Traditional Stock Investing

 

Investing in stocks is one of the most lucrative option for anyone – when done right, it can help generate a lot of money. That said, many are hesitant to do so, at least in part due to a lack of understanding. Some common ideas that persistently surface for the topic of investing in stock markets are as follows:

Myth #1: Investing in stocks is the same as gambling

This is surprisingly the biggest reason why people tend to stay away from the stock market. Even though investing in the stock market is a science that requires thorough researching, appearances make it seem like it is a gambling ventures where people put in their money by making wild guesses.

In reality, this is completely false. A common stock share represents ownership in a company, giving the holder the rights to claim both assets and a percentage of the profits generated by the company. The problem happens when investors fall into the mental trap of thinking of shares as trading vehicle, that something that they own. Gambling, on the other hand, is a game with random actions and a random outcome. Essentially, it’s just taking money from someone and giving it to someone else on the basis of pure chance. There is no science to it.

Myth #2: The stock market is only meant for brokers and the rich

While there are a few market advisors who portray that investing in the stock market is ideal only for the wealthy and the knowledgeable, this could not be farther than the truth. It is true that the wealthy and the knowledgeable may a greater level of security and ability to mitigate if things go south, but that does not mean that others are not suitable to invest in the stock market, especially in today’s day and age. Thanks to the internet, ordinary people have a much more accessible market and far more information on their hands than earlier. In addition to this, robo-advisors and discount brokerages help people improve their financial status by investing in the market with minimal investment.

Myth #3: Fallen stocks do go back up

This is one of the most dangerous myths of the stock market, and one that many amateur and even some seasoned investors believe to be true. Many do believe that a previously well-running stock that has gone down will go back up again.

In reality this is only a dangerous illusion. Let’s explain this through an example:

• Stock A – a large company whose price per share had reached an all-time high of $100 but has recently fallen to $20
• Stock B – a comparatively smaller company whose price has steadily risen from $10 to $20

Many investors here would prefer to invest in the first option believing that the shares would eventually bounce back to normal. This kind of thinking is as good as trying to catch a falling knife – one would only end up getting hurt. Investors must bear in mind that investing, with its use of technical analysis differs greatly from trading. Price makes up a single part of the entire investing equation – buying companies exclusively on the basis of market price means nothing.

Myth #4: Stocks which go up must also go down

As accurate as the laws of physics are, they do not apply to the stock market. The gravitational force has no effect on stocks whatsoever – stocks go up or down due to internal and external financial and economic fluctuations. One of the biggest examples of stock that has always gone up is Berkshire Hathaway. In the 90s, Berkshire Hathaway’s stock price went from $7,455 to $17,250 per share in less than 5 years. Over 20 years later, their stock is still on the rise at $308,000 per share (as of February 2019). While it cannot be said that stocks on the up will always be on the up, there’s no guarantee that they will go down either – all of this is dependent on the company’s activities and its reflection in the market.

Myth #5: Have a limited amount of knowledge is okay

While it can be said that knowing something is better than knowing nothing, it is important for stock market investors to have a very clear understanding of the concepts involved in the stock market and to do their research and homework when it comes to knowing where they are investing their money. In case the investor does not have enough time to conduct an extensive amount of research, they must hire an advisor who would help them understand what they are doing with their money. While it may seem costly to do so, at the end of the day, it far outweighs the cost of investing in something with little understanding.

 

 

Owning and operating a business is no easy task, especially when the cash flow is on the low. While determination, talent and skill can and do make a difference, they are alone not enough to running the business at its best – as a business owner, you need to keep your finances running as well.

One of the best ways to keep yourself from getting shorthanded in the financial department is to invest in other areas. Here are some tips that can help you get started:

Invest in Penny Stocks

Basically, a penny stock is a common stock that can be bought from the market for less than one dollar. While it isn’t the most stable form of investment, it is a worthwhile one – especially for new investors – due to the extremely low amount that is required to invest. If you are new to investing, investing in penny stocks can help you nurture your skills as a beginner investor until you get used to it. Once you are accustomed, you can either experiment with more penny stocks or practice with other, more heavier types of investments.

