Why Women Need Social Security By Pamela J. Sams, CRPC NABBW’s Retirement Planning for Women Expert Did you know that the first person ever to receive ongoing Social Security benefits was a woman? Ever since Ida May Fuller received the first retirement benefit check in 1940, women have been counting on Social Security to provide much-needed retirement income. Social Security provides other important benefits too, including disability and survivor\’s benefits, that can help women of all ages and their family members. Retirement benefits: a steady stream of lifetime income While... Read More

For Better, For Worse: Communicating About Retirement By Pamela J. Sams, CRPC NABBW’s Retirement Planning for Women Expert A recent survey suggests that many couples are not communicating clearly about retirement goals and strategies, even as they approach retirement age. The couples surveyed were at least 46 years old with a minimum annual household income of $75,000 or at least $100,000 in investable assets.1 Only 41% said they handle decisions on retirement savings and investments together, and 73% disagreed on whether they had a detailed strategy for retirement income. Many couples... Read More

Not Your Grandmother\’s Retirement – a Look at Retirement in the Modern World By Pamela J. Sams, CRPC NABBW’s Retirement Planning for Women Expert According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy in the United States was 77.9 years as of 2007. That longer life expectancy has an impact on all aspects of society, from health care expenses and employment law to retirement planning and finances. A higher life expectancy can have its greatest impact on retirement planning, since it requires that your nest egg support you for decades after you... Read More

What Women Need To Know About Preparing for Retirement By Pamela J. Sams, CRPC NABBW’s Retirement Planning for Women Expert As women, we have many different roles that we take on throughout our lives. We are daughters, wives, mothers, employees, housekeepers, volunteers and much more. With all of this activity, hustle and bustle, thinking about the day when we will retire always seems like it is a long way off. It can be difficult to put effort into saving for something that seems such a distant idea. However, planning and preparing for retirement is one of the most important things that... Read More

Writing Out Your Retirement Goals Before you begin looking for a financial advisor to advise you on retirement investments, it helps to write out a list of retirement goals. The writing exercise forces you to think both concretely and abstractly about what kind of budget you will live on during your retirement. As an example of how this exercise can help you, this article provides a discussion of 3 thought-provoking questions for future retirees. 1. How much monthly income do you need to live on during retirement? This is a big question. You can start by thinking about the age you want to retire... Read More