Tech Tips for Baby Boomers Who Are Planning for Retirement

Retirement planning can seem overwhelming at times, but today’s baby boomers have it easier than they might imagine. 

Thanks to the latest technology, you can create a plan, track your progress, and tweak your investments with just a few taps of your finger. Equip yourself with the right tech-based tools, and you can take charge of your retirement efforts in a whole new way.

Invest in a Reliable Smartphone

One of the best retirement planning tools at your disposal is a smartphone. With the right device in hand, you can access a wealth of apps and web pages that will help you create and monitor your retirement strategy. 

If you’re not yet up-to-date on the latest smartphone technology, now is the time to start exploring your options and familiarizing yourself with smartphones as powerful tools.

Look for an intuitive product that you won’t have too much trouble learning how to use effectively. An Android phone like the Galaxy S7 edge is often the best option for users who are familiar with other Google products like Gmail. 

The Google Play app store makes it easy to bring your favorite Google programs right to your smartphone. Combine your powerful smartphone with a fast, reliable network for optimum functionality. 

A provider like T-Mobile can offer versatile plans with plenty of data so you’ll find the perfect fit for your needs.

Explore Apps for Retirement

With your smartphone in hand, you can begin exploring apps that will help you manage your retirement plans. 

Retirement Planner by Swiftmatic LLC is a good place to start. This app will help you compare traditional and Roth 401(k)s and IRAs, calculate how your employer contribution is adding up, and see if you have a surplus of retirement savings or a serious shortfall. 

iMaximize Social Security will help you explore your options for Social Security benefits. MassMutual RetireSmart helps you chart asset allocation and track retirement contributions.

Don’t overlook apps that’s aren’t directly related to retirement. Trulia is a powerful real estate app that can help you find your perfect retirement home. 

AARP Now helps you maximize your AARP membership benefits and find local discounts, workshops, and events.

Utilize Online Planning Tools

Not all planning tools come in the form of an app. There are many useful resources that you can access online. If you don’t have a reliable computer at home, get acquainted with your local library. 

This is a convenient place to hop online and explore all that the internet has to offer. A good smartphone can help you access the internet as well, though not all web pages are mobile optimized for easy viewing on your phone.

The AARP retirement calculator is a practical tool to make sure you’re saving enough for a comfortable retirement. 

It allows you to customize your retirement plan to accommodate the lifestyle you’re looking for in your post-employment years.

Put a Budget in Place

One of the best things you can do for your retirement is to start budgeting well. Today’s tech tools make it easier than ever to stick to your savings plan. 

With an app like Mint, you can keep an eye on every penny that goes into and comes out of your accounts. Mint links directly to your bank, credit card, and investment accounts so you can see everything in one place. 

Intuitive charts and graphs make it easy to get a better view of your financial situation so you can tweak it appropriately to protect your retirement goals.

Update Your Investment Strategy

If you haven’t tried managing your investments online, there’s a new world of possibilities just waiting for you to explore. 

Apps like Acorns and SigFig will help you manage and optimize your investment portfolios. If you’re new to investing as a whole, you can even start with a tool like the Stock Market Simulator app. 

This will help you become familiar with the ins and outs of investments before you sink real money into the effort.

Don’t let the details of retirement planning overwhelm you. Use these tools and strategies to simplify your efforts and tackle the next phase of your life with gusto.

Family Reunions: How To Have A Big Party For Cheap

Throwing any large event can be an overwhelming experience at best. With so many intricate moving parts that have to be timed and executed perfectly, many people choose to hire a professional event planner to handle everything. 

For some, however, this isn't an option, and for others, the idea of throwing an event is a challenge that is too thrilling to resist.

Throwing a family reunion event can be especially challenging as it's normal to want to make everyone in your family happy. 

Most likely, if you are throwing this type of event, you will want the best of everything, but sometimes this just isn't financially feasible. Luckily, we have some tips for how to make this type of event spectacular without extraordinary spending on your part.

DIY Your Decorations

Thanks to Pinterest making your own decorations for any event is easier than ever. Even the least crafty person in the world can find simple tutorials that will result in a beautifully-decorated party. Then not only will your party look awesome, but everyone will also be super impressed.

Opt For A Local Restaurant Instead Of A Professional Caterer

Good food is a party essential, but hiring a professional caterer can cost you several thousands of dollars. 

Instead, explore local food businesses in your area. Chances are the cost per head will be significantly cheaper, and the food might taste even better. 

Provide Your Own Alcohol

It may be tempting to hire a professional bar service for the event, but consider buying alcohol in bulk and hiring one to two people to act as bartenders for the evening. 

You will save thousands of dollars and you can be more particular about the alcohol that's served. This website walks you through the steps required to purchase alcohol for an event of any size. 

Also, make sure to buy beer, champagne and wine by the case to save costs. For instance, manufacturers like JJ Buckley Fine Wine will allow you to purchase alcohol in large quantities conveniently online.

Consider An Alternative Venue

Big, fancy catering halls may be dripping in luxury but they are also incredibly expensive, costing anywhere from $10,000 to $80,000 depending on where you live for the room alone. 

There are many alternative venues which are tens of thousands of dollars cheaper, so do some research in your area. Some excellent alternatives to traditional catering halls include outdoor public parks, historic home properties and church halls.

While throwing a big event can cause even the calmest person enormous stress, these simple ways to save money can help reduce feelings of being overwhelmed. 

All of these steps listed above are easy to execute and will result in big savings while allowing you to throw your beloved family members the party of their lives.

What Is the Typical Burial Insurance Plan Cost Today?

