Today’s 401(k) has become the employer standard for retirement plans, but it originally was conceived to supplement pensions and Social Security. Increasingly, workers are determining they need to examine other products without the risk of 401(k)s to plan for life after retirement.

Thousand Oaks, CA – April 29, 2015 /MM-LC/ —

More people than ever are moving their money into indexed annuities and away from 401Ks as waves of retirees are real-life testing the 401(k)’s ability to provide financial security through retirement.

“There’s a lot of upside to fixed index annuities over a traditional employer 401(k),” says Ronald Grant, The Safer Money Specialist, a Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based company that often recommends its clients leave behind risk products such as stocks, mutual funds and variable annuities. “Namely, when the market goes up, investors have an opportunity to ride that wave, but when the market goes down, you don’t lose. Other clients who are saving for retirement begin to realize that 401(k)s, in addition to risk, are full of fees, and those clients start looking at other products that have neither.”

Grant, who has been licensed since 1996, says many of his clients are seeking three basic things: protection of their principal, a range on return over time and products that are easy to understand. That’s often where a fixed indexed product comes in. Investors in fixed indexed annuities, for example, have access to 10 percent of their money penalty-free each year; they won’t pay fees on it, and they won’t lose their principal or annual gains, which are locked in each year. Moreover, Grant says, if the plan is set up properly, it can provide income for retirement that cannot be outlived.

Along with a number of fees, another major criticism of the 401(k) is the inability to access the money without financial penalty until the so-called 59 ? rule has been met. Under a 401(k), once a person reaches age 59 ?, he or she can withdraw from the 401(k) without paying a 10 percent federal penalty tax. With an indexed product, 10 percent of the money is accessible annually without a fee also at 59 ?.

“Billions of dollars each year are going into FIAs,” Grant says. “It’s the right thing to do for some people who don’t want to gamble with high-risk products. Why would I want my dignity money – my retirement savings – in a product where I could lose it all and be forced to go live with my kids in retirement? In poker, we don’t go `all in’ with our home, our car, and our kids’ college fund. Why would we do that with our retirement savings?”

The section of the Internal Revenue Code that made 401(k) plans possible was enacted into law in 1978, with the first employer 401(k) plans established in the 1980s. It was created as a savings plan and tax shelter, but not originally intended as the retirement standalone that it is today. After many employers found 401(k)s were cheaper to fund than pensions, more began to freeze pensions and offer 401(k)s, which were intended to supplement Social Security and pensions. In short, they were to be one leg of what some financial experts like Grant call a three-legged stool.

After the financial devastation of 2008 many investors saw their savings dwindle, and many older workers are now facing the reality of being forced to work into retirement to make ends meet. According to an Employee Benefit Research’s Institute analysis, retirement account losses in 2008 disproportionately affected wealthy savers, with those with more than $200,000 invested losing on average more than a quarter of their savings. Investors in the $100,000-$200,000 range lost 21 percent on average and the typical account with $50,000 to $100,000 lost 15 percent, the institute said. The nation’s largest retirement-plan administrator, Fidelity, says the average balance in its customers’ accounts dropped $19,000 in 2008. Grant and the majority of his clients in indexed annuities didn’t make financial gains in 2008, but they didn’t suffer devastating losses.

“Clients got to zero. And zero is always better than a loss,” Grant says.

Some financial experts now say that the real winners in the growth of the 401(k)have been the mutual funds, with their myriad of fees, that either were not clear or not transparent to the millions of employeeinvestors, who often are financial novices. Such fees might include legal fees, trustee fees, transaction fees, stewardship fees, bookkeeping fees, finders’ fees and more.

“With a fixed index annuity, as long as you don’t break the contract early or take more than 10 percent, you’ll never pay a fee,” says, Grant, who’s 63 and has his money in indexed annuities.

The Safer Money Specialist says that even with indexed annuities, the final decision for a client is always based on a client’s specific financial scenario, rather an across-the-board recommendation.

“It is policy never to tell clients what to buy,” Grant says. “They are given some information and insight, and it’s their choice on what they want to do.”

For more information about us, please visit http://safermoneyspecialist.com

Contact Info:
Name: Ronald Grant
Email: ron@safermoneyspecialist.com
Organization: Safer Money Specialist
Phone: 805-660-1313

Video URL: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xszjnh_safe-money-alternatives-ronald-grant-safer-money-specialist_news

Source: http://councilofeliteadvisors.com/liftmedia

Release ID: 80846

2016 Rio Olympic Games Sponsorship Between Unlikely Partners. DNSimple; a leading tech company that provide specialty DNS services has sponsored Antoine Meunier; a professional canoe paddler as he prepares to win gold in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Malabar, Florida, United States – April 29, 2015 /PressCable/ —

A Domain of Ocean Lovers: Antoine Meunier and DNSimple Join Forces

Drawn together by keen entrepreneurial spirit and a shared love of water, Antoine Meunier and Anthony Eden have formed a somewhat unlikely partnership.

