Looking to attend a financial planning retirement seminar? What are the things to look out for? Here are some things to take note. Before attending such a seminar, do know what your expectations are and what the people organizing the seminar can deliver. Usually, part of the financial planning retirement seminar will include sales pitches on products propagated by the organisers.
There is nothing wrong with these, but you do have to be aware of what your own needs in terms of such financial services and products. Some topics that are be covered in such a seminar should include personal financial planning, retirement, savings and investment and other similar topics.
A certain number of retirement planning seminars have speakers suggesting the use of high-risk financial instruments so that (logically) higher investment returns can be achieved. The logic is, of course, with higher investment returns, you can secure a more comfortable retirement in future. All very well and good, but it is of utmost importance that you must first understand you own risk appetite and profile. You may want to talk to a professional and competent financial planner in this respect.
The old saying of "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) is a good description for this, even if just figuratively. The point to note is that in personal financial planning (and especially in the area of investment) it is wise not to get involved in anything that one has no clear and thorough understanding of. In fact, the financial planning retirement seminar is the avenue for you to better understand the type of financial instruments and investments that will help you retire comfortably. It is definitely not the place for you to lose your "sweat and blood" funds that are meant for your retirement. There is really no need to feel that you have to agree with everything the speaker says. Do remember that some speakers do have commercial objectives to be speaking at such seminars.
Ready to attend the seminar? Before that, start by asking yourself some questions on what you are trying to achieve. The questions can be along the line of " how much should I save for retirement?", "what kind of lifestyle do I want during retirement?". These questions may seem basic, but they are important. They will help shape your expectations of what the retirement seminar can do for you.
For example, most financial planners will recommend that you will live on 60% - 80% of your present income. Whilst there are various reasons for this financial planning "rule of the thumb", only you will know what you want. Nobody, except yourself, should decide. The fact remains, however, that you must be in a position to decide. In order to do that, you must have a personal financial plan in the first place. Hopefully, attending a financial planning retirement seminar will either start that plan or enhance your present one. This is all part of good personal financial planning.
No comments:
Post a Comment