Hello fellow fifty(ish) folks!
We’ve worked hard to get where we are, but now it’s time to face a new future: retirement.
The good news? We’ve got the experience, and smarts, to keep our money safe and make it grow.
In this article, we’ll explore investing opportunities, smart saving strategies, and how to protect your future self.
Remember, when it comes to managing your money, little changes can lead to big results.
Not all these tips may work for you, but some will, so read them all.
1. Diversify your savings
If a large part of your savings is in the stock market — as it should be — you’re well aware that what goes up can also go down. You can’t control the market, but you can hedge against uncertainty by having other forms of wealth.
One of the best ways to protect your savings is diversification. Keep money in different types of investments, ideally ones that go up when others are going down. For example, stocks tend to do poorly when inflation and interest rates are rising and there’s political turmoil brewing.
But there’s one investment that thrives in this scenario: gold.
Be careful who you deal with, though. Lots of companies in the gold business are pretty shady and won’t hesitate to sell you gold and silver at vastly inflated prices.
Priority Gold, on the other hand, has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, an AAA rating from Business Consumer Alliance, and a 5 star rating with TrustLink. They offer just about everything, from precious-metal IRAs to gold coins, gold bars & silver.
You’ll even receive up to $10,000 in free gold credit on qualifying purchases. If you’ve ever thought about investing in gold, why not take a look?
2. Slash your car insurance bill by up to $600+
How would you feel if you found out you’re throwing away $600 annually just to pad some insurance company’s bottom line?
It’s very possible. But there’s only one way to know for sure.
Take a minute and use this new insurance shopping tool from FinanceBuzz. It can tell if you’re overpaying for your car insurance with just a few clicks.
Savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for, but don’t be surprised if you can find the same coverage for hundreds less. And if not? You’ll get peace of mind by knowing you’re already getting the best possible deal.
To find out if you’re losing up to $600 or more a year, just click this link, answer a few questions, enter your ZIP, email, and phone, and within two minutes you’ll see if you qualify for a lower rate.
See if you’re overpaying.
3. Don’t lose thousands on car repairs
The cost of car repairs is skyrocketing. One shop told Consumer Reports that a decade ago, their average repair was $1,600. These days, the average bill is $4,000.
If you’re concerned about coming up with thousands of dollars for a repair bill, protect your investment with a CarShield auto warranty.
CarShield provides extended warranty plans of up to 24 months, and allows you to choose from at least six different plans, so you’ll only pay for the coverage you need. They cover cars up to 20 years old and offer flexible month-to-month plans so you’re not locked in for years.
CarShield has a network of thousands of ASE-certified repair shops, and they pay the repair bill. All you cover is the deductible. All their warranties include 24/7 roadside assistance and rental car benefits while your vehicle is being repaired.
ConsumerAffairs calls CarShield “a solid choice” for drivers of any age, and “particularly appealing” for those with older vehicles.
Take a minute right now and get a quote.
4. Take care of your older self
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 7 in 10 people who turn 65 today will probably need some kind of long-term care.
“But won’t Medicare take care of all that?” Nope. Medicare doesn’t cover long-term custodial care — and paying for it out of pocket could take a huge chunk of your retirement savings. That, plus inflation, could scramble any nest egg.
Solution? Long-term care insurance.
One place to find it is GoldenCare. (Unless you live in the four states where GoldenCare doesn’t operate: Alaska, Florida, Hawaii and Washington.)
At least check it out and see if it’s a fit. Because a little planning today could mean a far more secure tomorrow.
5. Double your retirement savings
To properly manage your money, work with a professional — it’s totally worth it. If you’re not doing this, you could be missing out on some serious financial gains.
A Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500,000 investment over 25 years would grow to $1.7 million if you manage it yourself, but more than $3.4 million if you work with a financial advisor. That’s twice as much!
If you’ve got at least $100,000 in investments, check out a free service called SmartAsset. You fill out a short questionnaire and instantly get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors in your area, all legally bound to work in your best interests.
Even if you don’t want help picking investments, an advisor can help lower your tax burden, create a comprehensive financial plan, maximize your Social Security, help with estate planning and making sure you’re on the right track. They can also be there in case one day, you’re not.
