We are in unknown times and the guidelines are still being set in place. We know there will be cap and trade, health care reform and financial regulations; we just don’t know the form they will take. Undoubtedly though, they will cost something to someone if not all of us. The fact most everyone can agree on is that regulation is expensive and it slows the rate of growth in the economy. We are not siding on whether or not it is needed, just stating that when regulation comes it will certainly affect the rate of growth of the economy moving forward. All of these unknowns will ultimately impact the investment world and the rates of return we can expect moving forward. As we all know, what you can earn has a direct impact on what you can draw.

We want to begin to share a school of thought which could impact how we plan retirement. Whether you are close to retirement or well into retirement does not matter. Although it may not be fair, if a fundamental change in our economy has occurred we need to be able to help guide, plan and manage our way through this “new normal”. So the article referenced above is simply the beginning of an educational process. We will begin to discuss this with our clients on our summary calls moving forward. And finally, as life unfolds and the unknown becomes known, we will be there to act and react in order to put our clients into the best possible position to achieve their goals.