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844-44PANIC | PanicProofRetirement.com | June 2025
STOCKS ARE A GAMBLE RETIREES CAN’T AFFORD Too Risky for Retirement
If the past few months’ market turmoil bears any lessons for us, it is this:
was to pull money out of their 401(k)s and take to the sidelines for a while.
It is impossible to know what the stock market is going to do.
The problem with this strategy is that getting back in at the right time is nearly impossible. The stock market’s brightest opportunities begin and end in a matter of days. Some 78% of stocks’ biggest gains have happened either during a bear market or during the first two months of a bull market. If you missed the market’s 10 best days over the past three decades, your returns would have vastly underperformed the market by 50%. Also, if the stock market drops in an investor’s early years of retirement, any withdrawals they take for living expenses will sharply reduce their investment gains in the future. Essentially, they are killing dollars that won’t be there to help make up losses when the market recovers. The Lost Decade Investors nearing retirement are also uniquely vulnerable to long-term market declines. Suppose you invested $100,000 in the S&P 500 in the year 2000. After the dot-com crash wiped out more than 40% of your savings, your account would have taken 14 years to recover to your initial investment threshold of $100,000! We often refer to this period as “the lost decade.” An investor in their 30s or 40s has time to recover from a lost decade. But if you have retired or are within a few years of doing so, your time has run out. That’s one reason all the products
As I write this, the market is still in meltdown mode following the Trump administration’s announcement of retaliatory tariffs on many foreign trading partners. By the time you hold this newsletter in your hands, who knows where the markets will be. That “who knows” factor is why the stock market is so dangerous. It is impossible to know where stock prices will be from one month to the next. I have been watching the stock market for decades and, like many veteran observers, I assumed the likelihood of tariffs was already priced into the market. But as investors painfully discovered, no one had foreseen the scope or magnitude of those tariffs. The one-week losses of 9%–10% in major indexes were bad enough, but simultaneous declines in both bonds and the dollar left investors reeling. The turmoil underscores once again why investors should have at least a portion of their retirement portfolio in a safer, more stable vehicle than stocks. The Perils of Panic Selling In three major market crashes since 2000, key stock indexes have posted total declines ranging from 37% to 78%. Many investors’ first thought
I recommend in my Panic Proof Retirement portfolios are principal-protected.
If you had invested your $100,000 using our Panic Proof Retirement strategy in 2000, your $100,000 initial investment during the Lost Decade would have survived the dot-com crash intact and grown to $219,000 after 10 years. By 2023, your nest egg would have expanded to $587,000, nearly 2.5 times the return you would have realized on stocks over the same period. If your investments don’t provide adequate protection from market panic, we will be glad to stress test your portfolio and recommend a panic-proof plan for your retirement. Call us today to schedule a free, no-obligation retirement checkup! We can help you ensure a safe, secure retirement for as long as you live.
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Safer Rides, Surer Roads Smart Strategies for Superior Car Care
Park your precious car perfectly. Driving can be stressful, but parking can be a next-level source of worry. If parking on busy streets or in small spaces in cramped garages isn’t your strong suit, devices such as the Universal Laser Parking Assist kit from GoodChief provide affordable ways to easily navigate your vehicle into tight spots. Don’t bet on your battery. If your vehicle is three years or older, it is critical to monitor the health of your car battery, especially during high-humidity summers or frigid winters. Extreme weather conditions can weaken or corrode your battery’s terminals and prevent the car from starting — or even cause it to stop when driving through challenging conditions. You can purchase a battery hydrometer to check the battery’s strength or get it tested the next time you’re at a dealership or neighborhood mechanic. If your battery has already failed once recently, replace it as soon as possible rather than attempt to lengthen its lifespan through regular jumps and put yourself at risk of injury or death if it malfunctions during regular use. Go for pristine replacement parts. An automobile accident can be as expensive as it is frustrating, but your decisions during the repair process should never be based on price alone. Replacement parts generally come in three categories: brand-new ones made for or by the automaker specifically for your vehicle’s make or model (an original equipment manufacturer or “OEM” part); used or reconditioned parts (available at salvage yards or through other providers); or aftermarket parts made by a third party unaffiliated with the company that made your car. Although used and aftermarket parts are less expensive than OEM products — insurance companies often favor them as a result — some auto body repair associations and even automakers like Ford have questioned the quality and functionality of these options and strongly advise consumers to use only OEM replacement parts. To help prevent performance issues with your vehicle following a repair, carefully review your auto insurance policy for any limits or stipulations regarding parts usage and opt for OEM parts whenever possible.
