The Prosperity Blog

Income for Life: Creating Cash Flow with an Annuity

by Kate4Kim | Oct 4, 2019 | 10 Comments

A guaranteed lifetime income is a compelling proposition. After all—who doesn’t love the idea of being set for life? While it is impossible to know how long you’ll live, it IS possible to make sure you will receive (at least) a certain amount of income for the rest of your life. Let’s see why a lifetime income annuity can be a lifesaver for some retirees!

Single Premium Immediate Annuities (SPIAs) can provide this income, yet few people use them in their retirement strategies. How can you know if a lifetime income annuity makes sense for your situation? Let’s explore.

5 Assets that Don’t Belong in Your Retirement Account

by Partners 4 Prosperity | Sep 26, 2019 | 0 Comment

Are all investments equally suitable for your retirement plan? Do some retirement account assets work better than others… and if so, why?

You can put almost anything into some type of retirement account—from a mutual fund to an alpaca farm! Awhile back, we wrote an article about some of the BEST investments to put in a retirement plan—especially a self-directed retirement account. Today, our focus is on what DOESN’T belong in that retirement account.

Qualified retirement plans or accounts are those that meet government tax code requirements for contributing pre-tax dollars that grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. They include 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and SEP plans. IRAs work very similarly, though not technically “qualified.”

Putting an asset in a traditional 401(k) or IRA gives you tax-deferred growth. But just because you CAN put an asset in a retirement account doesn’t mean you should. In this article, we’ll explain why, and we’ll name five assets you probably DON’T want in your retirement plan:

Long-Term Care Riders and Hybrid Policies: A Better Solution

by Kate4Kim | Sep 19, 2019 | 0 Comment

“If there’s a single unsolved problem in the retirement plans for many middle- and upper-middle-income adults, it’s what to do about long-term care costs later in life,” says Christine Benz of Morningstar. And she’s right.

According to the Genworth 2018 Cost of Care Survey, the national median annual cost for long term care ranges from $48,000 to $100,375 depending on the type of care required. Of course, home care is less expensive than care in a facility, and shared rooms are less expensive than private rooms.

Is Supporting Your Adult Child Hurting Both of You?

by Kate4Kim | Sep 5, 2019 | 0 Comment

Kids are expensive—and worth it! In a recent survey, an overwhelming majority of parents (94 percent) say parenting is the most rewarding aspect of their lives. But if you think the expenses end when the child turns 18 or graduates from college—think again! Many parents support adult children in various ways.

According to a recent study by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, 79% of parents in the U.S. provide financial support to their 18- to 34-year-old adult children. This amounts to $500 billion spent annually—twice what those same parents contribute to their retirement accounts ($250 billion).

Grit: How Passion & Perseverance Create Prosperity

by Kate4Kim | Aug 29, 2019 | 0 Comment

“Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
—Angela Duckworth, Grit

What determines success? Is it intelligence, talent, or something else?

Angela Duckworth’s book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, answers this question and explores the “something else” that is essential for success. Grit is the ability to sustain effort in order to reach long-term goals. Duckworth defines grit as part passion (something you know you want and/or love doing) and part perseverance (hard work and resilience).

Let’s dive into some of the highlights from this excellent book. As we do, we’ll look at how grit can be applied, specifically—to your finances!

10 Ways to Get Ready for the Next Recession

by Kate4Kim | Aug 23, 2019 | 0 Comment

The economic headlines present two divergent realities right now. One shows sunny skies, and the other, a fierce storm brewing. Today, we consider the signs and how to prepare for the next recession—one that seems inevitable.

On the one hand, unemployment remains at near 50-year lows. Consumer confidence is high. Wages are rising. And—if you don’t mind some unnerving bumps in the road—the stock market has continued it’s mostly upward trajectory to recent new highs. On the surface, things look pretty good.

The Great American Savings Crisis

by Kate4Kim | Aug 19, 2019 | 0 Comment

This article is adapted from Perpetual Wealth: How to Use “Family Financing” to Build Prosperity and Leave a Legacy for Generations. This new book from Kim D. H. Butler and Kate Phillips is available for a limited time as a download—on us! Scroll down to find out more and sign up for your copy… or download it right now!

Saving Saves Families

One of Kim’s sayings is, “Saving saves families.” Both saving (as a verb) and the resulting savings (noun) makes a world of difference.

With savings, people can handle emergencies and build up additional capital to invest with. With savings, people can get the education, training or mentorship they need to pursue a fulfilling career. They can purchase a home and not be at the mercy of a rental market. They can start a business and employ others. And they can afford the things that are important to them.

Without savings, people struggle and families are sometimes even torn apart. Financial stress and a lack of savings can threaten families and lasting wealth in multiple ways: