Retirement Planning Today® 

An Educational Course for Adults Age 50-70

You can find trendy financial news almost anywhere but it is difficult to use this information to make informed decisions and create a plan for your retirement. This course is designed to save you time by delivering comprehensive, objective knowledge you can easily apply to your situation. When it comes to important subjects like retirement planning, it makes sense to learn from a reliable, trusted source.

Course topics include:

• Determine the amount of money you need to retire
• Create your own goals for a "successful retirement"
• Eliminate debt and improve cash flow
• Properly convert your IRA to a Roth IRA
• Select the retirement plan distribution choice that is right for you
• Plan your retirement income to preserve a comfortable standard of living
• Transfer the risk of potential financial losses before or during retirement
• Reduce or eliminate taxes, expenses, delays and legal challenges with estate planning

Who Should Attend?

Retirement Planning Today^® contains something for everyone. We address financial issues that pertain to the self- employed as well as employees of corporations and government agencies. The course is designed to teach you how to build wealth and align your money with your values to accomplish your goals in life. Whether you plan to retire 20 years from now or have just recently retired, the information you learn in this class can deliver rewards throughout your lifetime.

Course Outline:

Session 1

Section 1: Life Planning for Retirement

• Traditional vs. new retirement
• New retirement opportunities
• Values and objectives in nine areas of life
• The retirement planning process  

Section 2: Retirement Needs & Expenses

• Early retirement trends
• How long must your money last?
• Inflation, prices and purchasing power
• Retirement expectations
• How much will you need to retire?
• Can you retire today?  

Section 3: Retirement Roadblocks & Mistakes

• Ten retirement planning mistakes
• Financial and cash–flow statements
• Credit and debt
• Taxes and marginal tax rates
• Eleven strategies to save money on taxes
• Taxable investments
• Capital gains income tax exclusion
• Investments with tax advantages  

Section 4: Retirement Income Sources

• Traditional IRAs
• Roth IRAs
• IRA to Roth IRA conversions
• Other retirement income sources
• Social Security eligibility and benefits
• Employment income and Social Security
• Employer–sponsored defined benefit plans
• Employer–sponsored defined contribution plans  

Section 5: Retirement Plan Distributions

• Retiring or changing jobs?
• Defined benefit and contribution plans
• Three important considerations
• Lump sum vs. IRA transfer vs. annuity payments
• Rollovers, direct rollovers and transfers
• Annuity income and choices
• Early retirement considerations
• Minimum required distributions

Session 2

Section 6: Investments

• Considerations before you invest
• Cash accounts
• Stocks and bonds
• Mutual funds
• Exchange traded funds
• Unit investment trusts
• Individually managed accounts
• Tax–deferred annuities
• Investment risk management strategies  

Section 7: Risk Management & Asset Protection

• Disability income insurance
• Health insurance and Medicare
• Long–term care and insurance
• Comparing life insurance  

Section 8: Estate Planning

• Planning for incapacity
• Taxes
• A will may not be enough
• Probate
• Gifting assets
• Joint ownership of property
• Direct transfer assets
• Benefits of trusts
• Types of trusts

CRN #202508-2924033

Wealth Creation Today®

A Personal Finance Course for Professionals Age 35 to 50

When was the last time you learned something that truly made a positive impact in your financial life? Did it come from a trendy self- help book? A viral social media share? Most people learn about personal finance through observing how their friends and family manage their money. When was the last time you received a formal financial education?

Benefits of Attending

Comprehensive, Objective Financial Education

Wealth Creation Today® takes a comprehensive, objective approach, giving you indispensable tools to avoid mistakes and recognize smart solutions for your personal financial wellness.

Learn How to

• Create S.M.A.R.T. financial goals
• Accumulate wealth faster
• Avoid common investment mistakes
• Prioritize which debt to pay off first
• Raise financially savvy children
• Navigate the alternative minimum tax
• Maximize employer benefit plans
• Utilize tax advantaged accounts
• Build a diversified portfolio
• Compare types of insurance
• Plan for an early retirement
• Fund college the smart way

Course Outline

Session 1

Section 1: Life & Wealth Planning

• Financing your life goals
• Establishing S.M.A.R.T. financial goals
• Personal financial statements
• Managing an annual budget
• Income vs. wealth accumulation
• Dual–income family considerations
• Planning an early retirement  

Section 2: Barriers to Wealth Accumulation

• The wealth accumulation formula
• 14 wealth planning mistakes
• Debt reduction strategies
• Inflation trends & purchasing power of money
• Leveraging the time value of money
• Overcoming investment fears (opportunity cost)
• Ordinary income vs. long–term capital gains
• 12 strategies to save money on taxes
• Navigating the alternative minimum tax (AMT)  

Section 3: Tax Advantaged Investment Vehicles

• Maximizing the value of your paycheck
• 401(k) and other benefit plans
• Rollover defined–considerations
• Traditional vs. Roth IRAs
• IRA to Roth IRA conversions
• SIMPLE & SEP IRAs
• Health savings vs. flex spending accounts
• Tax–advantaged annuities
• Employee stock options
• Choosing beneficiaries

Session 2

Section 4: Managing Family Finances

• Discussing money inside the home
• Raising financially aware children
• Navigating child tax credit phase–outs
• Guardian IRAs
• College funding investment vehicles
• Protecting your parents from scams
• Social Security & Medicare
• Long–term care for parent
• Estate planning
• Wills, trusts & inheritance
• The probate process
• Stretch IRAs  

Section 5: Investment Strategies

• Considerations before you invest
• Cash accounts
• Stocks & equities
• Bonds
• Mutual funds
• Index funds
• Exchange–traded funds
• Alternative investments
• Active vs. passive investing
• Robo advisors & model portfolios
• Professional investment management  

Section 6: Risk Management Strategies

• Common investment risks
• Investment risk management
• Asset allocation
• Modern portfolio theory
• Protecting against fraud & financial scams
• Protecting yourself from cash windfalls
• Property & casualty insurance
• Disability income insurance
• Medical & health insurance
• Comparing life insurance

CRN #202508-2924033