Make Sure that your Investments Line-up with your Business Goals

To make the best from investments, small business owners must consider how their investments align with the business. As a small business owner, you must keep in mind that the whole goal of investing is to enhance the income earned by your company. You must know that in the event the investment does go south, you will end up losing the money invested, and in some cases may even end up with some kind of liability yourself. Such a situation is difficult to recover from.

While all situations can never be predicted, one can plan well to keep things from going south. For starters, before you make any sort of speculations, you must consolidate your business goals, planning, credit, and financing, and always make sure that the investment you make does not put the core of your business into any kind of dilemma. Additionally, you must always have an informed opinion and never treat investment as anything close to gambling.

Make Investments in Multiple Places

Making investments in multiple places has a very key benefit. Not putting all of your eggs in one investment basket protects you from having to suffer great losses in case any one of your investment ventures fall out. For instance, if a particular stock devalues, you will continue to gain profits from other stocks.

Invest in Mutual Funds

Every investment you make has a certain level of risk and return, and there must be a level of equilibrium between the numbers and overall experience of the investor. If you’re among the small business owners who are only starting out, you are better off making investments with a lower amount of risk. And that’s where mutual fund investments come in.

Large-sized mutual funds have hundreds of stocks that are combined in a single place, with a fund manager who adds money to the fund in order to increase its growth rate. In investments like these, the level of risk is very low, making it a suitable opportunity.

Don’t Use Leverages

While leverages do have a tendency of increasing your profits, they have an equally high chance of diminishing them as well. This makes it much like gambling, which is always bad news for you and your business. In case things do go bad (which happens when you do use leverages), the broker could issue a margin call, which would then need you to invest extra cash to level the deficit even.

Minimize Taxes and Fees

The process of selling and trading in a market often comes with hidden fees and taxes that you must consider, especially as a small business owner. If you don’t track these and keep them under control, these fees will climb up to as much as 30% of all profits, thereby making the whole purpose of increasing cash flow useless. Prior to making investments, you must take a close look at the taxes and fees involved to determine whether the fees are worth for the amount of risks you take.

 

Judging by the looks of it, the BP oil disaster (aka Deepwater Oil Spill), despite causing the destruction it did, doesn’t really have anything special about it. After all, it is neither the first nor the last oil spill in the US, and neither is it the largest or the worst by any measure – that spot goes to the Greenpoint Oil Spill, in which over 250 million gallons of oil and refined product was leaked into aquifers under the streets of Los Angeles by Chevron refinery leaked for quite a few decades until its discovery in the late 1970s. It has been estimated that cleaning the mess made by this oil spill will take another half a century to clean up.

However, if we take a closer look, these oil spills collectively cause – and cost – much more than one can imagine. Not to mention the unhealthy “addiction” we have when it comes to keeping the commodity under our control – as the future generations in smog-filled cities as losing up to 1% of their vital lung function annually and weather patterns all over the planet are getting altered by leaps and bounds, we’re waging trillion dollar wars in Iraq as an “exercise” to control more oil, leaving tar sands exposed in Canada, consuming much more energy to extract than deliver in fuel to our tanks, and over and above everything – not being bothered about finding ways of generating energy other than burning the earth’s limited fossilized remains.

From the looks of it, it seems like an endless situation where there’s nothing we can really do. But then, WE CAN.

Believe it or not, we do possess the power of relegate all these “current” events right to the past and let them be a part of the history books. And we can do that by harnessing the power of an idea that was once very instrumental in saving the world.

Back in World War II, Patriotic Americans in thousands had bought war bonds in order to finance the path to victory and end the global tyranny that was the Axis. Why not re-use this marvelous tool again, rechristen them (as “Freedom Bonds” and put an end to this new form of global tyranny that currently exists in our lives?

