NavStar Currents

Do you remember how you felt in 2008 watching your investment portfolio decline?

Most folks do. It wasn't a happy time, especially for retirees. Many saw their portfolio's go south as much as half it's value! 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Is this the only way to grow assets and have security during retirement? Absolutely not!

I'm always amazed when I meet folks in their 70's and 80's who still have 80% of their portfolio in high risk stocks. Inevitably, they tell me, "well, where else am I going to get growth?" I'd like to go on record here and now by saying that, in my opinion, a 70 year old retiree needs to be more concerned with income than growth. That's why my first goal, if possible, is to reproduce the income you had when you were working in a guaranteed income stream that isn't dependent on the market, or subject to loss. That's happiness! Then, once that base is covered we'll try to grow the remainder, and perhaps take a little more risk. But the Wall Street system doesn't want you thinking that way.

Are you any better off than you were a year ago? 10 years ago?

Everyone remembers 2008. There was a nasty period from September of 2008 through February of 2009 where the value of the S&P 500 drew down over 50%! Many who were on the verge of retirement had to rethink their plans, while others who were already retired discovered that they needed to take a much larger percentage of their nest-egg to keep the same level of income.

Let's fast-forward to now. The first six weeks of 2016 was the worst start to a new year in the history of Wall Street. 4th Quarter 2018 was very ugly. My opinion is that most investors have no idea as to how much risk their broker is exposing them to. When it comes to investment advice, are you happy with the guidance you've been getting? In the interests of prudence and common sense, I'd like to suggest some questions you should consider.

Do you remember how you felt in 2008 watching your investment portfolio decline?

Most folks do. It wasn't a happy time, especially for retirees. Many saw their portfolio's go south as much as half it's value! 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Is this the only way to grow assets and have security during retirement? Absolutely not!

I'm always amazed when I meet folks in their 70's and 80's who still have 80% of their portfolio in high risk stocks. Inevitably, they tell me, "well, where else am I going to get growth?" I'd like to go on record here and now by saying that, in my opinion, a 70 year old retiree needs to be more concerned with income than growth. That's why my first goal, if possible, is to reproduce the income you had when you were working in a guaranteed income stream that isn't dependent on the market, or subject to loss. That's happiness! Then, once that base is covered we'll try to grow the remainder, and perhaps take a little more risk. But the Wall Street system doesn't want you thinking that way.

Are you any better off than you were a year ago? 10 years ago?

Everyone remembers 2008. There was a nasty period from September of 2008 through February of 2009 where the value of the S&P 500 drew down over 50%! Many who were on the verge of retirement had to rethink their plans, while others who were already retired discovered that they needed to take a much larger percentage of their nest-egg to keep the same level of income.

Let's fast-forward a bit. The first six weeks of 2016 was the worst start to a new year in the history of Wall Street. 4th Quarter 2018 was very ugly. My opinion is that most investors have no idea as to how much risk their broker is exposing them to. When it comes to investment advice, are you happy with the guidance you've been getting? In the interests of prudence and common sense, I'd like to suggest some questions you should consider.

Do you remember how you felt in 2008 watching your investment portfolio decline?

Most folks do. It wasn't a happy time, especially for retirees. Many saw their portfolio's go south as much as half it's value! 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Is this the only way to grow assets and have security during retirement? Absolutely not!

I'm always amazed when I meet folks in their 70's and 80's who still have 80% of their portfolio in high risk stocks. Inevitably, they tell me, "well, where else am I going to get growth?" I'd like to go on record here and now by saying that, in my opinion, a 70 year old retiree needs to be more concerned with income than growth. That's why my first goal, if possible, is to reproduce the income you had when you were working in a guaranteed income stream that isn't dependent on the market, or subject to loss. That's happiness! Then, once that base is covered we'll try to grow the remainder, and perhaps take a little more risk. But the Wall Street system doesn't want you thinking that way.

Are you any better off than you were a year ago? 10 years ago?

Everyone remembers 2008. There was a nasty period from September of 2008 through February of 2009 where the value of the S&P 500 drew down over 50%! Many who were on the verge of retirement had to rethink their plans, while others who were already retired discovered that they needed to take a much larger percentage of their nest-egg to keep the same level of income.

Let's fast-forward to now. The first six weeks of 2016 was the worst start to a new year in the history of Wall Street. 4th Quarter 2018 was very ugly. My opinion is that most investors have no idea as to how much risk their broker is exposing them to. When it comes to investment advice, are you happy with the guidance you've been getting? In the interests of prudence and common sense, I'd like to suggest some questions you should consider.

Do you remember how you felt in 2008 watching your investment portfolio decline?

Most folks do. It wasn't a happy time, especially for retirees. Many saw their portfolio's go south as much as half it's value! 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Is this the only way to grow assets and have security during retirement? Absolutely not!

I'm always amazed when I meet folks in their 70's and 80's who still have 80% of their portfolio in high risk stocks. Inevitably, they tell me, "well, where else am I going to get growth?" I'd like to go on record here and now by saying that, in my opinion, a 70 year old retiree needs to be more concerned with income than growth. That's why my first goal, if possible, is to reproduce the income you had when you were working in a guaranteed income stream that isn't dependent on the market, or subject to loss. That's happiness! Then, once that base is covered we'll try to grow the remainder, and perhaps take a little more risk. But the Wall Street system doesn't want you thinking that way.

Are you any better off than you were a year ago? 10 years ago?

Everyone remembers 2008. There was a nasty period from September of 2008 through February of 2009 where the value of the S&P 500 drew down over 50%! Many who were on the verge of retirement had to rethink their plans, while others who were already retired discovered that they needed to take a much larger percentage of their nest-egg to keep the same level of income.

Let's fast-forward to now. The first six weeks of 2016 was the worst start to a new year in the history of Wall Street.  My opinion is that most investors have no idea as to how much risk their broker is exposing them to. When it comes to investment advice, are you happy with the guidance you've been getting? In the interests of prudence and common sense, I'd like to suggest some questions you should consider.

Do you remember how you felt in 2008 watching your investment portfolio decline?

Most folks do. It wasn't a happy time, especially for retirees. Many saw their portfolio's go south as much as half it's value! 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

Is this the only way to grow assets and have security during retirement? Absolutely not!

I'm always amazed when I meet folks in their 70's and 80's who still have 80% of their portfolio in high risk stocks. Inevitably, they tell me, "well, where else am I going to get growth?" I'd like to go on record here and now by saying that, in my opinion, a 70 year old retiree needs to be more concerned with income than growth. That's why my first goal, if possible, is to reproduce the income you had when you were working in a guaranteed income stream that isn't dependent on the market, or subject to loss. That's happiness! Then, once that base is covered we'll try to grow the remainder, and perhaps take a little more risk. But the Wall Street system doesn't want you thinking that way.

Are you any better off than you were a year ago? 10 years ago?

Everyone remembers 2008. There was a nasty period from September of 2008 through February of 2009 where the value of the S&P 500 drew down over 50%! Many who were on the verge of retirement had to rethink their plans, while others who were already retired discovered that they needed to take a much larger percentage of their nest-egg to keep the same level of income.

Let's fast-forward to now. The first six weeks of 2016 was the worst start to a new year in the history of Wall Street.  My opinion is that most investors have no idea as to how much risk their broker is exposing them to. When it comes to investment advice, are you happy with the guidance you've been getting? In the interests of prudence and common sense, I'd like to suggest some questions you should consider.