When I was a kid, Star Wars was IT. I was a comic book fan and collector and a reader in general. I owned many books including the novelization of Star Wars. As a kid, I thought novels became movies, not the other way around. Star Wars is the movie that I loved. To this day I can vividly remember the opening scene when it felt like the gigantic battle cruiser was emerging from overhead and behind me. That is a moment I'd love to relive to experience the awe and amazement again.
But I remember reading the novel after having seen the film, more than once I believe, and feeling disappointed. Were it not for the memory of the film experience the book may have left me feeling little except boredom.
Later, when I starting studying writing and writing novels and scripts of my own I was surprised and a little relieved to learn that there is a formula to storytelling. That is that there is a structure starting with what seems obvious but is essential knowledge, that there is a beginning, middle, and an end to every story. Understanding the structure of that which you are trying to create is essential to success. Book publishers and film producers alike will read a novel or script looking for the essential "beats", sections of the story necessary for success. Yes, there have been and always will be outliers that deny the approved structure and establish new formats within which to work, but even those writers are usually somewhat familiar with the formats that are used in the majority of books and films.
What does this have to so with a blog about Retirement Income Planning Expertise? It has to do with the fact that success in retirement generally requires a plan, a structured process by which you will be able to generate sufficient retirement income, adjusted for inflation, for the rest of your life, with the added bonus of leaving an estate for your loved ones.
THAT is what RIPE is all about. I'm going to teach you how to save for retirement and live on your savings for the rest of your life while leaving something behind for whomever you wish. I'm going to write for those of you that are near retirement (within 10 years of your ideal retirement date) and for those that are already retired primarily, but I will also speak to those just starting to save and plan for their future retirement.
Lesson One is this: There is no magic bullet. Retirement requires money. You need to save. You need to start as early as possible. You need to be disciplined. And you need to be consistent and realistic.
I've seen people who did none of those things reach "retirement age" then come to me for advice on how to retire only to learn they can't.
That never needs to be the case. It just requires planning. I plan for this blog to be your helpful guide.
I know what I'm talking about. I've been retiring people for decades. I'm a Certified Financial Planner and I'm a licensed financial advisor and insurance agent. I'm also a professional freelance writer and editor primarily writing about investing and financial planning. I know what I'm talking about. I've DONE it all, with real money, and with real people's lives and futures at stake. And I've got the emails, cards, and letters of gratitude from my clients to prove my success and theirs. So please subscribe. Read. Learn. There will be a lot of good stuff here. I'm excited to share. Please ask questions and provide feedback. I want you to benefit from this blog. I'll do a better job if you let me know what's on your mind. Thanks.
