs and objectives drive the team, and once you’ve carefully considered any recommendations, all decisions lie in your hands

Why can’t I do it myself?

You can, if you have enough time and knowledge, but developing a comprehensive financial plan may require expertise in several areas. A financial professional can give you objective information and help you weigh your alternatives, saving you time and ensuring that all angles of your financial picture are covered.

Staying on track

The financial planning process doesn’t end once your initial plan has been created. Your plan should generally be reviewed at least once a year to make sure that it’s up-to-date. It’s also possible that you’ll need to modify your plan due to changes in your personal circumstances or the economy. Here are some of the events that might trigger a review of your financial plan:

Your goals or time horizons change
You experience a life-changing event such as marriage, the birth of a child, health problems, or a job loss
You have a specific or immediate financial planning need (e.g., drafting a will, managing a distribution from a retirement account, paying long-term care expenses)
Your income or expenses substantially increase or decrease
Your portfolio hasn’t performed as expected
You’re affected by changes to the economy or tax laws

Common questions about financial planning

What if I’m too busy?

Don’t wait until you’re in the midst of a financial crisis before beginning the planning process. The sooner you start, the more options you may have.

Is the financial planning process complicated?

Each financial plan is tailored to the needs of the individual, so how complicated the process will be depends on your individual circumstances. But no matter what type of help you need, a financial professional will work hard to make the process as easy as possible, and will gladly answer all of your questions.

What if my spouse and I disagree?

A financial professional is trained to listen to your concerns, identify any underlying issues, and help you find common ground.

Can I still control my own finances?

Financial planning professionals make recommendations, not decisions. You retain control over your finances. Recommendations will be based on your needs, values, goals, and time frames. You decide which recommendations to follow, then work with a financial professional to implement them.

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Financial Survival After a Job Loss

July 8, 2020 by Hans Blake, CFA, CPA

Reading Time: 6 minutes

People Change Jobs Frequently

The best data the Bureau of Labor Statistics has on how many jobs people hold in a lifetime is a longterm study that has followed baby boomers through most of their careers. On average, people hold 11.7 jobs between ages 18 and 48. You may have lost your job already, or it’s something you’re concerned about. Either way, the keys to surviving a job loss financially are to plan ahead, take stock of your income, and cut your expenses.

Plan ahead

If you haven’t been laid off, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for that possibility. It’s hard to know how long you’ll be out of work, so to be on the safe side, prepare for at least six months of unemployment. You might find a job much sooner, but you don’t want to be forced to take the first opportunity that comes along, especially if it isn’t suitable.

Come up with a financial plan for unemployment, and design your plan with some flexibility to allow for adjustments if your situation changes. Circumstances can vary based on how long you’re out of work, and whether unanticipated expenses arise while you’re unemployed.

Prepare a survival budget

A big part of your unemployment plan is a survival budget. Start with a list of all your income and expenses. You might already have a budget that you can use as a base, but your survival budget should be a bare-bones version of your regular budget. Include only expenses that are necessary. The goal of your survival budget is to have a good idea of what income you need to actually survive.

Your plan also should include an emergency fund that’s equal to at least six months of living expenses from which you can draw to supplement other sources of income. If you haven’t set up an emergency fund, you may still have time to do so. You’ll be amazed how fast you can deplete your regular savings if your unemployment lasts more than a couple of weeks.

If you lose your job, find some income

Start by checking with your former employer. Are you eligible for severance pay? Whether it’s available depends on your employer’s policy, but if you’re offered severance pay, you might have the option of taking it in a lump sum or as a continuation of salary for a fixed period of time. Taking severance pay in a lump sum gives you control over your money, but you may lose some employee benefits such as group health insurance. If you take your severance as a continuation of salary, you may be able to keep your benefits, but you’ll be dependent on your former employer’s ability to make payments to you.

But don’t stop there. Check with your local unemployment office to find out if you’re eligible for unemployment benefits. You can receive at least 26 weeks of benefits (more in some cases). Generally, to qualify for unemployment benefits you must have been laid off. You may even qualify if you’ve been fired, so long as it’s not for misconduct. You probably won’t qualify if you quit your job, however.

