Financial Library

The Baby Boomers have become known as the “sandwich” generation as they are wedged between the dependency needs of aging parents and the needs of their children. Those hit the hardest have been the families ravaged by the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Baby Boomers now find themselves reaching the age when the disease is more likely to strike. Very few are prepared for the emotional and financial toll this degenerative disease can take.

You have probably heard about the old 70 percent rule that suggests retirees will need the equivalent of about 70 percent of your current income level to maintain their lifestyle in retirement. This assumes that your retirement living costs will be 30 percent less than during your working years. While it may have been applied appropriately for retirees two or three decades ago, it is fraught with significant risk and potential disaster for today’s retirees.

It is possible for just about everybody to achieve financial success. Getting there is usually not a matter of financial wizardry. By following some basic principles, you can make your financial dreams come true:

Goal setting is the foundation of achieving financial success. If you don't have a target to shoot for, how can you expect to hit it? By writing down your goals, you will clarify them and establish your personal and financial priorities. Be specific when setting goals. For example, instead of having a goal to reduce debt, set a goal to reduce debt by a certain amount by a certain date.

For many nearing retirement, lifestyle choices become more significant in determining their comfort level for the rest of their lives. They must decide whether it is better to make some of those choices now or have their circumstances force lifestyle changes later in retirement. That’s the dilemma faced by many people who have come to enjoy their way of life, but now realize that sacrifices will have to be made in order to maintain a similar quality of life in retirement.