The cost of a burial can be rather high. You might have to spend $10,000 on such a burial. This can be a very difficult expense for your loved ones to worry about.

Fortunately, burial life insurance for elderly is available to cover the charges associated with such an occasion. You will have to look at the burial insurance plan cost that you would have to spend when taking a look at such a policy. 

Like with any other policy, there are many key concerns that can directly influence what you would spend on the policy.

Tens of Dollars Are Needed

Considering how a burial insurance plan can provide you with a $10,000 benefit or more, you would have to spend tens of dollars each month on a policy. You could end up spending $50 or more each month on a policy. 

This total will only go up when you get older in age, what with the potential for a claim to be made increasing as you get older in age. Still, it is a sensible investment when you consider how expensive a burial can be these days.

How Is Your Health?

Your health is important to consider. A person who is in good health standing will not have to spend as much as someone who gets a policy with no health questions involved.

A 75-year-old male who is in good health could get a policy for $100 per month. Meanwhile, he could get that same policy for $130 per month if no health questions are involved.

In other words, you might want to get a proper health inspection to see how well you can handle a policy. You could save a great deal of money over time on a good burial plan if you just take the time to see that you are actually in good health.

Other exciting options losing the return plan recommendations as opposed to the choice of reducing both the online payouts and the premium. These choices used for recommendations that are particularly designed at protecting property resource and have a consistently getting debt.

Costs Change By Gender

Women tend to spend less on their burial life insurance for elderly plan costs than men. A man who is 70 years of age could get a $10,000 policy at $70 per month. 

A woman of the same age could get the same policy for $60 per month. This is primarily due to how women tend to have longer lifespans than men do.

Can You Get Annual Payments?

You may be able to spend less on your insurance if you pay for it with an annual charge instead of a monthly rate. You could save about 10 to 20 percent on the monthly cost of an insurance policy if you get an annual premium instead of a monthly one. 

This will certainly add to the total charge that you have to spend but it could be worthwhile depending on what you get. The savings can especially be dramatic and sensible when you get a great policy.

Be prepared to know what you would have to spend for burial insurance. It will cost a good deal of money to get a policy but you could still spend less if you are in good health. Do look carefully at the coverage you take in and see how it will compare to your age among other critical points.

Just think about it! You get to have your funeral program the way you preferred it to be. All the arrangements would be just the way you structured. 

Your close relative needs not get experienced what to do and what not to do right at that time of the funeral. They would cope with their unhappiness. You would have taken care of everything.

Canadian Investors Conference 2017 - Learn How to Invest and Build Wealth

Coming up Feb. 4 - 9  is the Canadian Investors Conference. The best part of the conference is that you do not have to leave your home because it is going to take place online.

No matter where you are in your investing life, this conference is for you. If you are a beginneer you will learn how to get started. 

If you have been struggling what to invest in, you will learn from the experts where to put your money. This conference has something for all investors no matter where you are.

All you need to do is claim your free ticket. You will be able to watch the live master classes, live panels, and pre-recorded sessions. Get your tickets today.

Canadian Investors Conference: Event Info 

We’ve brought together 20+ of Canada's Top Financial Experts to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the core investment principles in Canada. 

This conference is designed to give you a clear step-by-step process for researching, building, and automating your investment portfolio (even if you’re just starting out). 

This conference will provide you with actionable strategies that you can implement immediately. 

Here's What You'll Learn: 

• How to create an investment plan that builds your net worth and allows you to retire comfortably 

• How robo advisors can help automate your investment plan 

• How to use insurance policies as a profitable investment vehicle 

• How to save up for and negotiate your mortgage to get the best deal 

• How to invest in hedge funds without $1M+ 

• How to invest like some of Canada's Top Investors 

• How to select and buy ETFs, stocks, or bonds that are right for you 

• How to construct a portfolio that matches your age and risk tolerance 

• How to screen financial advisors and find one who will help meet your goals 

• How to put together a high dividend investment plan that gives you income for life 

• How to find, evaluate, and buy real estate 

• What to invest in your TFSA, RRSP, RESP, and non-registered accounts 

• ... And much more! 

Full List of Speakers 

• Andrew Kirkland - CEO of JustWealth.com 
• John Robertson - Author of The Value of Simple 
• Lorne Zeiler - VP at TriDelta Financial 
• Ryan Modesto - Managing Partner at 5iResearch 
• James Dahle - Founder of WhiteCoatInvestor.com 
• Kornel Szrejber - Host of Build Wealth Canada 
• Kyle Prevost - Founder of YoungandThrifty.ca 
• Tea Nicola - CEO of WealthBar 
• Samuel Waxman - Partner at Millennial Financial Group 
• Robert Brown - Author of Wealthing Like Rabbits 
• Mark Seed - Founder of MyOwnAdvisor.ca 
• Kristy Shen - Personal Finance Expert 
• Niles Lawrence - CEO of Vuru.co 
• Sean Cooper - Personal Finance & Mortgage Expert 
• Robin Speziale - Author of Market Masters 
• Derek Foster - The Idiot Millionaire 
• Robert Farrington - Founder of The College Investor 
• Claude Boiron - Broker, Author, Instructor 
• Will Ashworth - Investment writer 
• Trish Nixon - Director of Investments 
• Susan Daley - Associate Portfolio Manager 

* To read the speakers' bios, click here. 

Claim your free ticket to this event today! 

Canadian Investors Conference (CIC) aims to make financial information more accessiable to Canadians so that they can make smarter investment decisions and achieve their financial goals. CIC organizes one online conference yearly that is free for anyone to attend. For more information, visit our website at www.canadianinvestorsconference.com