When it comes to investing for retirement, women are often at a disadvantage. They typically earn less than men and begin investing later in their careers. They're more likely than men are to take time out from the work force to raise children or care for elderly parents. As a result, women tend to accumulate less money for retire­ment than they may need.*

Divorce or widowhood and a longer average life expectancy increase the chances that a woman may be single at some point during her lifetime. Having an adequate nest egg to provide for life's uncertainties is essential.

That's why it's so important that you make time to take stock of your retirement portfolio and focus on strategies that can help you prepare for the future.

An early start 
As you probably know, the sooner you begin investing, the more years your money will have to potentially grow and compound. Investing even a small amount can result in a substantial account balance over time. If you haven't started investing, don't wait any longer to put as much as you can afford in an employer's retirement plan or an individual retirement arrangement (IRA).

The right stuff 
The mix of stocks, bonds and cash alternative investments you choose has a lot to do with how well your portfolio performs. Your asset allocation** should reflect your goals, time frame and risk tolerance. Generally, the longer you have until you plan to retire, the more risk you may be comfortable taking with your investments. When you are designing your asset allocation strategy, keep in mind that even low inflation can reduce the purchasing power of your retirement portfolio over the long term.

Under control 
Reducing expenses both before and during retirement can improve your financial situation. Eliminating costly credit card debt or moving to a smaller house could help stretch your retirement money.

Learning curve 
Reading financial websites and publications geared specifically toward women can help improve your financial literacy. Your financial professional can answer any questions resulting from your research and help you get on track toward a more comfortable retirement.

* Women & Retirement: Current Outlook & Opportunities, Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, August 2010

** Asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against losses.


FINRA Reference #FR2012-1030-0151/E 02/04/13

Northbeam Financial, Inc. and LTM Publishing, Inc. are unrelated.

This is an advertisement prepared by LTM Publishing, Inc. for the use of the sender. Articles are not written or produced by the named representative. The advertisement provided is not intended as legal or tax advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding federal tax penalties. All individuals, including those involved in the estate planning process, are advised to meet with their tax and legal professionals. The individual sponsoring this newsletter will work with your tax and legal advisors to help select appropriate product solutions. We do not endorse or guarantee the content or services of any website mentioned in this newsletter. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of each website you visit. Limitations, restrictions and other rules and regulations apply to many of the financial and insurance products and concepts presented in this newsletter, and they may differ according to individual situations. The publisher does not assume liability for financial decisions based on the newsletter's contents. Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the newsletter copy at press time; however, markets and tax information can change suddenly. Whole or partial reproduction of Let's Talk Money® without the written permission of the publisher is forbidden. ©LTM Publishing, Inc., 2013.

We Value Your Input... Your feedback is very important to us. If you have any questions about any of the subjects covered here, or suggestions for future issues, please don't hesitate to call. It's always a pleasure to hear from you. 

At this time of year, you probably have taxes on your mind. It's also the perfect time to review how well you're currently managing your finances to achieve your future goals. Accumulating enough money for a comfortable retirement means creating an investing strategy based on your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance.

Catching the worm 
No matter what your goals are, the earlier you begin investing, the more likely you are to reach them. Time and the effects of compounding — the continual reinvestment of investment earnings — have the potential to turn even a small investment into a substantial sum. The early years of investing can be critical. Contributing to an employer's retirement plan or individual retirement arrangement (IRA) as soon as you're eligible can help you reap the benefits of time.

Plan ahead 
Even if retirement is several years away, planning for the lifestyle you hope to enjoy once you do retire is essential. You may want to travel extensively or pursue a favorite hobby. You may even want to turn a hobby into a business. Or you may want to sell your home and move to another state — or another country. But whatever you're envisioning for your retirement, taking the appropriate steps now offers your best chance of having enough money in the future.

When you're choosing investments for your portfolio, you should keep potential inflation in mind. Over the long term, even low inflation may outpace the buying power of a portfolio that includes only conservative investments. Also remember that health care costs tend to rise in retirement and could consume a sizable portion of your budget, so plan accordingly.

Don't underestimate your needs 
Because no one can be sure how many years they will spend in retirement, your best course of action may be to plan for a long retirement. Investing as much as possible for as long as possible can help you accomplish your goals.

FINRA Reference #FR2012-1030-0150/E 02/04/13

Business partnerships are a lot like marriages. In both cases, you and your partner or spouse share certain goals and work together to achieve them. And, in both cases, financial issues can cause considerable stress.

