R E T I R E M E N T  I N  S I G H T
Presented by «RepresentativeName»

 

MONTHLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES 

DECEMBER 2014  

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.”
      

- Helen Keller  

HEALTH TIP
Build strength with a little weight  

By working out with light weights for a half-hour 2 or more days per week, you can strengthen major muscle groups. Vary the workouts so you don't exercise the same muscle group on consecutive days. Take 3 seconds to lift or push a weight into place, hold it there for 1 second, and take 3 seconds to return it to its starting position. That slow, steady 3-second return is essential; you don’t want to simply drop the weight. If you can't lift or push a particular weight 8 consecutive times, you should work with a lighter one. Before you begin, talk to your physician or physical therapist to see what kind of weight training is appropriate for you. 

BRAIN TEASER
Winter Riddle.
Glittering points 

That downward thrust, 

Sparkling spears 

That never rust. 

What am I?^* 

DID YOU KNOW?
Our carbohydrate compulsion 

The average American eats about 20 pounds of pasta per year.⁵ 

MAKING YOUR RETIREMENT DOLLARS LAST 

Whether you are retired or have retirement in mind, outliving your money may be your top financial concern. What steps can you take to help lessen that possibility? 

First, think about relocating and/or reducing debt. You could cut costs by moving to a state or metro area with lower living expenses (and a high quality of life). Whether you pay off your smallest debts first or your highest-interest debts first, you are still promoting the longevity of your retirement savings by doing so.  

Some retirees opt to go Roth with their IRAs, running the numbers and conclude that a future with a tax-free income stream outweighs any tax paid on a Roth conversion today. Having enough liquidity is also a plus. You want adequate cash available for emergencies, developing needs and near-term goals; you don’t want to incur withdrawal penalties trying to access the cash within illiquid investments. Keeping a foot in the workforce part-time can provide you with additional years of income (just watch the Social Security income thresholds) and holding off on claiming Social Security benefits until 66, 67 or 70 can bring you larger retirement checks in the future. If you’ve been married at least 10 years and your spouse earns much more than you do, you could arrange to receive monthly Social Security payments equivalent to 50% of your spouse’s payout while continuing to work yourself and delaying your own benefits until they become greater.¹ 

ADJUSTING YOUR DIET TO RESPOND TO ADULT-ONSET DIABETES 

If your blood glucose level after fasting overnight exceeds 100 milligrams per deciliter, you are considered pre-diabetic. How can you respond to try and avoid the 126 milligrams/dl reading that confirms diabetes?   

Thirty minutes of moderate exercise (or more) five days per week is a great step to boost metabolism and lower weight; WebMD cites one study where pre-diabetics on such a regimen lost 5-7% of their weight and lowered their chances of getting diabetes by 58%. Consistent, sufficient sleep helps your body use insulin and encourages weight loss. Fresh fruit and veggies low in starches (green beans, carrots, broccoli and others), whole grains, and high-fiber and low-fat foods need to become dietary staples. Finally, checking in with your physician every 3-6 months is vital, and so is getting positive reinforcement from support groups.^2,3  

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
If you wait to claim Social Security until age 70, your monthly Social Security payment will be 76% larger than if you had claimed benefits at age 62.⁴ 

«representativename» may be reached at
«representativephone» or «representativeemail»
«representativewebsite»