The logic behind Freedom Bonds is to have the Treasury issue “revenue bonds” and subsequently use the funds collected to build a series of compressed natural gas (CNG) and Hydrogen fueling stations, and electric car charging stations, as well as support infrastructure for utilities and companies and utilities to provide those clean transportation fuels to consumers. That’s not all the bonds can do though – these bonds can help pay for those who are willing to convert their existing gas/diesel vehicle to hydrogen or CNG (just about any bus, truck or car that runs on the road these days can be converted to run on them) and fund American automakers who want to re-tool their assembly lines and make newer, more eco-friendly models which run on cleaner alternatives. They can even be used to finance a variety of fleets of widely-used vehicles such as school buses, government fleets, municipal bus lines, and trash trucks, which have been converted to a more eco-friendly version.

Note, however, that these are “revenue bonds” – marvelous as this plan is, we have no intention on spending even a single taxpayer’s hard-earned dollar directly on them. We plan to “repay as we go,” by repaying the bonds with generous interest, from normal fuel surcharges added to the cost of each fuel. In order to kickstart this system, however, we do need a bond financing mechanism, as the early revenues will be low in comparison to the upfront costs (which will initially be significantly higher). With time and progress, however, these bonds will be repaid in full (with interest) by the future users of vehicles which run on cleaner and greener fuels.

All said and done, we don’t consider using the special T-bills to curb our oil-obsession and tragic spills as the most patriotic part of our plan – that is yet to come.

In addition to the aforementioned, all, i.e. 100% of the billions of dollars that will be used to fund Freedom Bonds will be entirely spent on improving the American job sector. By using the bonds to pay mechanics to convert vehicles, build clean fueling infrastructure, help premier car manufacturers make 21st Century trucks and cars, we will set into motion a one-of-a-kind series of investments which will reap benefits for years to come. Freedom bonds will help create and maintain full-time, permanent and secure jobs which will help America help itself and the rest of the world create innovative technologies which will go on to (positively) change the world and the way we see it.

Believe it or not, every single one of us, at some point or the other, looks at the sordid picture of the Gulf and longs to do something that can change the situation, only to realize that we, as common people are powerless. We know that the available oil is bound to run out soon, despite all the efforts being put in by governments and oil companies to acquire the next barrel for themselves.

Not anymore. Buy buying Freedom Bonds, we can help those in need by making a sound investment that will make this problem the last of its kind. Which makes this – here and now – the best time to buy them.

Any bond’s instrumental characteristic – which authenticates it and distinguishes it from any other – is the entity that has issued it, since as an investor you’re counting on that issuer to have your hard-earned money returned to you.

The following are the most commonly-used types of bonds:

– Investment-grade corporate bonds (high quality)

– Higher yielding corporate bonds (poor), referred to as “junk bonds”

– Bonds that are backed by a mortgage

– Foreign bonds

– Municipal bonds

– Treasury bonds

– Other U.S. government bonds

Investment-grade corporate bonds

Carrying ratings that are at least triple-B from Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s – or both (For the ignorant: ratings go with triple-A being the highest, followed by Double-A, Single-A, Triple-B and so forth), investment-grade corporate bonds are issued by financing institutions or companies which have stronger balance sheets.

Although the risk of such bonds defaulting is considered very remote, their yields still score much higher than both agency and Treasury bonds, despite the fact that they are fully taxable – like most other agencies. These bonds, however, tend to underperform Treasuries and agencies during times of economic downturns.

High-yield bonds

Generally carrying ratings below triple-B, high-yield bonds are issued by financing institutions or companies which have weaker balance sheets. The prices of these bonds are directly related to the health of corporate balance sheets. These bonds tend to track stock prices more closely than their investment-grade counterparts. According to Steve Ward, Chief Investment Officer of Charles Schwab Corporation, high-yield bonds do not provide the kind of asset-allocation benefits that come with mixing high-grade stocks and bonds.

Mortgage-backed bonds

These bonds have a higher face value as opposed to other bonds ($25,000 for such as opposed to $1,000-$5,000 for others). They do, however, suffer from what is called “prepayment risk.” The value of such bonds drop as mortgage prepayments rise to a higher rate – which is why they do not reap rewards from declining interest the way other bonds do.

