10 - 30 - 21 Retirement Ready by Tony Drake, CFP® | Drake & Associates

Being “tax-wise” is no longer a concern for only the wealthy. Many people fear that increasing tax rates might be looming on the horizon. And, considering our country’s spending and growing addiction to debt, this fear may be well-founded. But there is also a large percentage of the population that assumes that their personal tax bracket will be lower once they retire. Perhaps you believe that your future tax rates will go down once you stop working. Maybe you are right, but then again, what if you are wrong? It can be much more than an unpleasant surprise to find that the amount of your income that is left to spend after you pay taxes is less than you expected, perhaps even less than what you need to pay your bills. While we can’t know for sure, it looks like tax hikes may be looming on the horizon. And from a risk management perspective, what can and should be done anytime we face unknowns is to diversify our exposure to the risk. Developing a “tax-wise” retirement income strategy starts with understanding the principle of tax diversification and the advantages that can result when combined with a tax-efficient retirement income strategy. The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.

If you are retiring soon or recently retired, it’s time to shift the fundamental reasoning for how you invest your dollars. Moving from your working career and “paycheck” mode into retirement and “distribution” mode is a serious deal. You might not realize it right away, but when you go from adding to your portfolio and retirement nest egg to taking from it regularly for retirement income, the impact can be felt suddenly. It’s normal to have some hesitancy when it comes to transitioning your investments to coincide with this new phase of your life. Up until now, you have been investing for two primary reasons, to save money and to grow money. Now it’s time to shift that mentality into keeping as much of your money while you spend it. When we think about retirement and what you need to focus on with your money, three things come to mind, and we think that everyone in retirement needs at least these three things in their plan – Safety, Liquidity, and Growth Potential. The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.

Planning for major life events can be very exciting, but it can also be very stressful. Some of these events may include your big wedding day, having a child, starting a new job, buying a new home, retirement, maybe even setting up a family vacation. All of these events should require some deep thought and a thorough planning process. Some people enjoy the planning process and take the time to do so, while others do not spend as much time preparing. Some people seek help by hiring a wedding planner, or maybe a travel agent, while others like to do it on their own. Regardless of which type of person you are, it is important to plan properly in order to be successful. Today, we want to discuss the importance of retirement planning, and how to avoid the common misconceptions that many people often make when it comes to planning for retirement. Misconceptions are common in every area of life, and especially when it comes to retirement. Your golden years should be the best years of your life, so we want to clear the air and make sure you understand the next phase of your life. The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.

This episode is all about being prepared. We’re talking directly to you Mr. and Mrs. Pre-Retiree! And not that someone that is already retired can’t benefit or learn from this show, they absolutely can. But here’s the deal… Too many people that are coming in to start handling retirement planning and investing simply aren’t nearly prepared enough. Many people don’t have enough education. Many don’t have enough confidence. Many more simply don’t know where to start and have not done a thing until retirement is thrust upon them. So, in an effort to help the individuals who are nearing retirement at a rapid pace, we want to give you some key points to consider when you are planning for retirement. Key #1 – don’t wait to start! The time is now, and we’re going to help you focus on where to start and what to do! The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.

By now you have probably figured out that we believe success in retirement is tied closely to your retirement income. Do you have a paycheck in retirement that you can rely on, like a pension? How about your Social Security check, does it pay you enough to live your life comfortably? If the answer is no, then you most certainly need to focus on positioning your retirement dollars properly to develop a regular paycheck through a normal systematic withdrawal. But, what’s the best way to do it? Should you take a chance with the stock market and see if the money lasts as long as you do? Or, should you help protect the money and buy an annuity or CD? In this episode, we want to talk about the importance of making sure you have a plan for how the income will continue to roll in during retirement. In reality, diversifying your income sources is probably in your best interests. The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.

Weekly market commentary brought to you by Tony Drake, CFP® of Drake & Associates, LLC in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Find us at WealthWisconsin.com and weekly on WTMJ 620AM Saturdays at 1:00 pm on the Retirement Ready radio show. Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. You cannot directly invest in an index. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. Drake & Associates does not offer tax or legal advice.

By now you have probably figured out that we believe success in retirement is tied closely to your retirement income. Do you have a paycheck in retirement that you can rely on, like a pension? How about your Social Security check, does it pay you enough to live your life comfortably? If the answer is no, then you most certainly need to focus on positioning your retirement dollars properly to develop a regular paycheck through a normal systematic withdrawal. But, what’s the best way to do it? Should you take a chance with the stock market and see if the money lasts as long as you do? Or, should you help protect the money and buy an annuity or CD? In this episode, we want to talk about the importance of making sure you have a plan for how the income will continue to roll in during retirement. In reality, diversifying your income sources is probably in your best interests. The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.

Weekly market commentary brought to you by Tony Drake, CFP® of Drake & Associates, LLC in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Find us at WealthWisconsin.com and weekly on WTMJ 620AM Saturdays at 1:00 pm on the Retirement Ready radio show. Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market. You cannot directly invest in an index. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. Drake & Associates does not offer tax or legal advice.

There is a theory that has been going around the financial industry as of late. It really isn’t anything that’s brand new or “state-of-the-art.” Honestly, it’s more of a concept really. And that’s what good retirement planning is all about – having a theory or a concept that you can follow, that you understand, that helps you allocate your investment dollars in a way that will work for you and your specific situation. The theory or concept we are referring to is the idea of asking yourself a question: “When it comes to your money and your investments, are you focusing your decision-making process on the retirement tools, or are you focusing on a retirement strategy?” They may seem like the same thing to you. They aren’t. Think about a contractor. He has a tool belt that is full of tools. But not every job he takes requires him to use every tool in that toolbelt. And your retirement strategy is no different. In this episode we’re going to help you understand the difference between retirement tools and retirement strategies, and hopefully how to go about developing the strategy that will help you and your family in your personal and unique situation. The Retirement Ready radio show is featured every Saturday on WTMJ 620 AM at 1:00 pm. We will bring you information on: Social Security options, retirement trends, options to retire with life changes and achieving a secure financial future. Listen live: www.wtmj.com/listen-live Investment advisory services provided by Drake & Associates, LLC, a State of Wisconsin registered investment adviser. Insurance products are offered through a separate company, LOFT Financial Advisory Group, LLC, a Wisconsin Insurance agency, clients are under no obligation to purchase any recommended insurance products. Advice and opinions expressed during Retirement Ready are solely that of the hosts or guests of Drake & Associates, LLC and not WTMJ Radio or Good Karma Brands Milwaukee, LLC.