Series 65: 5.2.2.1 Retirement

5.2.2.1  Retirement

Few financial goals are simultaneously as important and as intimidating as planning for retirement. With the average American retiring in his mid-60s and living until his mid-80s, a retiree may face twenty or more years without a regular paycheck, maybe even more for folks with good genetics and a bit of luck. To make matters worse, most people currently in the workforce do not have a company pension (defined benefit plans) and are skeptical about the strength of Social Security. In short, many customers and prospective customers will identify the need to accumulate assets for retirement as one of their primary financial goals.

Meeting this goal requires a careful balancing of growing a client’s money while not exposing it to undue risks that could reduce her chances of retiring comfortably. It also means making sure a client’s money grows at a rate that is faster than inflation, as well as making su