Using SmartAsset only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you’ll be offered a free consultation.
Nothing to lose and lots to potentially gain. Take a minute and check it out right now!
Please carefully review the methodologies employed in the Vanguard white paper, “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha.”
6. Put your home to work for you
Why settle for less when you can create the home of your dreams right where you are? Or use the cash for anything else you need?
With today’s soaring real estate prices, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could be the answer to unlocking your home’s full potential without breaking the bank.
Instead of stretching your budget on an overpriced new home, tap into the equity you’ve built to finance those renovations you’ve longed for. Upgrade your outdated kitchen, build your dream master suite, or finally add that home office. But the flexibility doesn’t stop there – use your HELOC funds for other goals like consolidating debt, paying for education, taking a dream vacation and more!
The best part? HELOCs typically offer lower interest rates than credit cards or personal loans since they’re secured by your home’s equity. That means big savings while you build lasting value.
Don’t wait any longer to unlock your home’s potential. Visit Money.com’s home equity loan table today to easily compare HELOC rates from multiple lenders and find the most affordable option. With just a few clicks, you could be on your way to an envy-worthy dream home or funding anything else on your list!
7. Don’t let home repairs eat your savings
Home repairs aren’t cheap. Whether it’s a leaky roof or a broken appliance, your castle can quickly crumble and cost you hundreds, or even thousands.
Unless, that is, a home warranty company has your back. Example? First American will protect you from giant bills by covering everything from home appliances to electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems — even pools and spa equipment.
They also allow you to customize your plan, so you only pay for what you need.
When something goes wrong, just call First American, day or night. The company has a network of prescreened technicians and typically dispatches an independent contractor within 48 hours.
Hey, if you’re handy and like to repair stuff yourself, that’s obviously the cheapest route. But if that’s not you, a penny spent now could save you big bucks later.
Get your free quote in 30 seconds.
8. Use this secret source for discounts
If you’re over 18, you’re eligible to save hundreds of dollars every year simply by joining AARP.
“What?” you say. “I thought AARP was for retired people.”
As it turns out, you don’t have to be 50 or older to join AARP. And members get discounts on hundreds of things, like:
- Up to $200 per person off flights
- Up to 30% off rental cars
- Up to 15% off restaurants
- Up to 20% off hotels
You’ll also save on eyeglasses, prescriptions, meal deliveries and lots more. And that’s not all. AARP offers a Fraud Watch Network, job listings, retirement planning tools, games, and tons of information, programs and resources.
Anyone trying to save money can’t afford not to join AARP, especially since the cost is as low as $12 per year with auto-renewal. You’ll likely recoup the cost in the first week. Click here and check it out.
9. Don’t torture your loved ones
When you’re gone, your problems will be over. But the problems for the ones you leave behind will just be beginning.
Show your loved ones you care by creating a will, a trust or both. It doesn’t take much time and doesn’t cost much money. But it will save a ton of both for your family.
A will is a simple legal document that outlines how you want your assets to be distributed, and you can have one in minutes for $199.
A trust allows you to place conditions on how and when your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries. You can get one of these created for as little as $499.
An hour or two preparing these documents means providing for your family, minimizing potential conflicts, and potentially reducing estate taxes. Do yourself and your family a favor and at least check it out right now.
10. Invest now for a stable monthly income for life
Are you over 50 and still relying on CDs for retirement savings? If so, it’s time to reconsider. With rates soaring up to 6.9%, annuities offer safety, and their interest accumulation beats CDs by 20% or more.
What can 20% more interest mean for you? Let’s look at an example.
Today’s CDs max out at about 5%. So, if you earn 5% on $100,000 over ten years, you’ll end up with about $163,000. But if you can earn 6.9% with an annuity, you’ll have nearly $195,000. That’s $32,000 more money you could use to travel, fix up the house or spend on whatever you want.
Annuities also offer tax-deferred growth for turbocharging compounding. And they can do something CDs can’t — they can be converted into a stable monthly income for life.
Ready to learn more? Get unbiased advice and info at Annuity.org. And if you like what you see, schedule a free consultation with a trusted retirement planning advisor.
Nothing to lose, and potentially a lot to gain. Check out Annuity.org today.
Aaron Freeman / Money Talks News
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