Senior Market Advisor July 01, 2012

Cover Story

Whether it’s because they like to work or they need to work, many seniors are still working toward their comfortable retirement.

Playing Defense

By David Port

A medical crisis can derail a senior’s best-laid retirement plan. Here are five ways to defend against a costly long-term care event.
Tax laws are a’changing

By Ed McCarthy, CFP

Next year, your senior clients may be faced with potential estate tax changes. Here are four strategies to help them cope.
Reversing Views

By Maria Wood

With their retirement portfolios dwindling, baby boomers look to tap into their largest asset—their homes. But are reverse mortgages right for everyone?

Workflow

By Ed McCarthy, CFP

Want to improve your business? Improve your workflow first.

5 Keys to the presidential race

By Daniel D. Williams

“As the Gallup piece surmises, this election cycle will have many twists and turns along the way.”

What do you like best about your advisor?

We really like that our financial professional does it all. He’s very well-rounded. He’s got a CPA as well as a CFP and some other designations, too. So, all our finances are taken care of in one central location. We don’t have to talk to anyone but him. It’s much...

What financial advice would you give a young person just starting out?

If I had any advice for a young person—especially a woman—it would be to stay the heck out of the mall. You don’t need all those shoes, trust me.

Chicken Little? Maybe a little.

By Michael Ham

No one knows how the market will move next, but one thing is for certain, we better have a safety net cocooning our retirement nest eggs.

Annuities are always in vogue

By Eric Thomes

Sure, the stock market is in recovery mode, but that doesn’t mean advisors should forget about the guaranteed protection annuities offer to their clients.

What’s your LinkedIn style?

By Amy McIlwain, President of Financial Social Media

There are many ways to approach making connections on LinkedIn. Social-media firm Social Media Sonar has identified four connection styles:
Why should I do business with you?

By John Scranton

What services do you provide? Why would people want to do business with you? How are you better than the next guy?
Stop multitasking!

By Maribeth Kuzmeski

Is it better to focus time and energy on one project to generate leads and new business? Or will you see more results by dividing your time and energy among 10 different projects to enhance your marketing?
The 50+ Market

By Lloyd Lofton

10 reasons boomers need to be in your 2012 plans
By The Numbers

Stats you need to know...

How to stay on the good side of regulators

By National Ethics Association

Scamming seniors or committing fraud is sure to arouse regulatory scrutiny. But far more advisors get into hot water by failing to properly manage their state licenses. To help advisors avoid problems, the Maine Department of Insurance offers these tips.

Before you sell that 7-year annuity…

By Sheryl Moore

“You won’t hear me asking for decades-long surrender charges today.”

Branding your practice

By Thomas K. Brueckner

“Your logo is the visual icon with which the public will associate all of your positive traits.”

Create a great elevator speech

By Kerry Johnson

“Produce three benefits you deliver to your clients.”

Transparency: Adapt or die

By Steven McCarty

“Consumers today are unwilling to trust without verifying.”

The real cost of waiting

By Margie Barrie

“If clients ever expect to own a LTCI policy, it’s much better to purchase it now.”

Insurance for all walks of life

By Philip E. Harriman

“Understanding the objectives of our clients remains a vital step in the financial planning process.”