Is your retirement plan ready to go?

Preparing for retirement is a cornerstone of any financial plan, but a lot can change as you approach your golden years. That's why trying a "retirement dress rehearsal" well before you stop working can reveal items to be addressed or give you reasons to adjust your expectations. Double-check your financial details. Most people's anxiety about retirement comes down to finances, so feeling comfortable and confident in the numbers can go a long way toward alleviating doubts or worry. Use the 4 percent rule to quickly estimate a suitable nest egg amount, or explore free online retirement calculators to compare and contrast target goals based on your current age. Don't just consider the big number, either. Make sure to review your budget and cash flow because every penny counts. Consider your current and anticipated standard of living. Anticipating financial readiness requires making a few guesses in addition to your straightforward calculations. Take time to consider how closely your retirement lifestyle will mirror your current lifestyle. If you anticipate relocating or caring for dependents during retirement (especially if children or grandchildren will live with you), make sure to factor those additional costs into your financial projections. Prepare for a major mental and emotional shift. Don't neglect the psychological impact of retirement, especially when it comes to your social habits and sense of identity. Without built-in, on-the-job interactions with colleagues, clients or customers, it's even more important to strengthen human connections. Research suggests that loneliness and social isolation are a growing threat to public health, so be sure to invest time and resources to keep up with family, friends and activities to ensure continued well-being as you age.

(Inspiration) A lie exposed… and shredded

If you’re “middle-aged” ‒ say, somewhere in your 40’s or 50’s (or these days, maybe even your 60’s!) ‒ then this one’s for you...

And even if you’re not, pay attention anyway, because this is important.   

Fact is, it’s so very easy to get caught up in stuff ‒ parenting, working, staying in shape, working even more, worrying about crap. It never really ends. Then there’s that oh-so-precious commodity...   

Time.   

That’s right, time. You had so much of it when you were younger… and so little left after you’ve added a few decades to your “School of Reality” resume. Where did it go? And how can you possibly make the major lifestyle changes you need and want to make… when you’re already “over the hill”?   

Seems like it’s pretty much hopeless to think you can keep up with… let alone adapt to… all the new trends and challenges coming at you every single day.   

At least, that’s how a lot of folks think about it. That’s how they feel about it…   

I get it. Sure, as we get a bit older, a bit more experienced, it can be tempting to feel and think that way. But that doesn’t mean we should give in to the temptation. Not at all…   

There’s a much better way to handle this ‒ here’s what it is:   

Short video: Insanely successful “old guy” rips the over-the-hill LIE to shreds.   

To your success!

Small Businesses - Increasing Productivity

Another beautiful summer has gone by, and with the temperatures slowly dropping, it's time to start thinking about what is next. The fall season is known for family hayrides, pumpkin carving, apple picking and doughnut eating, but what does fall mean for your business? These wonderful distractions can take away from productivity and may lead to a lower return rate within your company. Keep the temperatures hot with these five tips for increasing fall productivity in your business.

1. Encourage your employees to get a full night of sleep — at least seven hours. Recharging between busy days will increase awareness in the workplace and lead to fewer sick days.
2. Incorporate healthy eating habits. If you have the means, provide fruits and veggies for your employees to enjoy during the workday. Turning to a healthy snack rather than that bag of chips in your briefcase will yield faster response rates and higher energy levels. Check out a list of healthy eats here.
3. Control the temperature of your office space as much as possible. It will already be chilly outside — your space doesn't have to be the same way. Ask your employees what temperature levels they are most comfortable with and try to stick to it. According to About.com, productivity is at its best when the temperature lies between 70–73 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Create a joyful environment with the décor of your workplace. Whether you have cubicles, open desk spaces, or separate offices, creating a cheerful area for your employees to work will allow creativity to flow and minds to relax. Integrate a pleasant and calming color scheme to commemorate the brighter days of the year. You might also consider adding bright art pieces, colored printer paper, and decorative plants.
5. Urge your employees to attend social events outside of the 9–5 hours to cultivate fun and meaningful relationships with their co-workers. Employees who enjoy their co-workers positively affect office ambiance and overall productivity. They may enjoy coming into work more; making the shock from warm bed to cold floor a bit less frustrating. Just make sure those relationships stay professional and do not hinder their ability to get work done.

Who me?

Disability insurance is one of the most overlooked forms of coverage despite it being one of the most necessary types of coverage. The odds of becoming disabled because of an accident, injury or illness can be up to 1 in 4 people according to the Social Security Administration. The average duration of a disability insurance claim is 34.6 months. With open enrollment approaching, consider opting in for group disability insurance. And if you are self-employed or otherwise do not have access to a group disability insurance, you should consider an individual disability insurance policy. Keep in mind, that even if you have group (employer) disability insurance, that you may not full coverage as some group disability insurance will only cover 50% of your salary (excludes bonus & commissions) along with the benefit being subject to income tax. Individual long term disability insurance benefits are not subject to income since premiums are payable on an after-tax basis. To find out your chances, you can use the Personal Disability Quotient Calculator from the Council on Disability Awareness.

