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I THOUGHT IWAS RETIRED BUT I AM NOW UNEMPLOYED
National Ledger ^ | 5/18/09 | Pete LaTona

Posted on 06/08/2009 6:52:11 AM PDT by PeterL

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The recent financial collapse has thrown the retirement plans of many in to disarray. No one saw this coming, notably our trusted financial advisers. All asset allocation models took a sharp nose dive. Many of us who thought that they had retired must now think again.
1 posted on 06/08/2009 6:52:11 AM PDT by PeterL
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To: PeterL

Yup


2 posted on 06/08/2009 6:54:41 AM PDT by clamper1797 (FUBO ... the Anti-Reagan)
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To: PeterL

Its incorrect to say noone saw it coming, some did and prepared for it. Most financial advisors just suck badly - being one have been very easy these past 20 years because in general stock went up. Its not til we saw a big down turn do we seperate the geniuses from the wave surfers who collect big salary for doing basically nothing


3 posted on 06/08/2009 6:57:06 AM PDT by 4rcane
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To: PeterL

Why are you “a supporter of this president”?


4 posted on 06/08/2009 6:57:33 AM PDT by Wage Slave (Good fences make good neighbors. -- Robert Frost)
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To: PeterL

My wife got her statement from her savings account Friday she is being paid .82% interest on her money.


5 posted on 06/08/2009 6:59:10 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: PeterL

“There is probably much blame to go around. For years, while I was still a part of corporate America I was incensed at the salaries, bonuses, perks and power being given to our CEO and to all CEOs.”

CEOs were paid well for raising stock prices and profits. The left has been successful at demonizing business leaders.

The collapse of the financial sector due to sub prime loans is the root cause. The story is getting out. Needs to be repeated over and over.


6 posted on 06/08/2009 6:59:35 AM PDT by y6162 (uish..)
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To: PeterL

To quote Jimmy Carter (from his apparently one lucid moment as President): “Life isn’t fair.”

How many people in countries like Belgium, Greece, Holland, etc.. lost everything they had during WWII. Simply because another country decided (Germany) decided to invade their country and grind it under its heel.

Keep some perspective.


7 posted on 06/08/2009 7:00:23 AM PDT by Brookhaven (Obama hasn't just open Pandora's box, he has thrown us inside and closed the lid.)
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To: PeterL

You’re far better off. You will likely also live longer. You have to look at the bright side.


8 posted on 06/08/2009 7:01:08 AM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: PeterL

“...I played by the rules...”

I myself realized there are no rules, when I saw our CEO have alcohol problems, and his marriage end - and I thought, “He’s a nice guy, but I am counting on him to take care of me, when he can’t even take care of himself?”

I realized then also that Government promises are the same thing, even worse.


9 posted on 06/08/2009 7:01:45 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: Venturer

Jobs are going to be at a premium. Hell, they already are. And that aint gonna change any time soon. Illegals will take American jobs. The heretofore retired folks will go back into the job market taking jobs away from younger people. Temporary summer jobs are gonna dry up faster than a pool of water in a heat wave. That is what is going on and will continue to happen in this disastrous economy which Obummer and his administration has made even worse by his financial and economic policies.


10 posted on 06/08/2009 7:01:48 AM PDT by Ev Reeman
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To: y6162
CEOs were paid well for raising stock prices and profits.

CEOs were paid well because their buddies were on the corporate boards. What you have now is a corporate oligarchy that basically played right into the bubble - they made their millions, and now taxpayers are left holding the tab.

11 posted on 06/08/2009 7:02:35 AM PDT by dirtboy
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To: PeterL

People saw this coming.

You are just one of those who didn’t think it could happen to THEM.

When you say you are a supporter of this President, what do you mean?

His agenda includes taking advantage of people in your situation, who are running scared. Hope you don’t end up in that category, because fear is a great motivator for people to start thinking along the lines of what is good for the collective, blahblah.


12 posted on 06/08/2009 7:02:51 AM PDT by unsycophant
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To: PeterL

I think it is time to end this era of greed and selfishness and over consumption. It is time to focus on needs and not wants, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to think about how our actions affect the other guy

This is straight out of Atlas Shrugged..Holy Crap this is scary..


