One of the few things people know about Social Security is that contribution is mandatory, and when they get old enough to retire, they will receive a certain amount of money per month for as long as they live. An annuity has some similarities; when properly designed, it can provide guaranteed income in retirement and help reduce the risk of running out of money.

Financial planning without life insurance is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
For life insurance to make a difference in your financial plan, you must buy it and keep it.

With businesses closed, work hours reduced and jobs eliminated due to Covid-19, many people now find themselves in the grip of a financial crisis. Even before the pandemic, America had a savings and retirement problem. Statistics tell us that 45 percent of American workers have no retirement savings, and according to the Federal Reserve, over one-half of Americans could not come up with $400 in an emergency. The reality of these statistics is apparent right now.

I’ve already explained the differences between wise and unwise debt. Now, I want to talk more about debt — specifically home mortgages. Let’s discuss two beliefs about a home mortgage that could be detrimental to your financial health.

As a life planner, I like to have real discussions with people about their lives — where they are now, financially and personally, and where they want to be at the end of their lives. It continues to amaze me how many people don’t like to discuss the end of their lives, believing somehow that discussing their death will hasten it.