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8 Depressing Stats About America’s Retirement Savings
Fund Reference ^ | 11/27/2015 | BY MICHAEL JOHNSTON

Posted on 11/28/2015 6:15:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind

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To: af_vet_1981
My thankful heart to our Lord is not in question.

How much I pay IN TAXES and in DOUBLE TAXATION is in question. Spare me the lecture, friend. We are not enemies.

41 posted on 11/28/2015 7:56:51 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: redfreedom
We saved and invested substantially our whole working lives. We avoided unnecessary expenditures while those around us spent every dime they could borrow. Financially speaking, our retirement is worry free. I just do not regret all the saving and investing in our early years.

Dito

42 posted on 11/28/2015 7:57:05 AM PST by kjam22
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To: catfish1957
I was obsessed with a comfortable retirement even at age 25. Could have retired at 46, but waited till 55 (health care). A while back I provided my strategy, let me see and I’ll post it again.

I am so looking forward to comparing notes with you! :-) Please ping me when you re-post it.

43 posted on 11/28/2015 7:58:53 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: kjam22; redfreedom
Ditto

Double ditto. I'm so blessed to be married to a woman who shares the same views on money that I do. Sure there have been times in the past when one of us wanted the bigger house, or the other wanted a new car however we never both wanted the bigger house or new car at the same time, so the other was always there to be a good counter-balance to keep us on financial track, together.

I can't believe I forgot to post in my 'advice' above how critical it is to be financially aligned with one's husband or wife. I do not recall a single time my charming and delightful bride of 29 years and I have ever argued about money or what we spend it on. A blessing indeed.

44 posted on 11/28/2015 8:04:09 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: ichabod1

If you have cash you don’t want to put in the crap-shoot equity markets, put in your home.


45 posted on 11/28/2015 8:04:53 AM PST by AU72
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To: taxcontrol

“The biggest expense appears to be medical insurance. “

This is what worries me the most and why I’ll probably always work. Even if part time or as the Wall Mart Greeter.

Its just way to expensive and it may deplete the savings way before you pass on.


46 posted on 11/28/2015 8:06:45 AM PST by crusher2013 (Liberalism is Aristocracy masquerading as equalityheir)
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To: redfreedom

I hate to use my once wealthy BIL as a reference, but he built three multi-million dollar houses, but did not pay for the next one with the proceeds from the former and now at 77 in poor health is having to downsize from the last house he built and only paid interest on the loan so after twenty years he still owes and owes to the tune of 750 grand and only SS coming in.

He and my sister both work part time to help but 750 grand is just that, too much grand for both of them. Then there is taxes on top of that and upkeep, utilities, etc. I’m getting depressed just thinking about it. My sister understands the issue, but the boss has been the one who brought in the big bucks that kept them in deep clover for so many years. Kids aren’t going to be much help.

Hope this isn’t a double post. Got sidetracked for an hour or so.


47 posted on 11/28/2015 8:28:47 AM PST by wita
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To: crusher2013

There is Obama’s PPACA.

You can get PPACA exchange health insurance subsidies if your household income is 100% to 400% of FPL.

There are a number of ways to get your income above 100% of FPL:
1. have a relative (or lady/male friend) with income move in
2. withdraw from your IRA
3. sell stock (or an interest in your home to your kids)
4. work part-time (such as minding relative’s kids)
5. rent a room in your home
6. hire your spouse and pay them taxable income
(you’ll be out FICA taxes)


48 posted on 11/28/2015 8:49:03 AM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: DennisR

“In fact, our investments are still growing our income.”

Our modest IRA’s growth exceeds our needs, so it’s growing while we are retired. Often I think we should reward ourselves by blowing it. We both just feel guilty over buying something we don’t need. But if the markets go south by 50% or so, we’ll be somewhat relieved to have not spent it.


49 posted on 11/28/2015 8:56:19 AM PST by redfreedom (Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.)
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When buying investment real estate, avoid detached houses unless the price far below historical averages. They require too much maintenance.

Also avoid condos, since fees are high.

Generally stick to townhouses and small apartment buildings.

Never own more than about ten units. You want to retire, not become a full-time landlord. I’d personally want to own only two small townhouses.

Remember the point is to live well.

Having fewer units means it is easier to keep your units filled with good tenants.


50 posted on 11/28/2015 9:01:33 AM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: usconservative

Social Security will continue to be around, just expect to get about 20% less than the annual benefit statements suggest.


51 posted on 11/28/2015 9:03:04 AM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: catfish1957

I recall it. During your working years, spend less than you make, and invest the balance wisely. Repeat as necessary.

If this basic strategy isn’t first followed, no other plan of action will work.

None.


52 posted on 11/28/2015 9:09:08 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: Starboard

Those rental properties are not for the short term. You get them and hold on to them for years, decades. If you get them while you’re young and making good income you can use the losses to offset some of your income. That used to be pretty much unlimited but now they cap it and the alternative minimum tax makes it less attractive.

At some point, with rents going up and your mortgage payments ending you’ve got a positive cash flow AND the property itself has appreciated tremendously. Of course when you sell it you’ve already depreciated it but you can always avoid that for a while with a 1031 exchange.

You have to like to do it though. If you don’t, it’s not worth it.


53 posted on 11/28/2015 9:21:34 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: yetidog
Biggest issue is not ownership its making sure to find good renters

The lower the value of your property the harder it is to find good tenants. Low end tenant are terrible. The higher the rent the better.

The best tenants are recently separated men. They're usually traveling for business or staying with their new girlfriend so there's little wear and tear on the place. Sorry to say that but it's true.

54 posted on 11/28/2015 9:28:26 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: abb

Welcome to the battle between ants vs. grasshoppers.

In the long run savers will be pillaged by the politicians in the name of fairness, micro aggression or just buying votes.


55 posted on 11/28/2015 9:38:23 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

The politicians will probably pick on naive young people, not wide-awake older voters with money. Just keep your retirement income under $250K and you should dodge most of the worst taxes.


56 posted on 11/28/2015 9:58:30 AM PST by proxy_user
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To: catfish1957

Unfortunately indiscriminate and random blood in the streets is not going to solve the problem IMHO. A very focused and surgical strike is what is needed, along with a very few big name martyrs who are prominent as enemies of the Constitution and Republic that will get some peoples mind right and then immediately restore Constitutional governance declaring the 17 Amendment null and void and requesting state Legislatures who wish to be a part of the United states and adhere to the Constitution, choose their Senators, and we can get on with life in the Republic. Anything less will be business as usual.

The best we can hope for is a revival of the Constitutional spirit that inspired the Founding Fathers and avoid the bloodshed altogether. That certainly was not the case in their day.


57 posted on 11/28/2015 10:15:26 AM PST by wita
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To: ladyjane
The best tenants are recently separated men. They're usually traveling for business or staying with their new girlfriend so there's little wear and tear on the place. Sorry to say that but it's true.

I prefer renting to obese black ladys with horrible attitudes who date #BlackLivesMatter activists.

58 posted on 11/28/2015 10:24:11 AM PST by Lazamataz ( If they try firearm confiscation or gun registration, I go ballistic.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am so screwed.


59 posted on 11/28/2015 10:24:38 AM PST by Lazamataz ( If they try firearm confiscation or gun registration, I go ballistic.)
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To: tbw2

I suppose I could google MyRa, but since you brought it up and I’ve never heard of one, would you consider a short explanation?


60 posted on 11/28/2015 10:24:43 AM PST by wita
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