Reduce your expenses

If you’re unemployed, you may find that your income won’t support your current expenses. Aside from reducing your debt by selling big-ticket items like your car or house, there are other things you can do to minimize your living expenses.

One of your first considerations should be to identify and discontinue discretionary expenses. Such items as magazine subscriptions, health club memberships, extra phone services, credit cards you don’t use that have an annual fee, dining out regularly, and extra pay services on your cable television are examples of some of the expenses you can trim from your budget. You also may have to put off that planned vacation until you’re back on your “working” feet.

Talk with your creditors

Another way to cut your expenses is to try negotiating with your creditors to lower interest rates on your credit cards, defer a payment or two on your car loan, or reduce your monthly payments temporarily. You also may be able to lower your home mortgage monthly payments by refinancing to a lower rate (if you can qualify in spite of your job loss), or by negotiating a longer repayment period. You’ll have to admit that you’re facing some financial difficulty due to your job loss, but if your credit is good, now’s the time to make the calls–not when you fall behind in your payments.

Along those same lines, check with your mortgage company or credit card companies or look at your billing statements to find out if you have credit insurance. Credit insurance will make your bill payments when you’re unemployed. However, you may have to wait a while before receiving benefits.

While technically not an expense, you can also decrease your spending by reducing your contributions to retirement or education funds. However, the less you contribute now, the less you’ll have for retirement or college, so this option should be a last resort. But you might be able to make up for the reduction in contributions by increasing payments to those funds when you’re back on your feet financially.

Increase your income

You’ve cut your expenses and spending as much as possible, but you still don’t have enough income. Here are some ideas that might help you meet your expenses while unemployed.

Consider a part-time or temporary job. This will provide another source of supplementary income while you search for your next full-time job. And your part-time job could turn out to be your next full-time job–or at least it might lead to another opportunity with another potential employer. Also, your spouse or partner may be able to get a job if he or she is not already working, or pick up more hours at a present job.

If you’re really strapped

Your home is another source of savings you may be able to tap into. If you have enough equity in your home, sometimes you can obtain a home equity line of credit even if you’ve lost your job. You’ll only pay interest on the portion you use. But you’ll still have to make a monthly payment, so make sure you’re able to afford the new loan payments before you put your house on the line.

If you’re still strapped for cash, consider withdrawing from your tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement Any money you withdraw from these types of accounts likely will be taxed as ordinary income for the year in which you make the withdrawal. Also, you may have to pay a 10% penalty tax for early withdrawal if you’re under age 59½ unless an exception to the penalty applies.

Tip: If you’re considering taking funds from your IRA or retirement plan, we may be able to guide you regarding the specific tax treatment of your withdrawal, because not all of it will necessarily be taxable. For example, if part of the withdrawal from your traditional IRA or employer’s retirement plan represents nondeductible contributions, you may not be taxed on that portion of the withdrawal.

If all else fails

If money really starts getting tight, be prepared to take more drastic steps. You might consider moving from your home and renting it temporarily. Obviously you’d have to find cheaper alternative housing, but the rental income from your home may be enough to cover your rental expenses while your tenants pay for most of the home costs, such as utilities and even real estate taxes. However, any decision you make in this area should be made with careful consideration, and only after evaluating how much you can actually get out of the deal.

As a last resort, you may have to consider selling bigger items like your car or even your home. Since these larger possessions usually carry a debt, by selling them you’re not only generating some cash, but you’re decreasing your expenses by ridding yourself of the debt attached to the item sold.

All is not lost

A job loss is not the end of the world, even though it may feel that way. Mapping out your priorities and drafting a bare-bones budget can help you come up with your own financial strategy for job loss survival. At Intelligent Investing, we serve many professionals and executives through job loss, job changes, and transitioning into retirement. We’d be happy to have a complimentary call with you to see if we can serve you and your family.

You may also have an orphaned 401k or 403b that you’ve left behind at your former employer. We’d be happy to share our thoughts on your multiple options and how best to utilize those retirement plans. In the meantime, you can check out our rollover page on this very topic.

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

Source: Some of the material used comes from Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.

