The Future of Retirement
Past generations had the challenge of reaching retirement age. After a life that for many was very different than what we have experienced, this was easier said than done. The experiences of a life of true hardships in many cases left a much shorter window of time to enjoy ones retirement years.
Today thoughts of retirement can focus on independence, comfort, reinventing one self, fulfilling dreams or service to others.
The advantages of our standard of living have created opportunities and challenges that were not common for earlier generations.
The most notable is planning for a thirty year retirement. During ones retirement years you could see your cost of living triple. Most experts agree that one of the major challenges for current and future retirees are not to outlive their assets. Some reasons for outliving their assets are due to under estimating the time span of retirement, short falls in initial funding and not properly planning to counter the effects of an ever rising cost of living.
A comprehensive financial plan allows you to help plan for the expected and unexpected situations that will take place. A comprehensive financial plan will help you maintain control over your own independence and help to provide a basis for making prudent financial decisions.
Average Cost of Goods in 1980 | Average Cost of Goods in 2013 | ||
Average Cost of New Home | $68,700 | Average Cost of New Home | $270,200 |
Average Income Per Year | $19,500 | Average Income Per Year | $ 48,872 |
Average Cost of Gallon of Gas | $ 1.19 | Average Cost of Gallon of Gas | $ 3.28 |
Average Cost of New Car | $ 7,200 | Average Cost of New Car | $ 32,890 |
Average Cost of Gallon Milk | $ 2.16 | Average Cost of Gallon Milk | $3.50 |
Average Cost of First Class Stamp | $ .15 | Average Cost of First Class Stamp | $ .46 |
Ten Year Treasury December 1980 | 12.84%* | Ten Year Treasury December 2013 | 2.35%* |
Dow Jones Industrial Average Year End 1980 | 963 | Dow Jones Industrial Average Year End 2013 | 16,576 |
Out of PocketCost For Consumers In Employer Based Healthcare Coverage Paid 79% More In
2003 Than They Did In 1996 **
* U S Treasury
** AETNA