Except for your mortgage or rent, your car is the most significant expense you’ll have in life. Even if you’ve paid it off, you will always need to follow basic steps to properly care for your car — and not doing so can drain your wallet or put you in danger. From DIY hacks to critical service reminders, here are four tips to get the most out of your car without putting yourself or your budget in harm’s way. Win the windshield wiper war. From snow and ice to bird poop and smashed insects, windshields are magnets for numerous nuisances that hinder our visibility on the road. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t take long before wipers crack or dry out. You can help prolong your blades’ life by regularly wiping them down with a rag soaked in glass cleaner. If your wipers have reached the screechy cycle of life, coat the moving parts with spray silicone lubricant to keep them from giving you an annoying roadway soundtrack until you can replace them.
While we all face risks every time we hit the road, following these simple rules will help ensure a safer and more enjoyable time behind the wheel.
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FAMILY FLEXIBILITY
SMART SCHEDULING FOR BETTER HEALTH
Fulfilling life’s many demands should never come at the expense of your family’s health. If your household’s daily grind consists of juggling multiple schedules and commitments with little room for relaxation, you’re not alone. Here are two ideas to help your family slow things down and better ensure everyone’s physical and mental well-being stays positive as the hours fly by. A Schedule Overhaul When work commitments, paying bills, coordinating transportation for your children’s
week and two hour-long slots on weekends to get everyone in one place. The goal is to have distraction-free time with your loved ones, so put away your computers and cell phones during these special moments. Stress-Smart Strategies Naturally, hectic schedules often lead to stress — not just for adults. In addition to providing children with all-important personal time with their parents and siblings, regular family activities can help parents better determine whether their kids feel undue pressure in any area of their lives. Although positive stress can help a young person rise to challenges — for example, studying for a big test or meeting the deadline for an important assignment — too much stress can hinder a child’s coping skills and lead to anxiety and depression or physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach pains. Setting consistent daily routines — the same bedtime each night, for example, or
extracurricular activities, and other daily obligations lead to hurried and scattered
regularly scheduling family time everyone looks forward to — will go a long way in helping them feel more in control of their days and encourage better communication with other family members. Life is more than checking off items on our schedules. Any family can create a system that helps everyone feel happier and healthier in even the busiest times with only minor adjustments.
interactions among family members, the American Heart Association recommends creating a new way forward. First, look closely at everyone’s daily schedules over a week to see where gaps may exist and which activities could be scaled back to allow for more time spent together. You can start by choosing two 30-minute slots during the Simple Summer Garden Pasta
Take a Break
Inspired by TheKitchn.com
Ingredients
• 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, to taste) • 1 tsp kosher salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 lb angel hair pasta • 1 cup fresh basil • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese • Cooked, chopped chicken for serving (optional)
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and toss until well coated. 2. Cover and let the mixture sit at room temperature while the pasta cooks. 3. Add pasta to a pot of boiling water and cook per package directions until al dente. 4. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water to add to the tomato mixture. 5. Coarsely chop the basil leaves. 6. Add the pasta, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil to the tomato mixture and toss again until combined. 7. Serving suggestion: Add cooked, chopped chicken for more protein.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
The information published in this newsletter is educational in nature and is not intended to be a recommendation to sell or purchase an annuity or any specific insurance or financial product. You are strongly urged to consult with financial planning, tax, and legal advisors to determine if an annuity is suitable in your financial situation.
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INSIDE
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Smarter Alternatives to Stocks for Retirement Security
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Wise Ways for Worry-Free Driving
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A Streamlined Focus on Family Flow Simple Summer Garden Pasta Meet Procrastination’s Worst Enemy
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Take a moment to reflect on your high school years. Were you the student who completed all your assignments well before the deadline? Or were you the student waiting until the last second to get started? Maybe you thought you could still do it in time with a passing grade, or perhaps you didn’t know where to begin. Regardless of the reason, you procrastinated. Many people associate procrastination with schoolwork, but you can procrastinate about work, household chores, and even fun experiences like vacation planning. Those who struggle with procrastination have likely tried countless strategies to improve their efforts, from adjusting their environment to utilizing time management applications. However, we often overlook one strategy that’s been around for over a century. The next time you procrastinate, try using the Zeigarnik Effect to your advantage. The Zeigarnik Effect is a phenomenon wherein people remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. Here’s how it works: When you have tasks you need to do, don’t commit to finishing them in a day or assigning yourself a deadline. Instead, commit to doing them for five minutes. Once those five minutes have passed, you can step away from the task. THE ZEIGARNIK EFFECT COULD BE THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS Procrastination Got You Down?
However, oftentimes, you continue working because you’ve found your flow and don’t want to leave it unfinished.
If you continue to leave your tasks unfinished after starting them, try breaking them down into smaller steps. Each time you accomplish one of the smaller tasks, you gain motivation to continue your project. If you need to step away from your desk for more than a few minutes, write down the unfinished task. Doing so will keep it at the top of your mind, ensuring you return later to finish. This strategy shifts your mindset and increases productivity while avoiding the stress of starting something new.
Unfortunately, procrastination can be a roadblock to a happier, more fulfilling life. So, if other strategies have failed you previously, try the Zeigarnik Effect!
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