Getting Help from a Financial Professional

June 26, 2020 by Hans Blake, CFA, CPA

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Are you suddenly on your own or forced to assume greater responsibility for your financial future? Unsure about whether you’re on the right track with your savings and investments? Finding yourself with new responsibilities, such as the care of a child or an aging parent? Facing other life events, such as marriage, divorce, the sale of a family business, or a career change? Too busy to become a financial expert but need to make sure your assets are being managed appropriately? Or maybe you simply feel your assets could be invested or protected better than they are now.

These are only some of the many circumstances that prompt people to contact someone who can help them address their financial questions and issues.

This may be especially true for women, who live longer than men on average and therefore may face an even greater challenge in making their assets last over that longer life span. If you are a women facing greater responsibility due to a divorce or death of a spouse, please visit our women and widows page.

Why work with a financial professional?

A financial professional can apply his or her skills to your specific needs. Just as important, you have someone who can answer questions about things that you may find confusing or anxiety-provoking. When the financial markets go through one of their periodic downturns, having someone you can turn to may help you make sense of it all.
If you don’t feel confident about your knowledge of investing or specific financial products and services, having someone who monitors the financial markets every day can be helpful. After all, if you hire people to do things like cut your hair, work on your car, and tend to medical issues, it might just make sense to get some help when dealing with important financial issues.
Even if you have the knowledge and ability to manage your own finances, the financial world grows more intricate every day as new products and services are introduced. Also, legislative changes can have a substantial impact on your investment and tax planning strategy. A professional can monitor such developments on an ongoing basis and assess how they might affect your portfolio.
A financial professional may be able to help you see the big picture and make sure the various aspects of your financial life are integrated in a way that makes sense for you. That can be especially important if you own your own business or have complex tax issues.
If you already have a financial plan, a financial professional can act as a sounding board, giving you a reality check to make sure your assumptions and expectations are realistic. For example, if you’ve been investing far more conservatively than is appropriate for your goals and circumstances, either out of fear of making a mistake or from not being aware of how risks can be managed, a financial professional can help you assess whether and how your portfolio might need adjusting to improve your chances of reaching those goals.

When should you consult a professional?

You don’t have to wait until an event occurs before consulting a financial professional. Having someone help you develop an overall strategy for approaching your financial goals can be useful at any time. However, in some cases, a specific life event or perceived need can serve as a catalyst for seeking advice. Such events might include:

Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
Having a baby or adopting a child
Planning for a child’s or grandchild’s college education
Buying or selling a family business
Changing jobs or after a layoff
Planning your retirement
Developing an estate plan
Receiving an inheritance or financial windfall

Making the most of a professional’s expertise

You’ll need to understand how a financial professional is compensated for his or her services. Some receive a fee based on an hourly rate (usually for specific advice or a financial plan), or on a percentage of your portfolio’s assets. Some receive a commission from a third-party for any products you may purchase. (Intelligent Investing never sells any products or gets paid from any third-party). Still, others may receive some combination of fees and commissions, while still others may simply receive a salary from their financial services employer. Don’t be reluctant to ask about fees; any reputable financial professional shouldn’t hesitate to explain how he or she is compensated.
Even if you’re a relative novice when it comes to finances, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand what’s being presented to you. You’re not being rude; you’re simply trying to prevent misunderstandings that could backfire later.
Don’t let yourself be pressured into making a financial decision you’re not comfortable with or don’t understand. This is your money, and you have the right to take whatever time you need. However, give yourself a deadline for your decision so you don’t get caught in “analysis paralysis.”
Think about the scope of the services you’ll need. Do you want comprehensive help in a variety of areas, or would you be better off assembling a team of specialists? Do you need an ongoing relationship, or can your needs be taken care of on a one-time basis? If you’re a relative novice or having to deal with decisions you’ve never had to make before, someone with broad-based expertise might be a good place to start. Even if you feel you need detailed advice from several different specialists — for example, if you own your own business — consider whether you might benefit from having someone who can coordinate among them. A financial professional can sometimes be a gateway to other professionals who can help with specific aspects of your finances, such as accounting, tax and/or estate planning, insurance, and investments.

