Think about it. Newborn babies keep their parents up all night. Knowing your adult child has a sizeable nest egg means being able to sleep soundly. And chances are you’ll spend your waking hours with less stress, too. Teaching your children to save early for retirement can achieve this healthy (and wealthy) goal. There’s no reason why financial professionals should be the only parents who know this little secret.
Education

Ary Rosenbaum’s latest book tells the story of the modern retirement era through the lens of classic movie sequels, but it’s his own unique experiences that tell the real story. Here’s a taste.

“Retirement savers must maintain long-term orientation regarding their assets. Supply and demand shock and generally easy to identify and often temporary in nature. These shocks often bring out the worst in decision making for investors. Astute investors will want to recognize this for what it’s worth: the opportunity to stand athwart the crowds in the market and purchase at cut-rate prices.”

If it is true the fear of loss motivates people more than the offer of a gain, then the traditional 401k company match framework is designed improperly. Currently, employees are promised a reward for contributing in their 401k plan. Think of this as the carrot urging people to save for their retirement. What if, instead of using a carrot, plan sponsors reframe the “match” in terms of a stick?

If you are an active member of the gig economy, you don’t need to wait for Congress to act to start saving for retirement. You can begin saving right now. And, depending on your specific situation, you may just be able to save faster than you think.

A family that plays together, saves together. Establishing a Child IRA benefits the next generation. Given its tremendous power, the Child IRA remains one of the most under-appreciated retirement savings tools available. In the remaining chapters, we’ll present a virtual “how-to” manual that shows how different groups of people can implement and enjoy the advantages of the IRA.

Long-term investors like retirement savers can easily act like a fiduciary for their own assets. All they need to do is look in a mirror – but not for their own reflection. Look in a mirror a retirement professional is looking into and see how that reflection invests for retirement.