Planning for the Longest “Vacation” of Your Life

Provided by Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. and Steve Perry

At any time during the year, you might find yourself dreaming of vacation plans. You start thinking about your destination, where you’ll stay, and what you’ll see and do when you get there. The list goes on and on, and it may take weeks for you to fine-tune all the details and make sure you have the plans in place to ensure a wonderful trip.

Now, after thinking about the time it takes to plan that wonderful vacation, ask yourself a question – how much time have you put into planning for your retirement? Then remember that while vacations might last a matter of days, or even weeks (if you’re one of the lucky ones), your retirement can go on for 30 years or more! In addition, unlike those last-minute vacation deals that pop up online from time to time, retirement plans require time to take shape and develop.

Many of us tend to put off retirement planning probably because we fear the unknown and may be intimidated by the planning process. And let’s not forget good old-fashioned procrastination. In our busy lives, many of us believe we’ll start the all-important planning tomorrow – or the next day – or maybe next week. You get the picture. • Investment strategy – Considering how many years you have until retirement, how aggressive or conservative do you need to be in order to meet your goals?

These are just a few of the questions that you’ll need to ask yourself to get the planning process started. Once you’ve pulled together this information, it’s time to put it to work. If you’re a “do-ityourselfer”, you can access retirement calculators online that will walk you through the process and ultimately help you determine if you’re heading in the right direction.

Another valuable resource is to sit down with an investment professional that will take your information and come up with a strategy. These meetings are conducted face-to-face or over the phone and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. During the meeting your advisor will ask you many of the same questions outlined above and will also be able to review your current investments and make recommendations that will help you work toward your goals.

Finally, it’s important to review and update your plan at least annually. Just as life changes, our investment needs and strategies change too.

So, get started. Face the challenge head on and have a little fun with it. You might be surprised at what you have accomplished already. And just as you don’t want to arrive at your dream vacation destination without a hotel room, if you discover you still have work to do on retirement, better to find that out today and change course.

Surprisingly, it is not that difficult to get the ball rolling and the process started. It all begins by asking yourself (and your spouse) some basic questions in a few different areas:

• Years to retirement – At what age do you expect or would you like to retire? • Income needs – Estimate what your annual income needs will be once you have retired. Don’t forget to consider your housing arrangements. Do you plan on living in your current home or will you be buying that retirement home in Florida, or some other location? • Evaluate your current savings – How much have you put aside so far for the future? • Take a look at Social Security and any pension income you might receive – Have you forgotten to include any other income that you will earn once you have retired? • Contribution amount – How much you’ll need to put away each year to reach your retirement goals? This article is provided by Steve Perry, a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. in Highlands, North Carolina, and was prepared by or in cooperation with Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. The information included in this article is not intended to be used as the primary basis for making investment decisions nor should it be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security. Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. does not endorse this organization or publication. Consult your investment professional for additional information and guidance. Benjamin F. Edwards does not provide tax or legal advice.

Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., Member SIPC and FINRA

Steve Perry is a Senior Vice President-Investments and Branch Manager at the Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., Inc. office in Highlands, North Carolina. He has been in the business since the 1980’s. He can be reached at 828-526-3535, 855-526-3535 or by email at steve.perry@benjaminfedwards.com.

Virtually all of the food grown on huge corporate farms in other parts of the country is sold immediately into national and overseas markets. That is not the case in Rabun County. Due to the growing farm-to-table demand of consumers and restaurants, a significant portion of the food produced in Rabun County remains here...just like it did in earlier times. Farm Family at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Learn more about our history by becoming a member of the Rabun County Historical Society. Membership and complete information about the Society are available at www.rabunhistory.org. You also can visit us on Facebook. Our museum at 81 N. Church St. in downtown Clayton currently is closed while undergoing an extensive renovation. However, the building is open from noon to 3 on Saturdays for people interested in researching county and family histories. The Society is a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making your membership dues and donations fully tax deductible.