The Retirement, Life and Investing Radio Show

We discuss the process of high school guidance counselors recommending colleges that the kids cannot afford, and then they urge them to complete a FAFSA form to pay for it. The kids end up enslaving themselves at 18, before their life has even started.

Dad is the type of person not to share his financials with his family, and was getting more forgetful right before being diagnosed with Alzheimers, but where is the mail? The son called me and we reviewed old statements from the past year and found 300k in an IRA Annuity. Thank God it is still there.

Gary Weisner, who runs GE’s wind-turbine-blade factory in Pensacola, Fl, got a visit from the CEO who showed up in his jeans alone. Larry Culp, the first CEO to visit in 18 years and the first outsider to run GE, is trying to fix it metric by metric.

Look at Dave Ramsey who many of you follow out there.  He went through bankruptcy early in his life, when he was young, and over leveraged real estate. He took it upon himself to swear he would never use debt again and to help others who have gotten themselves into debt trouble. He has helped over 5 million people get out debt, and become wealthy himself along the way, while donating millions to help others.

That resiliency is what we admire and wish to imbue in our children, and also in all of you and your families. There will be hard times. Some of you wealthier entrepreneurs and your spouses have shared with me your struggles as you started your business, almost going under several times before figuring it out or getting that big break or client. Some of you have shared stories about divorces that decimated your finances but, for the children’s sake, mended fences with your ex-spouse. You even share holidays with them as you have worked hard to rebuild your financial life.

Like most of us, I have mellowed as the years have gone by. The stuff that used to seem so important has faded and in it’s place is a belief that God has a plan for all of us. The key is to everyday do the right thing when nobody is watching. The Lord above is always watching and will call upon us with a tremendous opportunity if he deems us worthy.

Be faithful and true because your time will come, my friends. I have seen it over and over again, when people least expect it, wonderful opportunities are presented at a time when the chips are down, and it seems like you don’t have a friend in the world. Be patient, better times are coming for all of you.

Stay away from options please. Those guys with the ponytails on CNBC are pros and I bet they still struggle, despite what they say. A gentleman told me about his son and his son’s wife, who between them were going to debt hell by overspending constantly. Their house is leveraged, credit cards maxed, etc. This gentleman’s wife is giving them money, enabling this to continue. He said Facebook rats them out because they’re constantly posting pics of themselves on vacation! GOTCHA! I told him it was time for him to lower the boom, or they take him down with them. He looked at me so sad, I will never forget that face he made.

I hate annuities. More and more, I hear the stories and I just want to scream. They are not bought, they are sold. and boy they are sold hard. You go into your bank or credit union, they are sold. Retiring, they are sold even though the account is already tax deferred. They are sold to little old ladies who lock away their emergency money. They are sold to long time workers who walk into their local credit union. They are sold to doctors, accountants, widows etc.

The key to happiness above all others is good health, I believe. My older friend Ray travels the world and goes to places I would be afraid or nervous to go to. He has seen things that are not to be believed and he says good health is the one common denominator to happiness and a long life. So whatever you doing, go to someone who can help you with good nutrition, staying off the booze or drugs, including marijuana. Learn to stretch every day and walk, walk, walk. Also add a daily prayer, lunch or coffee with a good friend, and finding a mate that you love dearly, and no matter how much cash you have, you'll have a happy life.

I see many couples in my office....some have been married for 50 years and some for 5 weeks. I know usually in 30 seconds whether they have a good vibe. In almost every case, the couples who have raised kids, saved money and shared together, and come to see me, have a good vibe. Usually, it is in the form of a wonderful relationship that is grounded in mutual respect and friendship, and even love....lol.

Instead talk to a pro like Wade Jensen who will set you straight on estate planning and all the document selling.