We are here to help

When considering employing a financial professional, try to determine whether the individual or firm has experience in dealing with situations similar to yours. If you have substantial assets, you may require someone with a broader range of expertise than would be needed if your finances were relatively simple If you feel that consulting an expert might be helpful, don’t postpone making that call. The sooner you get your questions answered, the sooner you’ll be able to pay more attention to the things — family, friends, career, hobbies — that an organized financial life could help you enjoy.

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

Source: Some of the material comes from Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.

5 Financial Questions to Ask Your Spouse

June 11, 2020 by Hans Blake, CFA, CPA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

At Intelligent Investing, one of the things that we believe makes us different is our attempt to unify families with financial communication. We’ve heard stories of people being laid off, paychecks being cut, and many more financial uncertainties. These times can be scary, and we can tend to want to internalize our emotions and not share them with others…leading to more loneliness and depression.

I recently read that China’s divorce spike due to the Coronavirus should be a warning to the rest of the world. If absence makes the heart grow fonder, the opposite might be true, but it doesn’t have to be. We know that financial stress can be a top reason for divorce, but it shouldn’t be. As families are put under new financial and emotional stresses, it is important to make more of an effort regarding your communication with your spouse and family.

Five Financial Questions to Ask

In order to help you get started, here are five financial questions to ask your spouse. Perhaps you can grab a cup of coffee and turn off Netflix for 15 minutes. My hope is that this may lead into deeper conversations.

How financially secure are you feeling and why?
In what ways could we can improve your feeling of financial security?
How much do you think we have in our emergency fund?
Do you think we need more or less in our emergency fund?
What would you want to know financially should something happen to me? (getting laid off, sudden illness, unexpected death)

These are not the only financial questions you can ask, and your list of questions will be better than mine. The point is it starts getting both spouses on the same financial page.

When I asked my wife, Amanda, these questions, one of the things that came out of the conversation was that she wasn’t sure where all our money was should something happen to me. This opens the door for me to better communicate and document that, for example, we have a UK pension plan from the time I worked in London.

It may feel awkward at first—especially if you haven’t had these talks in a while, or ever. However, your spouse will appreciate your effort and it may grow you closer during these times of social distancing.

Need More Help?

If you do find yourself unemployed, be sure to consider whether it is worth rolling over your 401k or 403b. Check out our blog on the topic. Being laid off can be an emotional and scary time. Intelligent Investing was built to help you control your emotions of fear and greed. We’d be happy to take you out for a cup of coffee or lunch to discuss your situation and see if we may be able to help. Also, be sure to check out our Coronavirus’ Impact on Retirement mini-series.

Schedule a short discovery call or meeting

Can You Avoid a Layoff?

June 3, 2020 by Hans Blake, CFA, CPA

Reading Time: 6 minutes

You may be a dedicated employee who has worked for the same employer for many years, yet you still may be susceptible to getting laid off. Sometimes getting laid off is inevitable, but rarely does a company lay off all of its workers. Usually, it retains those who are most valuable and offer the greatest benefit, sometimes at the least cost. Fortunately, there may be some things you can do to make the decision to lay you off a little harder.

A Side Note Before Reading the Article

Before you read further, you should take some time to decide whether you want to stay at your employment if given a choice. Keep in mind that the grass usually looks greener on the other side of the fence. If you’re married, ask your spouse how they feel towards your current employment. Are you stressed every night you come home and take out your frustrations on your kids? Are you finding fulfillment in what you do? Work can be hard, and not every day is a honeymoon. However, if you find yourself frustrated most days, and you’ve done everything on your part to not be part of the problem, but the solution, then it may be time to pursue another direction. It is a personal and weighty decision, and I would recommend seeking counsel from close friends and family before putting in your two-week notice. Remember, it may be better to water the grass on your side of the fence before hopping over to see how green it is on the other side. Sometimes your employment is out of your control, and this article is geared towards those who enjoy their current job and don’t want to be laid off if they can help it.

Signs of an Impending Layoff

It may not be obvious, but often there are signs that layoffs are looming. Try looking at your employer from the outside. Often, larger companies must file financial reports with the state and federal government securities offices. You may be able to glean some information on the financial health of your employer from these reports. For example, if the company has publicly traded stock, see if its price has dropped recently, especially compared to the stock of similar companies that have not experienced the same downward trend. Are there rumors in the press or within the industry that your employer is involved in a sale or merger?

