My Comments: OK, #5 may be a bit of a stretch for me. I’ve had a black thumb all my life; anything I plant dies immediately.

There are now millions of us in retirement, or what for some of us is semi-retirement. And whether you believe it or not, the rules underlying economics and finance have not suddenly become invalid.

No, the world is not about to end, though some would have you believe it might. But it will be different and there are always unintended consequences. The level of uncertainty right now is troubling to me, so these steps you might take are informative.

Martin A. Smith, CRPC®, AIFA®, RPS® February 27, 2017

Retirement is a celebrated event for obvious reasons. You have worked 30 to 40 years hopefully doing what you love and made a positive impact on society, within your church, and for the legacy and name of your family. Despite these noteworthy accomplishments, if you are not careful your “golden years” might not be quite as golden as you have hoped.

There’s almost nothing worse than finally arriving at your desired destination in life only to have the rug snatched from under you because of some mistakes that could have been avoided. That is what I am here to help you accomplish today…before you retire. Or, if you are already retired, then I urge you to consider the first of five ways retirees should protect their money during retirement. Truth is, you really do have a lot to lose, so let’s not risk it!

Here are five ways retirees should protect their money during retirement:

1. Invest in a Good Cybersecurity System

Cyber fraud is on the rise and retirees and the elderly are among the most vulnerable targets for cyber criminals. In many cases, being a victim of this type of crime can be avoided. Learn how to take measures to secure your personal data, such as sending secure emails with files that are encrypted when communicating with your financial advisor.

2. Understand What Your Retirement Money Is Invested in and Why

Financial literacy is a challenge for many. While many retirees are familiar with investment vehicles such as mutual funds, stocks and conceptually speaking, bonds, there are fewer who are able to explain how their portfolio is invested, what type of asset classes their portfolio is comprised of and how the economy will impact their portfolios.

In addition, I have found that a number of investors simply have the wrong notion in their minds about the pros and cons of investing in the stock market during a recession. Investment portfolios will fluctuate throughout the economic cycle (peak, recession, trough recovery expansion and peak).

3. Buy Long Term Care Insurance (LTC)

If you are like most people you expect to live a long time. Innovations in medical science and biotechnology mean that people are living longer. In fact, according to the National Institute on Aging’s “Global Health and Aging” report, “The dramatic increase in average life expectancy during the 20th century ranks as one of society’s greatest achievements. Although most babies born in 1900 did not live past age 50, life expectancy at birth now exceeds 83 years in Japan—the current leader—and is at least 81 years in several other countries.”

What does this mean for someone who is retired? While it is mostly good news, the bad news is that living longer comes with a price tag and an expensive one at that. That price tag is what we refer to as needing nursing care (i.e. long-term care), whether it’s in-home care or a nursing home facility.

The average daily cost of Long Term Care in most states exceeds $200 per day, in today’s dollars. Just image what the future inflation-adjusted cost will be. Long-term care is definitely a conversation that you want to have with your financial advisor.

Unless you have enough money saved to self-insure, a person who is retired can watch the value of their estate diminish considerably if they are uninsured and forced to spend their retirement savings to provide for their own nursing care needs, or the needs of an uninsured elderly parent.

4. Steer Clear Of Items That Depreciate

Many things will depreciate in value faster than you can say, “I love my retirement!”

I cannot say enough about “impulse buying,” especially for those who may suffer from an impulsive spending disorder. If you truly love your retirement, then don’t jeopardize your quality of life in retirement with wasteful spending. One example that comes to mind is casinos. According to http://www.casinowatch.org, there are 1,511 casinos in the United States that rake in $71.1 billion in annual revenues.

5. Plant a Vegetable Garden. Yes, I Am Serious!

You can’t enjoy your retirement fully if you are not in the best physical shape, right?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate-intensity level activity for 2.5 hours each week can reduce the risk for obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer and premature death. The CDC considers gardening a moderate-intensity level activity, and can help you to achieve that 2.5 hour goal each week.

So, perhaps now would be a good time for you to engage in an activity that requires you to kneel, squat, use your arms, shoulders, back and leg muscles more vigorously.
Gardening is one of the best ways for retirees to gain exercise without having to spend money on a gym membership. In addition to the benefit of just being able to enjoy the outdoors and gain peace of mind as you feel the wind blowing, you can also save money by growing your own food.

Furthermore, how comfortable are you with the idea of pesticides, certain chemicals and “orgenetically engineered foods” that have been genetically engineered in some laboratory? I’ll pass! You should enjoy your retirement, therefore I hope you consider these suggestions.