A person’s golden years should be lived with the vibrancy and vigor as his or her earlier years. After all, retirement is earned and should be enjoyed. Unfortunately, there are scores of elderly Americans who can’t enjoy the American dream of living out their golden years in a carefree manner.
Instead they have to work for a living; often menial minimum wage jobs that do not offer much in terms of advancement (even though they may have the knowledge to lead) or in terms of time off. Indeed, many seniors would like to avoid this scenario. This is why saving diligently and spending wisely during one’s prime earning years is incredibly important.
But is a prosperous golden years really that easy, or can it sometimes be chalked up to retiring at the right time? For instance, those whose prime earning years were in the 1980s may not have had to deal with the market crash of 1998, where many people lost a great deal of wealth in stocks and futures. Additionally, many people who worked faithfully for companies like Enron and Tyco saw their pensions and stock options literally dissipate before their eyes.
Suffice it to say, a financially secure retirement isn’t easy, neither is it guaranteed. There unfortunately is an element of luck involved, but careful planning can help in avoiding the pitfalls that can lead to financial ruin during one’s golden years so they can be enjoyed like they are supposed to be.
If you have questions about financial planning, wealth preservation or even bankruptcy, an experienced attorney can advise you.