Foreign bonds

A rather complicated kind of bond, foreign bonds are of different types. While there are some which are dollar-denominated, most foreign bond funds have approximately 1/3rd of their assets in foreign-currency-denominated debt (Source: Lipper).
For foreign bonds that are denominated by foreign currency, the issuing party makes a promise to pay in fixed interest — and thereafter return the principal amount in a different currency. The size of said payments once they get converted into dollars depends on the prevalent rates of exchange. For instance, if the dollar proves to be stronger than the foreign currency, foreign interest payments get converted into smaller dollar amounts (and vice versa).

The performance of a foreign bond fund depends more on exchange rates than on interest rates.

Municipal bonds

Popularly known as “munis,” municipal bonds are issued by U.S. states and local governments and their sub-agencies. They are available in investment-grade as well as in high-yield varieties. Although interest for such bonds is indeed tax-free, it does not automatically translate to be being beneficial for everyone. This is due to the fact that taxable yields end up being higher as compared to muni yields in order to compensate investors for the taxes.

Treasury bonds

Backed fully by taxing authorities, treasury bonds are issued by the federal government in order to finance the budget deficits. Due to having Uncle Sam’s full and official approval, such bonds are regarded as credit-risk free. They do have a critical downside, however, which is the fact that their yields tend to be the second lowest – just above tax-free munis.

However, they tend to outperform higher-yielding bonds during economic downturns, not to mention the fact that the interest on them is exempt from certain state income taxes.

Other U.S. government bonds

Alternatively known as agency bonds, these are normally supplied by federal agencies such as mainly Ginnie Mae (the Government National Mortgage Association) and Fannie Mae (FNM) (the Federal National Mortgage Association). Differing significantly from the mortgage-backed securities that are issued by the same agencies, as well as by Freddie Mac (FRE) (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.), the yield coming from such bonds are significantly higher than their Treasury counterparts. While they don’t have the full approval of the U.S. government at large, the credit risk for these bonds is considered minimal-to-none. Interest on such bonds is taxable at state as well as federal levels.

Generally speaking, bonds which don’t require too much investment (such as municipal bonds) are ideal for investors. That said, every investor and their portfolio have different kinds and combination of requirements. As an investor, you must consider all the advantages and disadvantages of municipal bonds in order to judge their appropriateness for your portfolio.

The following are the key advantages of municipal bonds:

Interest gained from Municipal bonds is mostly exempt from federal, state and even local income taxes:

Generally, an investor’s marginal tax bracket is the instrumental factor in deciding whether or not to invest in municipal bonds.

As an investor, it is always a good practice to first compare the yield of a muni bond with any comparable taxable bond’s after-tax yield. In order to do so, you must calculate the taxable equivalent yield of the muni bond. And in the event that the municipal bond you plan to invest in is not issued in the state of your residence, you should make the requisite calculation by equaling the taxable equivalent yield with the tax-exempt interest rate divided by one minus the marginal tax bracket. For example, if you are planning to invest in a municipal bond that has a yield of 4.5%, and your tax bracket is 25%, the taxable equivalent yield will end up being 6.0% (obtained by dividing 4.5% with 1 and then subtracting 25% from the same).

Municipal Bonds are available in a variety of choices:

Given that there are over 1.5 million outstanding issues of municipal bonds, one can easily determine the fact that bonds with all sorts of characteristics and combinations are available for investors to choose from.

Municipal bonds have high credit ratings in general:

While there are very few cases of municipal bonds defaulting, it is not entirely unheard of. As an investor, therefore, you must take the time to carefully review the credit quality before you go ahead and invest. In such situations, sticking with investment grade ratings is a good idea, since it indicates that the issuer is financially stable and therefore is unlikely to default.