One way you can proactively relieve some of the potential stress associated with co-ownership of a small business is with a buy-sell agreement.

What is a buy-sell agreement? 
A buy-sell agreement is a binding contract between business owners that establishes who can buy a departing owner's share of the business and at what price and upon what terms. Typically, the other co-owners or the business itself will purchase the departing owner's business interest. The buy-sell agreement also establishes how the purchase will be funded.

With a buy-sell 
A buy-sell agreement potentially solves several problems:

• The remaining owners won't have to deal with new, unwanted co-owners.

• It helps ensure a smooth transition of ownership, helping the business retain customers.

• It can guarantee that the deceased owner's heirs receive a fair price based on an agreed upon valuation method.

Without a buy-sell 
Without a buy-sell agreement, some difficult situations could arise. For example, an inexperienced adult child might inherit a deceased partner's ownership share, which may be detrimental to the business in a variety of ways. A surviving spouse could sell the deceased partner's share of the business for less than its fair market value. And, without a buy-sell agreement, a deceased partner's heirs might have to sell the business to pay debts, final expenses and/or estate taxes.

Funding a buy-sell agreement 
 One effective way of funding a buy-sell agreement is to use life insurance to provide the cash that will be needed to purchase a deceased owner's interest. Life insurance premium costs are generally far less than the amount of cash it would take to fully finance the purchase of a deceased partner's share of the business. Consult your financial professional to evaluate your need for a buy-sell agreement.

FINRA Reference #FR2012-0821-0297/E 12/05/12

Investing regularly can help put you on a path toward an independent and enjoyable retirement. Instead of relying on standard assumptions that aren't specific to your personal situation, get serious about your plans for retirement and how much income you're really going to need.

The lifestyle you want 
Will your lifestyle change much after you retire and will those changes significantly affect your cost of living compared to your working years? Plans for extensive travel may mean you'll spend much more than someone who stays home. Moving to a new area, buying a second home or downsizing to a smaller place are other changes that could have a substantial impact on your cost of living.

Your timetable for retirement 
What's your planned retirement age? Your answer will likely affect how much money you'll need for cash flow in retirement. Retire at age 62 and you may have to depend on your retirement resources for much longer than if you retire at age 68.

How long is the big question. According to government data, a 65-year-old has a remaining life expectancy of 19.2 years.* However, advances in medicine or other factors may continue to lengthen lifespans even more. Your retirement  and the associated costs  could last 30 years or longer. That makes it essential to plan ahead. Talk to your financial professional about investing in a traditional or Roth individual retirement account (IRA) to boost your retirement funds.

Future income 
Project how much income you may receive from all sources and when it will become available. Common income sources include Social Security (go to www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement for your statement), retirement plan benefits through work and personal investments.

Factor in inflation 
Don't ignore the impact of inflation on the money you'll be relying on to fund your retirement. Make sure your portfolio contains some investments that have the potential to earn a rate of return greater than the annual inflation rate.

The input and insights of your financial professional can help you meet the challenges of preparing for retirement.

* Health, United States, 2011, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012

FINRA Reference #FR2012-0821-0291/E 12/05/12

Northbeam Financial, Inc. and LTM Publishing, Inc. are unrelated.

This is an advertisement prepared by LTM Publishing, Inc. for the use of the sender. Articles are not written or produced by the named representative. The advertisement provided is not intended as legal or tax advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding federal tax penalties. All individuals, including those involved in the estate planning process, are advised to meet with their tax and legal professionals. The individual sponsoring this newsletter will work with your tax and legal advisors to help select appropriate product solutions. We do not endorse or guarantee the content or services of any website mentioned in this newsletter. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of each website you visit. Limitations, restrictions and other rules and regulations apply to many of the financial and insurance products and concepts presented in this newsletter, and they may differ according to individual situations. The publisher does not assume liability for financial decisions based on the newsletter's contents. Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the newsletter copy at press time; however, markets and tax information can change suddenly. Whole or partial reproduction of Let's Talk Money® without the written permission of the publisher is forbidden. ©LTM Publishing, Inc., 2012.

We Value Your Input... Your feedback is very important to us. If you have any questions about any of the subjects covered here, or suggestions for future issues, please don't hesitate to call. It's always a pleasure to hear from you.