A champion paddler, Meunier was in search of a sponsor as the 2016 Olympic Games drew nearer. Not one to trek the traditional sponsorship route of gear manufacturers, Meunier decided to try his luck via a different avenue.

After sending a cleverly crafted sponsorship pitch to Eden via email last October, it was agreed that Eden’s company – a domain management firm by the name of DNSimple – would sponsor Meunier.

The deal was closed a month later in November; now the champion paddler and domain management company head towards the Rio Olympics 2016 as unlikely partners.

About the sponsor

DNSimple is all in the name. The company was built upon the idea of making domain management a simple process. By combining DNS management services with domain registration and the added bonus of SSL certificates, DNSimple has successfully created a service that allows clients to manage their domains and DNS records with ease.

DNSimple isn’t the average sporting sponsor. A tech-orientated company, most would think they’d be more at home coding than they would be talking to an elite athlete.

However, there is more to DNSimple than meets the eye.

About the athlete

Antoine Meunier is an elite athlete who competes internationally as a professional canoe paddler. Currently, he has his sights set on the 200 meter canoe event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Canoeing has been a part of Meunier’s life since a young age; he started out when he was just five years old. A two-time junior Pan-American champion and six-time Canadian national champion, Meunier has already tasted much success on the water – however like many athletes, representing his country at the Olympic Games is a lifelong dream.

Water and paddles aside, Meunier is also a keen entrepreneur. He is a co-founder of Medalist, a website building platform designed specifically for athletes – and he’s also a client of DNSimple.

The partnership

The unlikely partnership between an elite athlete and DNS management company was formed when Meunier sent Eden an interesting email back in October. Meunier wanted to find a sponsor whose goals and business philosophy matched his own; DNSimple fit the bill. As one of DNSimple’s clients, Meunier also pointed out that the two have a lot in common; both Eden and Meunier run bootstrapped, tech-savvy companies.

Meunier opened his email with praise for Eden’s company, rather than blowing his own trumpet; a tactic that greatly impressed the potential sponsor. In Meunier’s words, Medalist is “a website builder for athletes that conveniently exploits the awesomeness of DNSimple to elevate the business to demi-god status in the eyes of non-geeky athlete-customers”.

Meunier also pointed out a number of similarities between DNSimple and Medalist. They’re both bootstrapped and operate in a similar manner, and they both appeal to a specific audience.

However after finding themselves in Florida together, they sat down to eat a burrito – and discovered that they had a lot more in common than a kindred entrepreneurial spirit. The two also share a love of water; Eden has carved up waves since he was 13, and also learnt how to paddle an ocean kayak under the tuition of a former championship ocean kayaker.

Once the talk turned to water, there was no going back.

So how does the partnership actually work.

Like standard sponsorship agreements, the deal between DNSimple and Meunier involves the traditional ‘logo on equipment’ form of advertising – however it goes far beyond this alone.

Meunier has agreed to speak about his sponsorship with the company regularly through his blog posts, helping to increase brand awareness via his online community. Blog posts with links that lead back to a company website are an important online marketing strategy for web-based businesses, and therefore this agreement is quite beneficial for DNSimple.

To date, Meunier has already published a number of articles relating to the sponsorship agreement. These articles include a series of educational blogs aimed at fellow athletes who are looking to acquire sponsorship deals – much of which draw inspiration from his personal experiences.

Eden has also pointed out a number of other reasons why he was attracted to the sponsorship agreement. He felt it was beneficial to assist a client who was also a fellow entrepreneur, and that the story in itself was interesting. Their shared love of ocean sports essentially sealed the deal; as Eden puts it, “helping out a fellow athlete makes me feel good”.

To Rio and beyond

As Rio 2016 draws near, the excitement intensifies for both sponsor and athlete.

Of course, a golden outcome would be a dream for both parties – however it’s not the be all and end all of this partnership. The sponsorship is already proving to be beneficial on both sides; it’s certainly not riding on Olympic success.

Eden captures the sentiment perfectly: “The real opportunity is in being part of the story, regardless of the outcome.”

