Newsletter September 2007

A RECENT TESTIMONIAL


“you are the only rational source of information in your market”


HANDS-ON INVESTMENT MANUAL

I have just completed a hands-on investment manual "Property Investing for Couples - avoid the cash crisis that starts the day you retire" that addresses various retirement issues.


It’s published in Word as an e-book. So you can download it easily.


If you would like a free copy (for yourself, friends, family or work colleagues) simply send me an email to admin@retirelaughing.com and you’ll have it by return.



RETIREMENT COSTS MORE


The June 2007 results for the Westpac/Association of Superannuation Funds index for our standard of living in retirement is now available.


The index assumes that you own your own home in retirement, with no mortgage, but even so the out-of-pocket cash costs for a couple enjoying a “comfortable” lifestyle is now $48,374, up from $44,733 three years ago (when the index was first established).


These couples can afford the purchase of such things as household goods, private health insurance, a reasonable car, good clothes, a range of electronic equipment, and domestic and occasionally international holiday travel.


For a couple living a “modest” – and fairly basic - lifestyle, they now need $26,154 compared to $24,049 three years ago.


Which lifestyle would you prefer?


If you don’t think that you’ll have an inflation protected pool of investments worth say $1,300,000 when you retire - i.e. adequate to give you an after-tax income of $48,374 initially – you should phone me today!


My mobile is 0414 778 518



LIKE AUSTRALIANS, CANADIANS CONCERNED OVER COSTS OF LONG-TERM CARE



A poll reveals that nearly 50% of Canadians are not confident they will have enough savings to afford their own long-term care. The Canadian Medicare, created in the sixties needs to be updated to address the realities of health care in the XIXst century.

Most thought long-term care should be the top priority if Medicare were to be expanded, followed by home care, prescription drugs, dental care and vision care.


Canadians were split evenly as to wether the government should cover a portion of catastrophic drug expenses exceeding a certain amount of income, or 70% of all Canadians' prescription drug expenses.


According to Dr. Colin McMillan, President of the Canadian Medical Association, in less than 5 years, the first baby boomers will turn 65 and Canada will face a long-term care crunch.



Medicare, the health system created in the sixties and focused largely on covering hospital and physician services, needs to adapt and grow to address new realities and meet new challenges, he said.


AMERICAN MAGAZINES TARGET THE BOOMER SET

New publications and web sites are catering to the over-50 crowd. Each new product targets one particular readership, like aging athletes or grandparents for instance.

Following the example of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)’s magazine, new products aimed at baby boomers are launched. Each magazine or web site targets one precise readership.


ELDR magazine, which debuted in July, is targeting sixty somethings with stories about yoga, tips to avoid falling or contracting osteoporosis, and interviews with people such as exercise guru Jack La Lanne, now 92. “We’re for people who want to stay active,” says editor David Bunnell.


The bimonthly Grand first published in August, 2004, serves up pieces on celebrity oldsters such as Goldie Hawn, Harrison Ford, and General Colin Powell. With ads from drugmakers, toymakers, and real estate marketers now filling about 30% of its 80 pages each issue.


GeezerJock, serves about 50,000 aging athletes – but stresses the athlete part. “We’re not going after old people, we’re going after age-group athletes”, says editor Sean Callahan. Its backers believe so strongly that there’s a market that they are planning later this year to launch an offshoot, Masters Cycling, for cyclists with a bit more mileage on them.


Then there are new social-networking sites such as Eons.com, started last year to pursue the 50-plus crowd, and TBD.com, aimed at the 40-plus group.


(from BusinessWeek Online, 29/08/2007)



Regards

Bernard Kelly http://www.retirelaughing.com/ 0414 778 518 cell 61 -414 778 518