Piedmont Financial Advisors

Jane Bryant Quinn, the well-known personal finance writer, published the article “Do-It-Yourself Financial Freedom“ in the April 2010 edition of the AARP Bulletin.  The article listed a dozen ways to improve your finances for those approaching or in retirement.

1. Get rid of debt.
2. Build a better budget.
3. Increase your savings.
4. Wise up on investments.
5. Keep your job, if possible.
6. Do whatever you can to keep health insurance.
7. Be smart about Social Security.
8. Be smart about retirement funds.
9. Put off reverse mortgages.
10. For regular income, consider immediate annuities.
11. Work with a financial planner.
12. Move in with your kids.

All are very important points to carefully consider.  One point that I will shamelessly highlight is #11 – Work with a financial planner.  Mrs. Quinn makes a point of mentioning the Alliance of Cambridge Advisors (www.acaplanners.org), of which I am a member.  The Alliance of Cambridge Advisors is one of the best independent, fee-only, personal financial planning groups in the country, in my humble opinion.  If you find you are unwilling, unable, or simply uninterested in getting your finances in order, a Cambridge advisor can help.  You do not need to be “rich” to work with an Cambridge advisor.  In fact, nearly all Cambridge advisors offer services to clients without minimum assets, income, or net worth.