13 posted on 06/08/2009 7:03:12 AM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (I'm a Patriot Guard Rider..www.patriotguard.org for info..)
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To: PeterL
begin to realize what our world could look like if we took care of each other instead of taking care of our self.

I'm guessing it would look like a socialist nightmare in which the smartest people had no interest in running major corporations because the people at the top were no longer appropriately compensated.

14 posted on 06/08/2009 7:03:44 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (We are a ruled people, serfs to the Federal Oligarchy -- and the Tree of Liberty thirsts)
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To: PeterL
I am an optimistic person, but it is clear to me that all of the rules have changed. I have no confidence in the economic stimulus plans, although I am a supporter of this President.

Well, there is not much to say about that dichotomy. Enjoy the Change.

We all suspected the mortgage situation was a time bomb. We all suspected there was no real value behind the Bubble. We all suspected the derivatives were fake.

So, everyone sat there chewing their cuds.

Hadn't we seen posts here for YEARS questioning this?

15 posted on 06/08/2009 7:04:17 AM PDT by Gorzaloon (Roark, Architect.)
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To: dirtboy

Exactly.

One thing we conservatives must realize is big corporations and big business are just as bad as big government. They only exist after a certain point to protect itself and get larger at the cost of ordinary Americans

We must become the party of small business, where there are higher wages and jobs created


16 posted on 06/08/2009 7:07:07 AM PDT by MadIsh32 (In order to be pro-market, sometimes you must be anti-big business)
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To: PeterL
"although I am a supporter of this President"

How is that working out for you?

17 posted on 06/08/2009 7:07:30 AM PDT by listenhillary (90% of our problems could be resolved with a government 10% of the size it is now.)
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To: PeterL
I need to make money comparable to what I used to, but it won’t be easy.

Why? Has he no Social Security? Is his home not paid for? Did he lose ALL his investments or just about half?

I feel for folks. I really do. I am retired. I live off the income of my rental properties, which at this point in my life are owned outright, and my Social Security check is currently gravy. I'm not rich nor am I fully retired, because I work at maintaining my properties, but that's what keeps the income coming in.

I'm not trying to be flip, but wouldn't a minimum wage job as a Walmart greeter or somesuch cover the shortfall in investment losses if you had really played by the rules? With no teenage boys to feed or mortgage or tuitions to pay or braces to buy, my wife and I are more comfortable now than we were most of our marriage.

To be fair, many seniors are feeling the pinch from their investment losses, but most I know are making do by cutting back on their day trips and gifts to the grandchildren, and a few are supplementing with part time low paying employment. But then their homes are paid for.

18 posted on 06/08/2009 7:10:01 AM PDT by old and tired
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To: PeterL

The term Financial Planner is an oxymoron. There is no planning involved, as “they” get paid when customers enter and exit the market. Trading volume is how this industry survives.

Now I am not saying absolutes, like “all” planners are . . . but what this industry sells are “things” that fit a customer’s “wants” => steady retirement, big house, boats, etc. This industry uses simplified tooling to “project” what earnings will be based on very simple assumptions.

If they were true planners, they’d be higher degrees in Economics and Mathematics, instead of being certified salespeople, state-by-state. Since markets strive for efficiency, once any given model becomes known and fully utilized, it losses it’s ability to exploit the given inefficiency.

The information age guarantees zero certainty over time, as information becomes more accessible by the masses. Basically, market inefficiencies get erased far faster than they in days past because more people learn of them and can act with greater rapidity than ever before.


19 posted on 06/08/2009 7:11:30 AM PDT by NCCarrs (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/30/quake.usa.editorial.reut/index.html)
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To: PeterL

Same sob story we heard during the last financial crisis: I lost everything!

When are people going to get smart? There is no “everything” in an unstable world. There are necessities. If you *really* want to prepare for the future, take a portion of your retirement fund and invest in:

Land away from population centers
Guns and ammo
Food
A reasonable amount of silver or gold

Then, try to live a normal life. But - the way I see it - this house of cards will collapse within two years. Only those people who prepared will outlast the chaos that will follow.


20 posted on 06/08/2009 7:12:14 AM PDT by bolobaby
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