More often than not, the most telling source of information is what you hear and observe from within the company. What’s the talk around the water cooler or in the lunchroom? Have any key employees left the company recently? Have key management positions changed? Has your department undergone recent budget cuts? Are the bosses meeting behind closed doors more frequently than usual? Has the company proposed or implemented cuts in employee benefits, such as a reduction in employer contributions to employee health insurance or retirement plans? Have you recently received any negative feedback on your job performance or on the performance of your department?

Before Protecting Your Job, Protect Yourself

In conjunction with trying to keep your job, be prepared to lose it. Think about who you might rely on for a good reference. Document your accomplishments, goals attained, and any ideas you promoted. Have your resume updated and ready. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date.

In addition, read your employee manual or other documentation to find out about severance policies, health and life insurance coverage, and retirement plans in which you participate. Is there a severance package; if so, do you qualify? Can you remain covered by your employer-sponsored health insurance? If you have company-provided life insurance, what happens to it if you get laid off? Are you vested in your retirement benefits? Can you roll over your defined benefit or pension plan to another employer’s plan or to an IRA? Are you eligible for unemployment payments; if so, at what rate and for how long? You should have answers to these questions and review this information periodically.

Make Yourself Relevant on the Job

Take a step back and evaluate your job performance. Honestly and objectively examine how well you do your job. Can you find ways where you could improve your output? Can you improve your skills on the job? What can you do better or faster?

One surefire way to separate yourself from the majority of your coworkers is to focus on work while you’re on the job. It sounds simple, but it’s easy to get distracted by activities unrelated to work. So instead of engaging in online shopping, gaming, and personal e-mails, try increasing your productivity by focusing your time on getting your assignments done. Especially if your employer is experiencing some difficulties, don’t get distracted by gossip and long lunches. Rather, try to do more to improve your performance.

Tip: Don’t be afraid of “showing up” your coworkers. Remember, if a layoff is inevitable, you’re trying to stand out from other employees, not blend in with them. By the same token, try to be helpful and maintain a good working relationship with your coworkers.

Another way to stand out is by continuing your education. Demonstrate that you’re trying to enhance your job skills by taking advanced courses, even if your employer isn’t paying for them. But if your company offers tuition assistance or programs to defray education costs, take advantage of those opportunities.

Standing out also means making yourself as visible within the company as possible. Attend staff meetings and company events, even if they’re not mandatory. Arrive on time and be prepared. Participate during staff meetings, even if it’s to express support for someone else’s idea or proposal.

You’ll also get noticed if you volunteer for tasks and projects whenever you can. Let your boss know you’re willing to assume more responsibilities and spend more time at your job. If your boss offers you extra tasks and responsibilities, seize that opportunity to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. And if there are no new assignments, come up with a project on your own. Make your boss look good. The more you know, the harder it will be to replace you.

And don’t shy away from discretely communicating your accomplishments. Update your boss on the progress you’re making with a new task or project.

If you interviewed for your job, you probably dressed in a manner befitting the position to which you were applying. Thereafter, your attire may have become more casual. While overdressing isn’t recommended, consider sprucing up your wardrobe with some new work clothes. Look well-groomed and ready to work. Sometimes a change in your work attire gives your bosses the perception of a new, reenergized employee.

Another way to keep your job is by working in a department that’s performing well. Depending on the size of your company, there may be some areas that are underperforming, while other sections are surging. Find out which departments are holding their own and which sections are lagging. If you’re in an area that’s performing up to par or better, now may not be the ideal time to ask for a change. But if you happen to work in an underperforming sector, try to be part of the solution and not the problem. Don’t complain about what’s not working; rather, try to figure out what you can do to enhance your department’s performance. In addition, offer to spend time working with growth segments–even if on a voluntary basis. If jobs open up in a department that’s prospering, consider making an internal move to that area if a position becomes available.

