Clear Financial Advisors founder Robert Schmansky, CFP® participates in a panel discussion on mistakes investors make moderated by USAToday.com Editor-in-Chief Dave Callaway. Linked here is a USA Today article on our panel / Press Release / Videos #inthemedia #retirementinvesting #retirementplanning #rothira #financialbasics #financialadvisors #gpsinvesting #communityeducation #video #inthenewsvideo

According to a 2013 study of employee retirement savings, healthcare concerns are driving many to cut retirement contributions, while seeking ways to save more for future healthcare costs. Mercer’s Workplace Study finds pre-retirees may cut back on retirement contributions by 10% in 2014 and due to a lack of trust in future healthcare benefits, these same workers may be putting those savings into Health Savings Accounts (HSA) combined with High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP)

One of the questions retirees face with drawing down their portfolios is, “Should I move everything to an annuity?” In a low-interest rate world it is obvious that answer may be no. Let’s examine the actual impact of the “rising” rate period of the last two years on annuity payments with a client who posed this question in November of 2011. Let’s use a single premium immediate annuity as an example as it’s based on sound actuarial science and have had a history of keeping the

General Motors and Ford retirees are facing a choice that may become a trend for traditional pensions. As corporations seek to manage their obligations, GM and Ford have both offered pensioners a lump-sum payout from the plan which would relieve the companies of their future pension obligation. GM has taken a further step, and will offload it’s pension obligations to Prudential for those who do not take the lump sum payout. The choice as to whether or not to take the lump sum