TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE SO YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE.

Transcription

1 TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE SO YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE _CLDM22897.indd 1 1/4/13 3:30 PM

2 Prepare yourself for whatever life may bring. At every stage of your life. Whether you are establishing a career, raising children, running a business, taking care of aging parents, or giving back to your community life can get pretty busy. And it s easy to put off tasks that may not have immediate, tangible outcomes like learning about and actively managing your long-term finances. At some point in your life, you will probably be responsible for making key decisions that will impact your standard of living now and into the future. That s why it s important to take steps to make sure you are informed and educated so you can feel confident about the financial decisions you make.

3 When it comes to planning for your fi nancial future, there s no such thing as one size fi ts all. The strategies that make the most sense for you will be infl uenced by your personal circumstances. To help you get inspired about getting started and to generate ideas that you might want to explore, we ve included scenarios spotlighting fi ve categories of women at different fi nancial decisionmaking points in their lives. Through these scenarios, you can get an understanding of the actions you may want to consider and why. For more customized ideas and solutions to fi t your particular situation and goals, please contact your fi nancial professional today. What you ll fi nd in this brochure} Just Starting Out 2 Family Focused 4 Suddenly Single 8 Financially Independent 10 Prime of Your Life 12 PAGE 1

4 Honestly, taking care of my fi nances was never a priority for me. These past few years I have been concentrating on establishing my career. Now that I m on my way, I know I should start saving and investing especially since I just got engaged and we re already talking about buying a house and starting a family. My fi ancé and I both contribute to our respective company s 401(k) plans, but I know we both should be doing more. * MONICA, 27-YEARS OLD, ENGAGED, NO CHILDREN, ARCHITECT Just Starting Out Whether you are fresh out of school, working to establish your career like Monica, recently married, starting a family or all of the above now is the ideal time to lay the foundation for a solid fi nancial future. Developing good spending and saving habits and learning how to accumulate and protect wealth now can help you get to where you want to be down the road. PAGE 2

5 Actions to Consider 1) ESTABLISH A REALISTIC BUDGET AND A FEW FINANCIAL GOALS Create a monthly budget by considering all of your monthly expenses so you don t live beyond your means. In addition to rent, utilities, food, and entertainment, include ongoing debts like student loans and car payments, as well as allotments for things like clothing and travel. Identify short, medium and long-term goals like saving for a car or a house and consider what you can afford to earmark towards them every month. 2) START SAVING TODAY Establish an emergency fund with the goal of saving six month s pay to cover your expenses in case you are suddenly without a job, have medical expenses or major car or home repairs. Begin investing on your own to take advantage of the power of compounding interest. 3) ATTACK YOUR DEBT Chip away at student loans and credit card debt by paying more than minimum payments if you can. Start with the highest interest rate debt fi rst. 4) GUARD AGAINST RISK Protect yourself and your dependents with health, life, disability and dental insurance, and your possessions with automobile and renter s or homeowner s insurance. Get the most out of your company s employee benefi ts program by taking advantage of insurance protection. If it makes sense for your situation and you can afford it, lock in low rates on individual life and disability insurance when you re young. 5) START INVESTING EARLY FOR RETIREMENT Contribute to your employer s 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. Put in at least the minimum percentage needed to qualify for the full employer match on the 401(k). If your company doesn t offer a 401(k), open an IRA. Then set up automatic contributions into the plan. PAGE 3

6 Even with two incomes, our expenses are so high that I worry about the cost of everything our mortgage, childcare, braces, music lessons, vacations not to mention that we need a new car and the house needs a new roof. My husband and I participate in our employers pension plans, but I know we should be doing much more like fi nding more effective ways to save for our retirement and our kids education. * CAROL, 37-YEARS OLD, MARRIED, TWO CHILDREN, ATTORNEY Family Focused As your family starts to grow, everything changes including your top fi nancial concerns and goals. Life no longer revolves around just you and your partner. Whether you are a working mom like Carol or a stay-at-home mom, your responsibilities now include taking steps that will ensure the well-being of your children and give them every advantage so that they can grow up healthy, happy and equipped to succeed. Balancing your family s immediate fi nancial needs and longer-term planning can be a challenge. Taking action early on can set you up to help achieve and maintain the lifestyle you envision for you and your family. PAGE 4