As is the case with every type of bond, muni bonds too have some key disadvantages:

They cannot work with every portfolio-type:

Generally speaking, munis are not ideal for tax-advantaged plans such as 401(k) and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). This is due to the fact that municipal bond interest is exempt from federal income taxes, which means that you as an investor won’t gain anything by placing the bond in a tax-advantaged medium. On the contrary, the interest income, when withdrawn will be subjected to normal income taxes.

Municipal bonds can be redeemed even before they mature:

Having call provisions gives the issuer the power to redeem muni bonds before they mature. That said, the precise provisions vary from one type of muni bond to the other.

As an investor, you should review the provisions very thoroughly before you purchase a bond. Although doing so won’t allow you to stop an issuer if and/or when they make a call provision, it does allow you to purchase bonds with call provisions that are the best for you.

Usually, early redemptions occur when the market interest rates are lower than the interest rate of the bond. While you will the principal and maybe even a premium, the money will have to be reinvested later during a time when the interest rates are lower than what is paid on the original bonds.

Muni bonds remain subject to select taxes:

Although muni bonds are usually exempt from federal (and sometimes even state and local) income taxes, selling the bond prematurely can – and does often result in taxable gains. Furthermore, some bonds pay interest income that is subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

Additionally, one should also consider local and State taxes in the event that the muni bond has not been issued in the state of your residence.

Are you one of the many people who are still holding on to their old Savings Notes (Freedom Shares), H or HH bonds, or E bonds? Maybe now is the time when you can actually do something with those. After all, those bonds no longer earn interest and perhaps are (or are on their way to) causing you tax problems. In fact, you’d be surprised to know that the United States Treasury Dept. says that there are current outstanding U.S. savings bonds that don’t earn interest are collectively worth over $12 billion!

Which brings us to the most important question – how can one know if their bonds belong to this category – and if it does, then what can be done about it?

The best way to find out is to check your old bonds. Originally known as E Bonds, these were issued by the federal government began since the mid-1930s. Issued in a variety of denominations, they were mostly bought by citizens at a 75 percent of face value discount. In simpler terms, an individual paid $75 to buy a $100 bond.

The federal government ceased issuance of E Bonds from June 1980 and replaced them with EE bonds. These bonds calculate the earned interest a bit differently from E bonds, with investors buying then at half of their face value and receiving interest from them bonds once they redeem the bonds.

The bonds keep earning interest till their ‘original maturity’ (i.e. the point when the original price paid for a particular bond and the accumulated interest equal the bond’s face value. Interest payments, however, can – and are extended automatically beyond that point (generally for a ten-year-period), till the time the bond reaches its ultimate maturity, after which it is unable to earn any interest.

This is often where things get difficult. Since actual final maturity dates often vary from bond-to-bond, so it can be confusing. Take as an example, the E bonds which were issued from May 1941. Originally matured as of November 1965, these bonds had 40 years till they reached final maturity. Today, almost all of them are no longer earning interest. Contrastingly, E bonds which were issued from December 1965 and reached original maturity by June 1980, have just 30 years till they reach final maturity. As of today, all E bonds that were issued until April 1975 no longer earn interest. As for EE Bonds – they too reach final maturity in 30 years from their original maturity. Given that none of them are older than July 1980, it is only a matter of a couple of years before they cease earning interest.

Savings Notes, also known as Freedom Shares, were all issued between May 1967 and October 1970, when the Vietnam War was at its height. Much like their Like E/EE counterparts, they were sold at a discount and the interest was deferred until redemption. They too had 30 years to reach final maturity do not earn interest any more.

H and HH bonds, however, are a bit different from the aforementioned. Bought by investors at face value, these bonds pay out interest semiannually and in cash. H Bonds were first issued by the government from June 1952 through January 1957. These reached final maturity in 29 years and 8 months. H bonds issued from January 1957 till the introduction of HH bonds in January reach final maturity in 30 years. As of today, H bonds issued till April 1975 no longer earn interest. That said, HH bonds, which were stopped by the government since August 2004, reach final maturity in just 20 years. Additionally, all HH bonds which are more than 20 years old must be cashed in order to retrieve the face value i.e. the original investment.