It’s important to note that while the U.S. Government has the Social Security Disability Insurance program, it can be difficult to qualify for and may provide insufficient benefits. Here’s Why you shouldn’t rely on Social Security disability insurance.

What is a salt pool and why we got one

When you hear someone say, "I have a salt pool," you think of the ocean, right? In fact, it's nothing like the ocean. A salt pool is also known as a chlorine-generated pool. The ocean's salt content is around 35,000 parts per million, where a salt pool is around 3,200 ppm.

The main reason for a chlorine generator is to produce its own chlorine so that consumers do not have to buy, store or handle liquid chlorine. Chlorine generators constantly produce a residual of chlorine, as long as the pump is running. This type of residual chlorine is softer, purer chlorine without the effects of liquid chlorine (dry skin, irritated eyes and bleached swimwear).

When your pool water passes through the chorine generator cell, it produces chlorine through the process of electrolysis. do not assume a salt pool is a "maintenance-free" pool. The generator only replaces the need to add chlorine; it does not maintain your other balances (pH, total hardness, total alkalinity and cyanuric acid). These balances, as well chlorine and salt levels, should be tested at least once a week. Free water testing analysis is provided by most local pool stores.

The average consumer will spend about $1,170 per year on liquid chlorine and chlorine stabilizer tabs. With a salt pool, you can expect to cut that number down by almost $1,000 per year. Having a salt pool also gives you the convenience of not having to pick up any more chlorine jugs and tote them around each week.

To convert your pool, you will need to have your water tested to be sure all your chemicals are in balance. This can be done by bringing a water sample into your local pool store. Then arrange for a professional technician to come out and install your chlorine generator. You will have a power supply box attached to your wall and your chlorine cell piped into your existing pump equipment. Based on your current salt reading, they will then add your start-up salt to get your level up to the necessary 3,200 ppm.

In less than 24 hours, our pool was up and running as a salt pool.
                                                                      ********

Hurricane Irma and The Eye of The Storm

In 10 years of living in Florida, last week was first time I had to deal with the impact of a hurricane directly. Kathy was assigned to Fawcett Hospital's (Port Charlotte, Florida) team 'A' and reported in for work on Saturday afternoon. We lost power at our home on Sunday. I watched the hurricane coverage from the hospital and was amazed watching Irma hit Naples, Florida. The winds and rain were intense then suddenly it was calm, the eye of the hurricane had hit. It reminded me how many people, when in crisis or perceived crisis situations, become consumed with drama and panic. Yet in those situations we need to be more like the eye of the storm - calm, confident and under control. Drama, panic and freaking out all diminish your performance. It prevents you from logical thinking. High performers stay calm during crisis and many times even thrive. Staying calm not only improves your personal performance but the performance of those around you. If you or your team needs that calm, eye of the storm confidence when things get tough, contact me at dougmyrick@gmail.com

Insurance can be complicated…but getting your claim paid doesn’t have to be.

Most people give very little thought to insurance until it comes time to submit a claim. More specifically, not until a claim is delayed, under paid or denied. While there are numerous factors that determine why a claim is denied or underpaid, the insurance company is obligated to disburse the funds in accordance with the terms of the policy unless the language of the policy indicates that a policy condition has not been met. Sounds complicated, right? It can be…but there are a number of things that can be done to help ensure a claim is paid in full.

A few simple steps can go a long way to getting your insurance claim paid: 

• There are time sensitive requirements for the notification, filing and documenting of any claim or loss. Notify your insurer promptly of any loss and understand the requirements and time limits for filing a claim.
• Pay your premiums on time. Delayed or missed payments could results in a denied or under paid claim.
• Complete all original applications with detailed factual information. If the adjuster assigned to investigate your claim finds anything questionable with the original application for coverage or with the claim itself, it is possible that your claim may be denied because of conflicting information.
• Know what your policy covers and excludes to ensure you’re getting the coverage you need. Every insurance policy has exclusions. If the cause of your claim is excluded from coverage in your policy, then you can expect your claim to be denied.
• Following a loss, take all reasonable steps to protect property and to mitigate the damage. The policyholder is required to protect insured property from further damage and to mitigate the extent of loss. Not taking reasonable steps to reduce the extent of the loss could be grounds for a denial.
• Document all damage and file a detailed itemized claim to your insurer. One of your responsibilities as a policyholder is to prove your claim to the insurance company. It is very important to document the damage done to your property accurately and with as much detail as possible.

Insurance claims can be a time consuming and challenging experience for most policyholders and the delay or denial of your insurance claim can have severe implications. Hiring a professional advocate, such as an experienced insurance broker, to walk you through the complexities of an insurance policy, provide advice, help file your claim, and negotiate with your insurance company, can be essential to prompt and favorable settlement of your claim.

I am Doug Myrick, Principal Agent for Insurance Policy Centres, LLC. You can follow me on LinkedIn and on Twitter to see more posts and insights on all topics related to loss prevention, risk management, and insurance.

NOTE: None of the information in this article is intended to offer legal advice. Regulated individuals/entities should ensure that they comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.