July 2018 | Ftacek Financial Services, Inc.

MONTHLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES
PRESENTED BY Ftacek Financial Services, LLC – JULY 2018

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” – AUGUSTE RODIN

WHY TAKE ON DEBT TO HELP YOUR KIDS WITH COLLEGE?

An unsettling trend is emerging among pre-retirees and retirees. Parents are picking up a greater share of college education costs, and in doing so, they may risk damaging their retirement prospects.
A new analysis of higher education debt patterns by SavingforCollege.com finds that the average college loan debt shouldered by parents rose approximately 6% this year, topping $35,000. College is so expensive today that some students are hitting the ceilings on federal student loans, which allow them to borrow as much as they might make their first year after graduation. This year, those lending limits are set at $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students. To some undergraduates, that seem low – and parents are opting to help.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a retirement loan (unless a reverse mortgage counts). With running out of money a prime retirement concern among baby boomers and Gen Xers, it seems financially perilous to tap savings accounts, IRAs and other retirement plans, or whole life insurance policies to help young adults whose peak earning years are presumably ahead of them. The desire to help sons and daughters deal with this debt is understandable, but it may backfire: if parents cannot fund their retirements adequately as a consequence of this generosity, their children may end up with another financial burden decades later – the burden of their impoverished elders moving in with them. The bottom line: put retirement saving first.¹

RECIPE
Fresh herb tuna salad
½ cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon snipped fresh chives
1 Tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
1½ teaspoons snipped fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon snipped fresh dill
¼ teaspoon curry powder
Dash black pepper
One 9 to 9¼ oz. can chunk or solid white tuna (water pack), drained and flaked
In a medium bowl, stir together mayonnaise, chives, parsley, tarragon, dill, curry powder, and pepper. Fold in tuna. Serve immediately or chill, covered, for up to 6 hours. Serves².

FAMILY & FRIENDS MAY PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUCCESSFUL AGING

We all want to live independently for as long as we can. We may assume the keys are diet, exercise, and wealth, but we may be overlooking something very important – the degree of community and caring provided by our neighbors, friends, and loved ones.
A high-touch environment may be just as important as the high-tech devices that support “aging in place.” This is especially true since so many women live alone during retirement, and since many men and women see their circle of friends contract as they age. Birthrates have declined, which leaves fewer children and grandchildren to turn to for assistance with errands, yardwork, or help around the house. Living alone can be hazardous for those developing dementia: about 60% of such seniors wander at least once from their homes into unfamiliar or inhospitable environments.
Checking in on the elders we know is the kind and right thing to do: in doing so, we may help them stay engaged and active. We might even save them in an emergency. As we age, we should welcome our friends, neighbors, and children and grandchildren to check in on us and maintain those all-important close ties.²

DID YOU KNOW?

In one place on earth, there is lightning practically every other night.

In northwest Venezuela, lightning storms commonly hover over the mouth of the Catatumbo River as it empties into Lake Maracaibo. The Relámpago del Catatumbo (“eternal lightning”) appears anywhere from 140-300 nights per year. The storms are intense, with strikes averaging 280 per hour.³

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Retirement plan balances have almost doubled in the past decade. According to Vanguard’s How America Saves 2018 report, the average amount in an employer-sponsored retirement plan account was $103,866 in 2017, compared to $56,030 in 2008.⁴

BRAIN TEASER

An algae growth in a pond doubles in size each day. In 28 days, it will cover the entire pond. In how many days will the pond be half covered?
STUMPED? CALL 815.577.9125 FOR THE ANSWER!

Ftacek Financial Services, LLC may be reached at 815.577.9125 or jeremy.ftacek@ftacekfinancial.com

Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Ftacek Financial Services, LLC are not affiliated.The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended addressee and have received this email in error, please reply to the sender to inform them of this fact. We cannot accept trade orders through email. Important letters, email, or fax messages should be confirmed by calling 815.577.9125. This email service may not be monitored every day, or after normal business hours. This message distributed via use of the MarketingPro system.
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty.

CITATIONS.
1 – cbsnews.com/news/the-surprising-reason-student-debt-is-leveling-off/ [7/11/18]
2 – forbes.com/sites/josephcoughlin/2018/07/06/how-to-age-independently-retiring-well-requires-more-than-money-diet-and-exercise [7/6/18]
3 – todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/06/relampago-del-catatumbo-eternal-lightning/ [6/18/14]
4 – bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-07-09/the-good-and-the-bad-of-retirement-saving [7/9/18]