Top 10 Retirement Challenges Facing the 21^st Century Investor

• 1. The Age Wave: We Americans are living longer and the greatest fear people have, next to maintaining good health, is the fear of outliving their income.

• 2. The Pension Demise: With fewer and fewer company sponsored pension plans, it is now up to the individual to provide for his/her income security throughout retirement.

• 3. Social Security: Social security was originally designed as supplemental income, yet many in retirement depend upon it as their sole income base.

• 4. Ever Increasing Taxes: In fact, taxes represent the single largest household expense and they are increasing due to ever mounting federal and state government deficits.

• 5. Inflation: The silent, invisible, always present erosion to assets and income. Inflation has averaged 3% per year since 1926.

• 6. The Healthcare Debacle: Due to aging, living longer, and the issues surrounding long term care, Americans are facing ever increasing healthcare costs and potential loss of assets.

• 7. Investor Investment Mentality: Though the annual average S&P 500 return hovers around 10%, the average annual return to most investors is under 4%! How can that be? Fear and Greed. The average stock market investor "buys high and sells low".

• 8. Legacy Planning: Will there be anything left for the next generation?

• 9. The Survivor Income Gap: The significant drop in survivor income that can occur upon the death of the first spouse... not recognized until it is too late!

• 10. Asset Retention: Protecting your assets from lawsuits, creditors, Medicaid spend down and other threats.