7 Actions to Consider 1) MAKE SURE BOTH YOU AND YOUR PARTNER ARE INVOLVED IN YOUR FAMILY S MONTHLY AND LONG-TERM FINANCES Develop a detailed budget to keep track of household spending, pay down debt and maximize savings rates. Be proactive in long-term fi nancial decision making with your partner and set up time to periodically review your strategies and progress so you re both on the same page. If it makes sense, work with a fi nancial professional and be sure that both you and your partner feel equally comfortable with him or her. 2) START SAVING FOR RETIREMENT FIRST THEN START SAVING FOR COLLEGE Put as much money as you can in your 401(k)s or other retirement plans at least enough to qualify for the employer match. Supplement your 401(k) by opening an IRA, annuity or a personal investment account. Explore 529 savings plans or other college saving vehicles when your kids are young. 3) HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY S WELL-BEING AND LIFESTYLE Considerations for Working Moms Learn about the benefits of your benefits Learn the ins and outs of the employee benefi ts plans available to you and your partner, if he or she also works so you can make decisions that maximize these valuable resources, which often include health, life, disability and dental coverage. Before you go on maternity leave, review your company s policies and benefi ts so you understand the impact on your monthly budget and longer-term fi nancial objectives. Considerations for Stay-at-Home Moms Protect your family against risk Make sure your partner has individual life and disability insurance to help replace lost income in case of disability or premature death. Get life insurance for yourself. While you may not generate income as a stay-at-home mom, the support you provide to your family is invaluable and irreplaceable. The life insurance benefi t on your policy can be used to help ensure your children maintain the day-to-day standard of living and lifestyle they are accustomed to if something should happen to you. *** COLLEGE VS. RE TIRMENT: THE S AV INGS DILEMM A! There are many ways to fund your children s education, but only one way to fund your retirement through personal planning, saving and investing. So consider getting on track for retirement BEFORE you start saving for college. START TO GROW YOUR RETIREMENT ASSETS! Because annuities grow tax deferred, your earnings aren t taxed until they are withdrawn or distributed to you. 1 That means they stay in your account, giving your retirement assets the potential to compound and accumulate. 1 If you are buying an annuity to fund a qualifi ed retirement plan or IRA, you should do so for the annuity s features and benefi ts other than tax deferral. In such cases, tax deferral is not an additional benefi t of the annuity. References throughout this material to tax advantages, such as tax-deferral and tax-free transfers are subject to this consideration.. PAGE 5

8 Actions to Consider (Continued) Protect your family against risk Look into purchasing individual life insurance policies for yourself and your partner to help replace the lost income used to pay the mortgage, college tuition and day-to-day expenses should either of you pass away unexpectedly. Consider disability insurance to help replace a portion of your income if you become disabled and are unable to work so you and your family can maintain your standard of living while you recover. 4) PRESERVE WEALTH AND SAFEGUARD YOUR WISHES THROUGH ESTATE PLANNING Work with an attorney to develop a will and an estate plan that enables you to transfer your assets as effi ciently as possible and in a way that minimizes taxes. If you don t have a will, the laws of the state in which you live will determine your heirs and the distribution of your assets. Make sure your estate plan specifi cally details your wishes for the care of your children if something should happen to you. Control the health care decisions that directly affect the lives of you and your family by working with your attorney to legally document your wishes. *** T H E L I T T L E K NOW N BE N E F I T S OF C A SH VA L U E L I F E I N S U R A NC E If it makes sense for your situation, work with your fi nancial professional to explore and learn about the benefi ts of cash value life insurance for you and your partner and how this product might be a good solution to help supplement retirement income and fund college for your kids in a tax-effi cient manner. 2 5) INSTILL HEALTHY FINANCIAL HABITS IN YOUR CHILDREN Teach your young children about what it means to earn money by setting up a system whereby they can earn money by doing chores around the house. Introduce the idea of saving money by opening a savings account so they can see the work pay off as their savings grow. Work with them to identify a substantial item they really want to purchase and help them save enough to get it. They will have a greater respect for the items they buy on their own. 2 Loans and withdrawals will generally reduce the cash value available and death benefi t payable. If policy loans are taken, there may be income tax consequences if you permit the policy to lapse or if the policy is surrendered or exchanged. PAGE 6

