Ron Roberts discusses highlights of longevity planning for retirement
Listen to the interview on the Business Innovators Radio Network: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-ron-roberts-founder-and-ceo-of-roberts-retirement-group-discussing-longevity-planning-for-retirement/
Ron Roberts, founder and CEO of Roberts Retirement Group, about the essential topic of longevity planning in retirement. With over 35 years of experience in financial services, Ron shares his journey into the industry, sparked by a friend’s success in financial planning. The conversation delves into the importance of adapting retirement strategies to account for increasing life expectancies, emphasizing how better health and lifestyle choices contribute to longer lives.
Longevity planning has emerged as a crucial aspect of retirement strategy, particularly in response to two significant trends: the decline of traditional pensions and the increasing life expectancy of individuals. As people live longer, the need for guaranteed lifetime income strategies has never been more essential.
Historically, a substantial portion of the U.S. workforce relied on employer-provided pensions. When Ron Roberts began his career in financial services in 1990, approximately 76% of workers had access to these guaranteed income sources. Pensions offered retirees a reliable paycheck for life, regardless of how long they lived. However, this landscape has changed dramatically over the years.
Many companies have phased out traditional pension plans in favor of 401(k) plans, which do not guarantee lifetime income. Instead, 401(k) plans place the responsibility on individuals to manage their retirement savings, often leading to uncertainty about whether their funds will last throughout their retirement years. This shift has left many retirees concerned about the possibility of outliving their savings.
Advancements in healthcare and improvements in lifestyle continue to enhance the quality of life, resulting in longer lifespans. This increase in life expectancy raises important questions about retirement planning. Individuals must now consider not only how to accumulate wealth for retirement but also how to ensure that their savings will sustain them for potentially two to three decades after they stop working.
With the reality that many retirees may spend 20 to 30 years in retirement, the risk of running out of money becomes a pressing concern. This is where longevity planning comes into play, focusing on creating strategies that provide guaranteed income for life, regardless of how long an individual may live.
To address the challenges posed by the decline of pensions and increased longevity, financial advisors like Ron Roberts emphasize the importance of guaranteed lifetime income strategies. These strategies often involve utilizing products from legal reserve companies, primarily insurance companies that specialize in protecting pensions. By transferring funds from traditional investment accounts into legal reserve accounts, retirees can secure their principal and ensure that their growth is protected.
One effective approach is to use indexed products tied to various market indexes, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. These indexed products can provide growth potential while also offering protection against market downturns. The key is that they allow retirees to benefit from market gains without the risk of losing their principal, thus ensuring a more stable income stream throughout retirement.
Ron shared: “The objective is growth every year, without worrying about the stock market.”
About Ron Roberts
Ron was born in Burbank California and grew up in the Mojave Desert. Being the first of six children born to deaf parents, he learned responsibility at an early age. His commitment to family and faith is unwavering. It’s the essence of who he is and the foundation of his business success. Living for a higher purpose and caring for others has always been Ron’s focus.
After high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard where he learned about hard work, discipline, and duty. He enjoyed serving his country and helping to keep people safe. He grew in experience through training, education, and travel. He developed a love for the sea and enjoys boating and sailing with friends and family.
After completing his time with the Coast Guard, Ron served on a mission for the deaf in Chicago for his church. While there, he formed the first deaf scout troop in Chicago for the Boy Scouts of America. Returning from Chicago, Ron attended college in Stockton, California where he met his wife, Julie. They were married in the spring of 1984. In 1991, Ron and Julie moved to Amador County where they enjoyed raising their four daughters in a close knit community. Ron’s hobbies include reading, boating, sports, and traveling with his family. Ron also volunteered at a private school where he taught history and American Sign Language. Family, faith, and community are the most important things that define Ron.
Ron’s chosen vocation as a Retirement Planning Professional allows him to use his experience, his gifts, and his love for family to help people in a very special way. Ron has been in the retirement planning industry since 1990. Founded in 2002, Roberts Retirement has grown over the years to serve families in northern California and around the country.
Ron has served as President of the California Estate Planning Counsel and continues to mentor other retirement planning professionals all across the United States. He is constantly educating himself on the most up-to-date investment strategies and changes in the financial industry. Ron is recognized as a leader in the industry, is a sought-after speaker, and has been featured in Senior Market Advisor Magazine
Learn more: https://www.robertsretirement.com/