Finally, despite all your best efforts, if your boss tells you your job is on the chopping block, you may be able to keep your position by offering to take a pay cut or a reduction in hours. If the company really values your performance, it may be able to justify keeping you on at a reduced cost, allowing you to hang on until the company is in a better position to increase your pay or hours. Meanwhile, you can continue to work as you map out your strategy for a different job either with your current employer or with a new company.

If you get laid off anyway

Were your efforts to keep your job worth it? Probably yes. If nothing else, you’re more marketable now, with greater skills, accomplishments, and maybe even more training and education. Your job performance should garner you some favorable recommendations and reference letters from your former employer to help you land that next job. And who knows, you might even be rehired by your former employer.

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Source: Some of the material used comes from Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.

Your Retirement Journey- How It Compares To Climbing Mount Everest (Part 4 of 4)

May 27, 2020 by Tom Theodore, CFP®

Choice

Reading Time: 4 minutes

How to Choose Your Sherpa- A Retirement Guide Can Be Helpful

As a reminder from our previous blog, climbing Mount Everest successfully has been a goal of many people. Few have attempted it, and fewer still have done so successfully. Mt. Everest was first conquered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzig Norgay in 1953. Even though Nepal issued a record 381 permits in 2019, last year’s climbing season had a limited number of good weather days, leading many people to set out at once when the skies cleared and the winds seemed calm. Unfortunately, this caused crowding, and at least 11 people died last May, even though most were experienced trekkers.

After last year’s record deaths on Everest, people seem more aware of the importance of Norgay these days and that is entirely appropriate. Sherpa people are one of the ethnic groups native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal and the Himalayas. Many Sherpa are highly regarded as elite mountaineers and experts in their local area. They were immeasurably valuable to early explorers of the Himalayan region, serving as guides at the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region, particularly for expeditions to climb Mount Everest. Sherpas are renowned in the international climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at very high altitudes. It has been proven that part of the Sherpas’ climbing ability is the result of a genetic adaptation to living in high altitudes.

We believe the best Sherpas in the financial world are 100% fee-only fiduciary firms. Unlike brokers who make money based on commissions, fee-only fiduciary firms must act in clients’ best interest at all times and are paid only by their clients. Fee-only means they don’t sell products and are paid based on the assets that they manage. We believe this removes potential conflicts of interest and places them on the same side of the table as their clients. The Sherpas’ job is the explorer’s safety and well-being on the trek, not to sell you trekking gear.

For decades, Sherpas have guided explorers to the top of Mount Everest successfully, and they are responsible for safety, equipment, packing, and the camp. They not only have expertise but also circulatory systems which allow them to physically endure high altitude much easier than normal humans. Having a guide who can provide advice and recommendations can be the difference between life and death. Since climbers burn up to 15,000 calories and lose as much as 20% of their body weight, if a climber suffers unexpected equipment failure, then it is even more important to be extremely prepared. A combination of inexperienced climber and inexperienced guides is a formula for disaster. Bodies are seldom recovered….

There are those who would rather not have a guide as they climb Mount Everest. As of the date of this blog, four people have attempted to summit Mount Everest solo. Two were successful. Two died on Everest. With 50/50 odds, we think it best to have an experienced guide on the journey. We also think that do-it-yourself retirement is similarly foolish. Having an expert that prevents you from slipping and making a costly mistake that affects your entire retirement is worth having.

Just as successfully climbing Everest takes a lot of preparation, the same is true for retirement. Choosing the right guide and the right firm is key. The cheapest guide could end up as the most costly. Our ascent was building our careers, accumulating wealth, and perhaps raising a family. A slip can destroy all of this. Our descent is equally important and potentially equally treacherous. We need to safely finish this round trip adventure so we can start another ascent of our own choosing…

So we need a good plan, to choose the right route and the right guide. Preparedness is key, but the right sherpa is one who has helped others make that round trip successfully, so we have both a successful ascent AND descent.