TAX IMPLICATIONS ON VARIOUS BONDS:

While there are no state and local taxes levied on savings bonds, one does have to pay federal taxes at the rate of ordinary income taxes.

H or HH bondholders, on the other hand, have to pay taxes on the interest that they receive annually; buyers need not pay when they redeem the last payment (which is actually a return of the principal amount).

With E and EE bonds and Savings Notes, however, bondholders will have to pay taxes on the accumulated interest either when they redeem them, or when the bonds reach final maturity (and have not been redeemed). Said interest income is taxable for the year of final maturity or redemption – whichever is applicable.

In case the bondholder ends up missing this particular time period, and have only recently realized that the E Bonds that they have at home matured years back, they will need to file an amended tax return and might also be subject paying interest and a late penalty. It is always advisable for people in this situation to speak to their financial or tax advisor first.

Any bond investor must have any and all of their investments well-suited to the objectives of the investment, degree of risk tolerance, as well as other personal circumstances. By referring to the following guide and keeping all factors in check, investors can determine the role their bonds have in their portfolio:

#1: Overall objectives of investment

Investors who value growth and have little to no concern for income are looking for better appreciation of capital. Bonds which fulfill such criteria won’t have a major role in their portfolios.

Total return investors, on the other hand need both capital appreciation and income generation in well-balanced proportions. Bonds, therefore, will have a more important place in their portfolios.

Income investors, who prioritize dividend or interest income over capital appreciation, will have bonds playing a very important role in their portfolios.

#2: Time Frame of Investment

The time period in which an investor needs the principal should be instrumental in the process of selecting bonds. Usually the yield increases with the lengthening of the maturity date. In fact, it is this reason why investors tend to purchase bonds that have long maturity dates – so that they can get higher yields.

The investor, however, must be very careful when using that strategy. In the event that they do purchase a long-term bond – and thereafter sell it before it matures, the market value of the bond can get severely affected by changes in interest rate. While it is impossible to control changes interest rate changes, it is certainly possible for investors to curb the effects of said changes by choosing bonds whose maturity dates lie closest to when the principal is required.

#3: Risk tolerance

Usually, the risk is greater when the return on the bond is high. This is exactly the reason why U.S. Treasury securities (considered to be some of the most stable and risk-proof bonds) carry lower rates of interest than their corporate or municipal counterparts. Before purchasing a bond, investors must be absolutely sure to have completely understood all risks involved.

#4: Desire to minimize income taxes

While income generated from U.S. Treasury securities is exempt from local and state income taxes, it is still subject to federal income taxes. Income generated from municipal bonds is totally exempt from federal income taxes and exempt from state and local income taxes – if the investor is a resident of the issuing state. Income from corporate bonds, however, is subject to both state and federal income taxes.

Investors who invest in bigger bonds generally tend to find ways to have their interest tax-exempted. Investors should, however, know that income tax exemption is exclusively applicable to interest income; any capital gained by selling a bond will still be subjected to income taxes.

#5: Personal Factors

The following personal variables should be taken into consideration when purchasing a bond. Any investor must make sure that the bond they are investing in fulfills these basic criteria by adeqautely answering the following questions:

• What is the price of the bond?
• Is the bond insured?
• What is the credit rating of the bond?
• What is the yield-to-maturity?
• What is the maturity of the bond?
• Does the bond have call provisions?
• What is the coupon rate?
• How is the bond’s interest income taxed?

The role that the bond will play in an investor’s portfolio will be totally dependent on the answers to the above questions.

So, you’ve been working hard and saving well for all of your professional life and are now on the threshold of retirement. Needless to say, the time for you now is to actually enjoy all that you’ve wanted to do so far.

Before you jump on the retirement bandwagon, however, you must ensure that your savings and post-retirement earnings are enough to last for the rest of your life – all while factoring the ups and downs of the market, unprecedented expenses, inflation, and of course, longevity.

However, it’s not as daunting as it may sound at the moment. By remembering the following key factors when making your post-retirement income strategy, you can make your life a smooth and easy one – with no worries of having to come out of retirement to earn. Ever.