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10 After my divorce I found myself in an unfamiliar world. I had always paid the bills, but now I am responsible for the investments, too. I am so worried about of losing money that I have put most of it into a savings account. I know my money is not growing enough and although I m starting late, I know taking the time to plan is worthwhile. I need to fi nd someone to help me get on the right track someone I can trust. * MEREDITH, 44-YEARS OLD, DIVORCED, HUMAN RESOURCES, MANAGER Suddenly Single Whether recently widowed or divorced like Meredith, fi nding yourself on your own can be an emotional and fi nancial roller coaster. Being single again which can happen at any age means you are in charge of all the fi nancial decisions. So it s important to fi nd the right people and resources to educate yourself on the fi nancial topics you might not be familiar with. When you have control over your fi nances, decisions are easier to make and the transition to life on your own is less stressful. PAGE 8

11 Actions to Consider 1) FOLLOW THE PAPER TRAIL TO HELP YOU PLAN Get copies of all bills, investment accounts, credit cards, insurance policies and bank statements. Update all accounts with your new contact information and save everything in one place for easy access. Make sure you change benefi ciaries as appropriate. Given your new fi nancial circumstances, create a new monthly budget that takes into consideration all expenses including setting money aside for retirement. Keep any and all ongoing monthly payments on track so your credit score doesn t become negatively impacted. 2) GATHER A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS Talk to friends and family for advice and referrals to people they work with and trust. Make a list of your most important concerns and be sure to fi nd advisors who specialize and have experience in those areas. 3) MAXIMIZE YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Be sure to explore all of the various benefi ts your employer offers and tap into the benefi ts that make the most sense for you and everyone in your household. 4) IF YOU RE A SINGLE MOM NOW, TAKE STEPS TO GUARD YOUR KIDS AGAINST FINANCIAL RISK Be sure you have enough life insurance and disability insurance to help ensure your kids can maintain their standard of living if something should happen to you. Work with an attorney to develop a will and an estate plan that enables you to transfer your assets as effi ciently as possible and in a way that minimizes taxes. If you don t have a will, the laws of the state in which you live will determine your heirs and the distribution of your assets. Make sure your estate plan specifi cally details your wishes for the care of your children if something should happen to you. 5) REASSESS YOUR RETIREMENT GOALS AND STRATEGY Set a new goal and work with a fi nancial professional to fi gure out the options you have to help you get there. Take advantage of your employer s 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. Contribute at least the minimum percentage needed to qualify for the full employer match on the 401(k). If it makes sense for your situation, supplement your 401(k) by opening an IRA, a personal investment account or purchasing an annuity that can help provide income for life. PAGE 9

12 I m at the point now where I want to make sure that I m taking the right steps to safeguard my retirement. I ve worked hard to achieve the success and security I enjoy today so it s important that I plan ahead to maintain my lifestyle when I decide to start pursuing other interests. I also want to fi gure out how I can continue to fi nancially help my family in the future particularly my parents and my nieces and nephews. * KATHY, 47-YEARS OLD, SINGLE, PROUD AUNT, PHYSICIAN Financially Independent In 21st century America, the traditional married family is no longer the norm. As more and more women play leading roles in the workplace and household structures continue to evolve, you may fi nd yourself choosing to live independently or cohabitate with a partner, but not marry. If you re fi nancially independent, it s important to develop an achievable personal fi nancial strategy that refl ects your specifi c circumstances, priorities and goals. PAGE 10