For many years now, the DALBAR survey has proven that good advisors can add great value for investors. As your guide, or sherpa, we add value in a lot of different ways:

Portfolio Excellence. We locally manage all our portfolios with portfolio management expertise by an in-house Chartered Financial Analyst.
Planning Excellence. We custom design your financial plan along side you. We listen to your personal goals, risk tolerances, and time horizon(s).
Maximizing Time. We use real-time integration of your financial plan, your portfolio, and your risk tolerances.
Minimizing Fees. As an independent advisor, we strive to minimize all fees, including taxes.
Tax and Estate Planning. We have CPA backgrounds and CFP® experience that help us coordinate with your attorney or CPA.
Behavioral Coaching. We guide you through major life decisions and the inevitable emotional periods of bull and bear markets.

At this point in our lives, we can choose the peaks we want to climb. Let’s be sure and make a safe round trip so we can decide what to do in retirement, and not be required to do things we don’t want to do. Here are some of the topics we help our clients solve:

Social Security, retirement plans, pension options and choices;
Income planning and nest-egg distribution (how to not run out of money, income replacement, and budgeting);
Life and long-term care insurance;
Health and wellness;
Tax management and required minimum distributions (RMDs);
Managing debt (if you have it);
Lifestyle decisions;
Aging parents and other dependents;
Estate planning (How much is enough? How much should we leave our heirs? How do we decide who should get what?);
Housing decisions (Should we downsize?).

Intelligent Investing is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser (RIA) with a fiduciary responsibility to act in your best interest at all times. We are paid only one way–by our clients. Fee-only means we don’t sell any products and are paid based on the assets that we steward. This removes potential conflicts of interest in our advice and places us on the same side of the table as you. We put ourselves in your shoes for every decision we make.

We hope you have enjoyed our mini-blog series on the parallels between climbing Mount Everest and transitioning into Retirement.

To read our other blogs, click below: (NEED TO ADD HYPERLINKS)

The Slippery Slope of COVID-19 (Navigating the Bear Market)- Part 1 of 4
The Slippery Slope of COVID-19 (Beware: Avalanches Lie Ahead)- Part 2 of 4
The Slippery Slope of COVID-19 (The Incredible Cost to Climb Mount Everest)- Part 3 of 4

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Your Retirement Journey- How It Compares To Climbing Mount Everest (Part 3 of 4)

May 20, 2020 by Tom Theodore, CFP®

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Incredible Cost to Climb Mount Everest- Retirement is Very Expensive

Climbing Everest is expensive. The price range for a standard supported climb ranges from $28,000 to $85,000, and a fully custom climb will run over $115,000 Lots of companies offer climbs of Everest. At the lower end, extreme risk-takers can skimp by spending well under $20,000. When corners are cut when it comes to safety and preparedness, a herd mentality and overcrowded conditions have resulted.

Retirees often take many shortcuts, turning their retirement into a period of regrets. Why do incredibly disciplined professionals make bad decisions? After all, their successful career was not built on shortcuts. The answer is simple. Retirement calls for many one-time life decisions that few are qualified to be making. How do we get good at making decisions? Education and repetitive experience. The problem is, retirees have never gone through retirement before, so they can’t become experienced with making good decisions through repetition. At the same time, these retirees have salespeople pushing financial products (such as annuities) on them.

One shortcut we often see people make is to purchase an annuity they think will “guarantee” them income and remove their fears from market volatility. Unfortunately, the client may not understand the terms of the contract, and this can cost them dearly as there are often surrender periods and hidden fees inside these confusing products. At Intelligent Investing we may be able to provide an “annuity rescue” and would be happy to sit down with you to discuss your options.

There are two sides of Mt Everest, one in Nepal, one in Tibet. The southern route via Nepal is warmer, safer, and Nepal doesn’t limit the number of climbers. The alternate northern route via Tibet is cheaper, more dangerous, and Tibet limits the number of climbers. As in all choices, there are pros and cons.

When it comes to retirement, there are many paths to choose from. Some retirees think it best to “do-it-themselves” because it appears to be cheaper on the surface. Others think it best to purchase an annuity because it appears safer on the surface. However, cheaper and purchasing a murky product may not necessarily be in your best interests. Have you ever gone through retirement before? Have you ever advised other retirees through a successful retirement transition and pathway? Are you an expert when it comes to tax planning and the distribution phase of retirement?

In our next blog, we will cover the next parallel between climbing Mount Everest and transitioning into Retirement. To read about “How to Choose Your Sherpa,” click here.

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