For more information about us, please visit https://dnsimple.com

Contact Info:
Name: Anthony Eden
Email: anthony.eden@dnsimple.com
Organization: DNSimple
Address: 2045 Corey Rd, Malabar, FL 32950
Phone: +1 321 549 0222

Release ID: 80762

Rehab Treatment Success Austin has published a new Alcoholism how-to guide for those suffering from alcoholism who are having trouble with Alcohol is the most abused substances in Austin, TX.

Austin, TX, USA – April 29, 2015 /PressCable/ —

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, Rehab Treatment Success Austin, published a new how-to guide dedicated to helping Those suffering from alcoholism master the steps to recovery from alcohol which is the most abused substances in Austin.

Interested parties are invited to review the how-to guide in full on the company website: http://rehabtreatmentaustin.com

This latest how-to guide from Rehab Treatment Success Austin contains step-by-step instructions that are designed to be used by those suffering from alcoholism to Quit drinking for good. This easy to follow guide provides all of the information necessary to understand the topic.

The full how-to guide covers topics related to Alcohol and the treatment of Alcoholism:

Suffering From Alcoholism – It likely comes as no surprise that alcohol is one of the most abused substances in Austin Texas. It’s hyped as a social substance that people consume together. It’s presented and fun, refreshing and that it will improve life. While alcohol consumption is fine for most people on occasion, it is a problem when warning signs arise.

Effects of Alcoholism – Alcoholism does carry consequences. It causes liver damage, brain, kidney and other organ damage as well. It often results in long term psychological consequences.

How Alcoholism Treated – Most treatments for alcoholism include abstinence from alcohol in general. This is perhaps one of the best approaches to take, as it proves to be effective. Entering into an alcoholism treatment program is an important step.

When asked about the reasons behind creating this Alcoholism guide, Tom Mack, Director of Rehab Treatment Success Austin said, “Alcohol rehab isn’t about judging anyone, it’s to help a person get the help they need.”

Professionals who need help with Alcohol is the most abused substances in the US are invited to review the how-to guide online: http://rehabtreatmentaustin.com

For more information about us, please visit http://rehabtreatmentaustin.com

Contact Info:
Name: Tom Mack
Email: success@rehabtreatmentaustin.com
Organization: Rehab Treatment Success Austin
Address: 9200 N Plaza #3009, Austin, 78753 TX
Phone: (512) 817-3000

Release ID: 80715

Laurel Hardy, former fashion model and corporate wire house stock broker, opens her independent wealth management firm to make accessible financial strategy that would otherwise only be available to the wealthy.

Windsor, CT, USA – April 29, 2015 /MarketersMedia/ —

Bespoke Wealth Management, a new independent wealth management firm is open to the public. Founded by Laurel Hardy in Windsor, CT, Bespoke Wealth Management specializes in providing custom, personalized financial advice to clients without the hidden fees and high commissions.

A former fashion model with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. in New York City, Laurel yearned for a career that could directly help others and, after witnessing the 2008 economic crises, Laurel’s interest in the economy and the stock market was piqued. For four years, Laurel worked at a large corporate wire house firm where she was mentored by top senior investors with decades of experience.

Laurel believes people can build wealth in this country regardless of their family’s history, if they have solid planning and the proper investment strategy. “I learned from my years at a corporate brokerage firm that there is a big gap between what the public wants and what the firms offer. I’m proud to own my own firm where I can give people what they ask for and provide customized, personal financial solutions,” Laurel states. Laurel relies on her experience, research, education and expertise to diligently make investment choices; all while being transparent with all fees. “I think it’s important to explain the nuances of fees to clients in order to help them save money.”

With many clients being shy of large corporate firms, Laurel is a proud fiduciary who always puts the client’s interests first. “I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to financial planning. People deserve unbiased, no-nonsense answers to the questions they have. The number one complaint from clients working with big wire house firm is that they can’t get straight answers to their questions and that their advisor is merely a salesman and not a fiduciary.”

Laurel believes that “finances are more complicated than ever before and having a good advisor is critical.”

For more information, please visit Bespoke Wealth Management’s homepage at BespokenWealth.com or you can email Laurel directly at Laurel@BespokenWealth.com

She is also active on twitter @BespokeWM

For more information about us, please visit http://www.BespokenWealth.com

Contact Info:
Name: Laurel Hardy
Organization: Bespoke Wealth Management, LLC
Address: 1476 Poquonock Ave Windsor, CT 06095
Phone: 860-516-0140

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/independent-wealth-management-firm-opens/80817

Release ID: 80817