SOCIAL SECURITY: THE DISTANT FUTURE IS HERE…

For a long time, the prospect that Social Security might have to fundamentally change in order to
continue operating as a safety net for all Americans was an issue for the “next generation” to resolve.. Now
it appears the future is here. And the only silver bullet most Americans have in their financial holsters is to
save more money – starting right now.

IF YOU EARNED $310,000 A YEAR, COULD YOU SURVIVE
A “FORCED RETIREMENT?”

“Forced retirement” is just another way of saying someone wants to work, but external events keep
them from doing so. This could be the result of a layoff, downsizing, health problem, etc. Most Americans,
whether they earn a lot of money (say, $310,000 in their first year on the job), or a little, are ill-equipped
to financially survive a forced retirement. This is a serious problem, because even a short period of forced
retirement – like 60 days – is enough to undo much of their financial progress.

ALSO… A FORCED RETIREMENT PROTECTION CHECKLIST

Four fundamental financial decisions that can make all the difference when you need to survive a forced
retirement.

ESTATE PLANNING FOR BLENDED FAMILIES –
RELEVANT IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES AND TODAY

The social norms of the 17th century colonists would not appear to have much in common with 21st century cultural standards, but there is one unique parallel: A concern for the equitable distribution of the property and estates of blended families.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, blended families now actually outnumber traditional nuclear families. For different reasons, blended families were also a prominent feature of the American colonies.

Many of the basic estate and inheritance issues from both eras are similar. The difference is the financial particulars of contemporary blended families are typically more complex and require much more documentation.