Contribution, tax and other numbers to help you plan in 2012.

Click here to download the pdf.

People who are concerned about outliving their assets...
What is your "Number" and how you will manage it?
How much do I need to be able to retire comfortably?
I'm retired - What is the best way to obtain the income I need from my assets?

A multi-Billion dollar Ponzi scheme based in New York - No surprise; there are lots of questionable financial whizzes on Wall Street.

$350 Million lost to an investment firm in Sarasota - Now that is news! How soon we forget that some advisors, even those close to home, may not be good for our financial health. Remember 2007 when Capital 1st Financial was found to be defrauding seniors? Or some recent real estate investments?

It is January. After another tumultuous year, we have a fresh start on the calendar and for many a desire to improve their financial security.

People who thought they were doing the right things, investing conservatively and living within their means, found they are paying for the sins of others. The price of gasoline hit all time highs and then plummeted to less than half within six months. If we didn't believe we were tied together economically, last year erased any doubt. We also found that many we trusted with our money were not so concerned with our well-being. It proved a difficult year in which to protect our loved ones.

Ask 10 people what a financial planner does and you're likely to get 10 different answers.

The trouble is, all of the answers may be correct, depending on the financial planner. I'm not going to attempt to answer the question for other financial planners. I'm going to tell you what Tom Roberts does at A New Approach Financial Planning.

First, I'm not in competition with the financial planners or advisors that only accept high net worth clients. Many planners will only accept clients if they have a minimum level of investable assets or income. I'm after the everyday, middle income person or family that may have a large amount to invest or nothing to invest.

Personal Finance Workbook for Dummies by Sheryl Garrett

The Number by Lee Eisenburg

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin