Breaking The Financial Trap: Creating A Secure Retirement (part 1 Of 5)

Part 1 of 5: Hope Is Not a Strategy

Part 1 of 5: Hope Is Not a Strategy

Solving the mystery of financial independence is probably

the single most important issue on the minds of Baby

Boomers and Ambassador Generation members today. Each

economic shock, each round of layoffs or repossessions,

each day of a fruitless job search causes the issue to grow

in our minds.

The answer turns out to be quite simple - and that simplicity

actually makes it very difficult for many people to accept.

For that reason, the truth is often overlooked or rejected,

even though it is actually right in front of our faces every day.

Part of the reason may be that while the formula for wealth

creation in a capitalist economy really is simple, it's not very

easy to implement. It requires discipline, focus, and a long

term view of the future.

In addition, it also requires education. Not general education,

or higher education for that matter. What's required is financial

education - a specialized type of knowledge that, quite

conveniently, is not taught in the vast majority of the world's

schools.

In other words, if you want to live like most people can't afford

to live, you have to be willing to think differently than most people

are taught to think. Reality, not familiarity, must be your guide.

You must be willing to accept the fact that just because you've

been taught a certain thing your whole life, doesn't necessarily

make it true.

You can still live well and create a secure retirement. But you

need accurate information, and a firm grasp on the real rules of

the game in order to make that happen. And the first rule is,

"hope is not a strategy".

This article is written for those of us who fully intend to win the

game, but prefer not to rely on hope. If that includes you, then

please read on.

All over the world, the "safety net" our parents relied on - pensions,

government support, and living wages that encouraged savings -

has been quietly dismantled. There is no longer a social contract

between employees and employers; the responsibility for providing

for retirement has been almost completely shifted to the individual.

Meanwhile, the cost of getting older is escalating at an alarming

rate. Our kids' college tuitions are going up as much as 20% a year

or more. Our parents' medical and nursing care costs are

skyrocketing. We're watching our healthcare systems implode

before our very eyes.

And deep down inside, we know that the recent federal tax cuts are

resulting in budget shortfalls at the local level, which are already

triggering tremendous, hidden tax increases, as vital services are

eliminated and our bridges, roads, sewers, and other infrastructure

crumble for lack of proper maintenance.

We cringe when we see yet another senior citizen handing us fries

at the drive-through window, knowing they should be at home having

meals served to them instead.

We cringe, because we know that someday soon, that could be us.

We don't want to think about it, but deep down, we know that more

and more people are simply destined to work until they die. And

there's a quiet, rolling fear building in our souls.

In fact, according to the 2008 Retirement Confidence Survey, only

47% of American workers have even bothered to calculate how

much money we'll need to save by the time we retire - much less

formulated a plan for actually saving it.

Many of us have gambled on the stock market - and lost. Our

paychecks are stagnant; that is, if we haven't been laid off recently.

The latest refinancing boom has left millions of us with little or no

real equity in our homes, and forclosures are at an all-time high.

So, for many of us, it's too late to just SAVE our way out of this mess.

If we want to "beat the system", and escape the trap with our financial

lives, we're going to have to improve our profitability and increase our

cash flow - quickly and dramatically. But is there a way to honestly,

legally, and ethically do so?

by: skyvault

POST COMMENT

Breaking The Financial Trap: Creating A Secure Retirement (part 2 Of 5) Breaking The Financial Trap: Creating A Secure Retirement (part 3 Of 5) Breaking The Financial Trap: Creating A Secure Retirement (part 4 Of 5) Breaking The Financial Trap: Creating A Secure Retirement (part 5 Of 5) Best Industrial Angle Drills: 4 Corded Angle Drills To Leave The Others In The Dust Answers You Passionately Want When Feeling Anxiety Unique Ceiling Fans - Be Different Civic Headlights For Great Night Driving Candlestick Park | Oakland Coliseum | Arrowhead Stadium The Importance Of Cord Blood Good For The Best Only Go For Cheap Towels Most Importance About Sd Card 2gb Why You Should Get A Rent To Buy Property