One of the recommendations from the White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families was for retirees to purchase annuities to help reduce the risks of outliving their savings or experiencing lower living standards because of inflation and investment losses.



The White House is not a common source of retirement information, but its recommendation addressed a common concern: running out of money in retirement. Although the task force wasn’t talking about variable annuities in particular, one of the benefits offered by variable annuities is the potential for a guaranteed lifetime income.



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Three-fourths of CEOs running small and mid-size businesses reported in March 2011 that they were anticipating higher revenues in the year ahead, and nearly 60% expected rising profits. Among those who expressed confidence in their futures, 54% expected to hire more employees and 50% were planning to invest in their facilities.



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The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a common measure of inflation, grew at a 3.2% annual rate in April, the fastest rate since October 2008.1 For more than two years, the U.S. economy has experienced relatively low inflation, and the current rate remains below the 50-year average.2 Yet anyone who has been to a gas station or a grocery store recently may feel that prices are going up faster than the CPI suggests.



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There are a variety of retirement planning options that can meet your needs. Your employer funds some; you fund some. Bear in mind that in most cases, withdrawals made before age 59½ are subject to a 10 percent penalty, and withdrawals usually must begin by April 1 of the year after you turn age70½. Income taxes are also due upon withdrawal in most cases. This list describes 10 of the most common options.



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Recently, fixed mortgages were near their lowest rates in almost 30 years. And if you are one of the many people who took out mortgages in the few years prior to that, you may be wondering if you should look into refinancing.



If your mortgage was taken out within the past five years, it may be worthwhile to refinance if you can get financing that is at least one to two points lower than your current interest rate. You should plan on staying in the house long enough to pay off the loan transaction charges (points, title insurance, attorney’s fees, etc.).



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Your business may be running smoothly. You could be making money hand over fist. But don’t be lulled into thinking that a catastrophe could never hit your business. Disasters can strike in many ways; even a minor one could wipe out a lifetime of hard work. Fortunately, the appropriate business owner’s insurance policy, sometimes called a BOP, can help protect your company in the event of property damage, business interruption, or legal troubles.



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