#1: Longevity

Thanks to advancement in science and technology, the mortality rates have down a lot. This makes it quite likely for healthy 65-year-olds today to live until their 90s – or at least their 80s. And if one goes by currently available data, longevity expectations will only serve to increase in the coming future.

This implies that the possibility of people living for 30 years or more after retirement is pretty commonplace. And that needs an equal amount of income to boot. If you do not plan out your strategy thoughtfully, you may just end up outliving your savings and having to come out of retirement, or worse, living on Social Security as a source of income (Given that the average Social Security benefit is around $1,296 a month, one can say that it isn’t enough to cover all needs).

#2: Inflation

Just because the current rate of inflation is low, doesn’t mean that it won’t fluctuate. Even if it doesn’t, it will surely have a powerful impact over a long time – say, 20-30 years. This can – and does – have a profound effect on retirees, who unlike their younger, working counterparts do not have the option of relying on raises and incentives.

A lower rate of inflation too can have a profound impact on the purchasing power of a retiree. For instance, an inflation rate of 2% would turn what is $50,000 today into $30,477 25 years from now. Looking at this in another way, if you bought something by spending $50,000 today, you would have to shell out $82,030 to purchase the same thing 25 years from now. It is therefore important that you make your plans early and put into factor the effects of inflation in order to be able to maintain your current lifestyle.

#3: Market volatility

Ups and downs of the market can be extremely unsettling when a retiree who is banking upon living comfortably on a fixed amount for the rest of your life. No matter what the circumstances you will need stocks for growth potential, both when you’re saving for retirement and when you have actually retired. By default, the assets you have should be able to last you a minimum of 30 years.

#4: The Amount of Money Withdrawn

Now this one is a no-brainer – no matter how inflation- or market-proof your savings are, they won’t last long if you draw too much. On the other hand drawing too little (mostly out of fear of your savings diminishing) will have an adverse effect on your lifestyle and psychology.

A sound retirement income plan includes recommendations on the amount of money that you can safely withdraw from your savings and still have the confidence in the fact that you won’t run out of money. Believe it or not, planning in this area (or lack thereof) can have a dramatic effect on how long your assets will last.

Elements of a Sound Retirement Income Plan

Now that you know the factors you must consider when preparing a retirement income plan, you should know the various important elements that make a good one.

The following are the basics of a sound income plan for retirement:

#1: Guaranteed income that will take care of daily expenses

The first thing your plan should fully cover is your daily expenses. This covers all the non-negotiable requirements that you have as a human being housing, clothes, food, health care and utilities. Not only should this income be able to last for the rest of your lifetime (30 years or more), it should have sources of income that are stable and do not easily get swayed by external factors.

Generally, there are 3 main sources of guaranteed income:

– Social Security: For most, this acts as a base of income post-retirement. When and how you take money from here has a profound impact on your retirement. While it may be tempting to start taking the money the moment you are eligible (generally at 62 years of age), it can prove to be costly later. Starting at 62 instead of waiting till you reach full retirement age (FRA) will lead to reduced monthly benefits.

– Pensions: While pensions were very common in the past, that is no longer the case. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor says that only 14% workers today have a proper pension plan to speak of. In the event that you fall among them, you must decide on how you would like to draw the money – as a monthly payment or as a lump sum. In case you are not among the 14%, you can follow certain paths that will allow you to make a pension-like stream of income.

– Annuities: Basically, an annuity is a contract made with an insurance company that pays you a set income in return for an up-front investment that you made. This payment can either be made over the rest of your life or over a set period of time, and is unaffected by market upheavals. Fixed income annuities are of several types, such as a deferred income annuity, immediate income annuity, and fixed deferred annuity with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB).

#2: Growth potential that can fulfill long-term requirements

Aside from the daily, non-negotiable expenses, you will also have other expenses that will cater to your hobbies and dreams (for which you will have time) – such as pursuing a new hobby or going on a vacation or buying a boat. When you construct your income plan, you must make sure that it includes investments that have a potential to grow and try to keep up with the rates of inflation and meet these demands. A good practice in this regard is to use your investment portfolio and pay for these discretionary expenses. That way, you could easily cut back in case the market suffered a sudden downfall.

Having a mixed bag of cash, bonds and stocks, that work according to your frame of time, financial position, and market tolerance is a very good place to start. You must execute your strategy carefully though, because while a conservative strategy will lead you to miss out on the growth potential of stocks in the long-term, a plan that is too aggressive may lead to you taking far too many undue risks – which could prove very costly when the market becomes volatile.

#3: Flexibility that can help you refine your plan with the passage of time as much as possible

Quite obviously, the more flexible your plan is, the better it will perform. As a rule of thumb, your plan must be able to adapt to any curveballs it may get. Plenty of things in can happen after you retire – both good and bad – while you may get an inheritance, you may also experience a sudden medical emergency or have your parents move in. If and when such things happen, you must have a plan in place that can cushion you against the financial hardships that you will have to suffer otherwise.

One good practice that helps in this regard is to have income from different sources. Not only will this create a more diversified stream of income during retirement, it will also help you protect yourself against some very important risks like longevity, emergencies, inflation, and fluctuations.

Take for instance, a plan that includes a combination of taking withdrawals and income annuities. While the former is not guaranteed to stay for life, it does offer the chance to control how much money you can withdraw each month. The downside to this is that the money might just run out if you draw too much, live a long life or if the market hits a sudden low. Income annuities, on the other hands are not flexible and have very little potential to grow, but act as a guaranteed source income that will stay for life

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To Conclude…

It’s a given fact that everyone’s situation – both financial and social is unique, and there is no “one foolproof income strategy” that will suit the requirements of all investors. You must therefore, identify your own situation and requirements, determine the need of growth potential, and then plan a strategy that will best suit your life as a retiree.

To make things easier, you can try following these six easy steps to create a basic yet strong income plan that will serve you well once your retire – and will last as long as you live:

Step #1: Study your lifestyle and situation and make financial as well as personal goals

Step #2: Plan a basic retirement income strategy in order to determine how long your current savings will last, and how you can successfully extend this period while maintaining your lifestyle

Step #3: Determine the following factors

– When you should take the help of Social Security
– The portion of your investment portfolio that you want allocated to a contingency fund, protection, and growth potential
– How your investment portfolio will be managed and who will do the managing

Step #4: Execute your strategy with the right combination of savings and income-producing investments, which will serve to balance your investment priorities and financial requirements

Step #5: Review your savings and investments regularly with an investment professional and always make an effort to refine your portfolio so that to suit your personal and financial requirements.

Step #6: Don’t forget to enjoy your retirement and live your dreams!

Savings Notes/Freedom Shares were a kind of promotion which were issued between May 1967 and October 1970. Introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in February 21, 1967, SN/FS were offered to help serve the dual purpose of funding the rising costs of the Vietnam War (by increasing sales of U.S. Treasury) and helping citizens save their money and secure their future.

Issued on a discount of 81% of the face amount (for instance, a SN/FS with $100 face value was purchased for $81.00), Savings Notes/Freedom Shares were sold exclusively with Series E bonds and had an original maturity term of 4½ years. They were available in denominations from $25 all the way up to a $10,000 maximum size. These non-transferable, definitive security bonds reach their ultimate maturity after thirty years from the date issued.

Interest earned on savings note should be reported for Federal income tax purposes for the year in which the note gets redeemed, is disposed of, or reaches final maturity – whichever comes first. The note owner too can choose to report earned interest as it accrues annually; however, this decision must apply to all the accrual-type securities of the owner.

When the savings note is redeemed, interest on the same is paid as part of the current redemption value. Those savings notes which are unredeemed and/or un-matured accrue interest at the guaranteed minimum investment yield or a variable, market-based rate (like Series E and EE bonds) – whichever is higher. A savings note could be redeemable with a financial institution or The Federal Reserve Bank during any time.