AIA Chiangmai

An “activist” is someone, who, seeing a need for change or improvement, becomes involved in promoting that change or improvement.

I suppose that makes me an activist, of sorts.

More than thirty years ago my heart hatched a dream. I wanted to travel a path that would help me to become financially independent. But I did not stay the course. I did not continue to search, research, act and follow through.

So here I am. One of the typical statistics of the general population of the nation. I have virtually no savings and very little put away into a retirement vehicle.

But it is not too late. It is never too late. And I am still determined to make a better future for myself. The difference is, I have actually begun. I have a plan for my future success and my future prosperity.

We have a “term” life insurance policy in place to cover our immediate needs if we died, and we have opened some tax advantaged retirement programs.

My current job has had a retirement program available for a long time. They offer to put in 2% of my gross pay check if I will put in 3% of the same pay check.

Think of it.

If I contribute $150, the company adds $100. Then I have it invested in a mutual fund with a track record of about 10%. At the end of the year, using simple numbers for illustration, I will have put away $1800, the company will have added $1200, and the interest would have contributed about $300. We have a total of $3300. The return on my investment of $1800 has been over 83%!! Would you like an 83% return? Check into it. Ask about employer matching funds investments for retirement.

We are also putting into place a Roth IRA, a short-term savings plan, and a long-term savings plan. These are all in mutual funds, where we can not only get the greatest growth, but have access to our savings, when needed, as well.

Everyone has the right to aspire to live well and retire properly. One of the saddest tales of financial failure are found in the lives of those who, having had the best of intentions, ended up doing nothing at all.

Take matters into your own hands. Make your own choices for a better future. You are fighting the war on poverty terror, and financial freedom isn’t free.

You must choose to pay the price. A few dollars today will grow to secure peace of mind tomorrow. But you must make that choice to begin right away. Compound interest works it’s best magic when given the most time to perform.

Purchase “term” insurance to cover your current potential needs now, then invest in mutual funds to control and secure your future.

Do not risk becoming one of the faceless casualties of financial unprepared ness. The real risk is in doing nothing at all.

A devastating risk.

Bob Curtis has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and has been writing about the elements of relationships for a number of years. He is the manager of the Essential Sunshine Association, a new website for positive relationship development at http://www.essun.blogspot.com

Tags: difference, dream, financially independent, future, heart, never too late, retirement, term life insurancedifference, dream, financially independent, future, heart, never too late, retirement, term life insurance

Share This

Filed under: www.aiachiangmai.com 0102 | No Comments »

It is so easy to put certain things off. Things that do not demand our immediate attention. Things that do not need to be constantly monitored or watched or baby sat. Things like that extra load of laundry, the timely payment of the minor bills, the simple note of appreciation for a kindness extended in your direction, or our planning for the future.

Time passes so very quickly. Things we really meant to get to are yet left undone. Some of them are even postponed until it really is too late.

One of the saddest statements I have ever heard or read is the one that says, “The family would like to thank those who have so graciously given their sympathies, and would request a cash offering in lieu of flowers.”

How sad that yet another person has passed on and left it to someone else to struggle out their financial affairs.

The solutions are so simple, so easy, yet they do require one to take the time and initiative to set things in proper order.

There are three basic considerations in life that are so easy to plan and set in motion to secure our futures. They are (1) getting out of debt and staying debt free, (2) planning for retirement, and (3) securing your financial future.

(1) Getting Out Of Debt.
Of all three considerations, this one requires the most self discipline. Start by checking your credit and credit score (FICO). You can get free copies of your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies at http://annualcreditreport.com.

Next, consider looking at where you want to be in the future, financially. A site that can help in this discovery is www.primericafna.com. Perhaps a debt consolidation loan can make a difference for your situation. If possible, get one that allows payments on the loan every two weeks to reduce the principle amount even faster.

(2) Plan for Retirement
One of the best options in planning for retirement is to consider investments. There are a number of regular and tax advantaged options that may be used to fund long term and short term savings goals. Consult your own financial advisor for details. What? You don’t have a “financial advisor”? You aren’t alone. A recent study showed that three fourths of all American families do not have a financial advisor. Ask people you trust for recommendations, or even refer back to the website I mentioned last. When you get the contact information for a personal financial advisor, give them a call and make an appointment to meet with them. You will probably find it an informative and enlightening experience.

(3) Securing Your Financial Future
This consideration goes hand in hand with #2. The best thought is to buy sufficient “term” insurance to cover your family’s needs if you were gone. Then, as in #2, invest in some funds that will produce a savings plan for your future.

None of us plan to fail. But sometimes, we just fail to plan. It is just so easy to take the time and plan for our futures. So easy, yet so necessary.

Take the time. Do it now. Do it today!

Bob Curtis has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and has been writing about the elements of relationships for a number of years. He is the manager of the Essential Sunshine Association, a new website for positive relationship development at http://www.essun.blogspot.com.

Tags: debt free, financial advisor, future, insurance, invest, recommendations, retirement, savings goals, trustdebt free, financial advisor, future, insurance, invest, recommendations, retirement, savings goals, trust

Share This

Filed under: www.aiachiangmai.com 0102 | No Comments »