13 Actions to Consider 1) MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Learn the ins and outs of the employee benefi ts plans available to you at work so you can make decisions that maximize these valuable resources like health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and dental coverage. 2) PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST RISK Take a look at disability insurance, which can protect a portion of your income to help you maintain your standard of living if you should become disabled and unable to work. Consider getting long-term care insurance while you re younger. Think about life insurance protection if you have anyone who depends on you fi nancially like kids, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews or godchildren. 3) DEVELOP A PLAN FOR RETIREMENT AND CHECK IN ON YOUR PROGRESS Take advantage of your employer s 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. Contribute at least the minimum percentage needed to qualify for the full employer match on the 401(k). If your company doesn t offer a 401(k), perhaps open an IRA, then set up automatic contributions into the plan. Consider talking to a fi nancial professional about developing a retirement strategy beyond your employer-sponsored plans. An overall strategy may include insurance, investments like mutual funds, and annuities. 4) DEVELOP AN ESTATE PLAN THAT CAN LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY Find an attorney to develop a will and an estate plan that enables you to transfer your assets to whom you wish as effi ciently as possible and in a way that minimizes taxes. If you don t have a will, the laws of the state in which you live will determine your heirs and the distribution of your assets. PAGE 11

14 I guess I ve always been a bit naïve about fi nances. My husband always handled the investments and planning while I paid the bills and balanced the checkbook. Looking back, I was always so busy with work, the kids and the house I guess I never made fi nancial planning a priority. But now, with more free time and retirement around the corner, I am starting to feel like I need to take control and become more knowledgeable about managing my fi nances. I want to have the confi dence about investing that I have in other aspects of my life. * GINA, 60-YEARS OLD, THREE CHILDREN, FREELANCE WRITER The Prime of Your Life As you approach and enter retirement, you re in the prime of your life and able to focus on the activities that inspire and motivate you most. The years leading up to your transition into retirement are an opportunity for you to concentrate on building your assets. So be sure to take advantage of the steps you can take to help maximize your savings. And once you retire, be sure to explore the options that are going to make your savings last as long as you do! PAGE 12

15 Actions to Consider 1) HELP PROTECT YOUR INCOME AND YOUR ASSETS If your household income is at or close to its highest level, be sure to look into disability insurance to help safeguard it during the high earning years while you re still working. Explore long-term care insurance to help preserve your assets, avoid becoming a burden for your loved ones and maintain control and dignity if you need long-term care services. 2) SET A RETIREMENT SAVINGS GOAL AND A PLAN TO GET THERE Develop a model monthly budget to understand what you ll need every month to live the retirement you envision for yourself. Understand the implications on Social Security benefi ts if you start receiving payments at the different age options. Take advantage of IRA and 401(k) catch-up contributions to build up your assets. 3) SET UP A GUARANTEED 3 RETIREMENT INCOME STREAM USING A PORTION OF YOUR ASSETS WITH ANNUITIES Learn about different types of annuities and how they can be used to supplement your other retirement plan accounts such as an IRA or 401(k) so you can be sure you will have income for as long as you live. 4) PERIODICALLY REVIEW YOUR ESTATE PLAN AND KEEP IT UP TO DATE TO MEET YOUR OBJECTIVES Ensure you have a will in place and also make sure your estate plan specifi cally names someone to manage your money if you become disabled and/or to select treatment options for certain medical conditions. Think about life insurance as a means to increase and/or protect your estate value to leave a lasting legacy for your loved ones or a charity organization that is meaningful to you. * To build on the steps you ve already taken with respect to your fi nances and gain further control of your fi nancial future, contact your fi nancial professional today. 3 All product guarantees are subject to the fi nancial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. PAGE 13

16 Variable and fixed products are issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company and First MetLife Investors Insurance Company. Variable products issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company are offered through MetLife Securities, Inc. and New England Securities Corporation (members FINRA/SIPC); both at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY All variable products are distributed by MetLife Investors Distribution Company. All are MetLife companies. December 2012 Insurance Products are: Not A Deposit Not FDIC-Insured Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency Not Guaranteed By Any Bank Or Credit Union May Go Down In Value First MetLife Investors Insurance Company Metropolitan Life Insurance Company 200 Park Avenue New York, NY MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company MetLife Investors Distribution Company 5 Park Plaza, Suite 1900 Irvine, CA metlife.com CLDM22897 L [0314] 2013 METLIFE, INC.