Retirement: We say we care, do we really?

Each year the Wall Street Journal presents the Encore: A Guide to Retirement Planning & Living.  Well each year they always mention that many Americans do not plan properly for retirement because we have these little white lies that we tell ourselves.  The idea behind this suggests that we assume that we will just work during retirement, assume we will be healthly, assume that we can afford our current lifestyle, do not prepare for our elderly care costs, assume that our spouse will just take care of everything, etc. etc.

If this is the case for many Americans; what about my people African Americans and Hispanic Americans?  Many of us don’t save properly, put away for retirement nor invest in assets that will yield a wealthly lifestyle.  Many of us don’t understand the concepts of investing or even the 401k accounts our employers present to make an intelligent decision one way or another.

What are we to do?  I have an answer.  Research.  Read.  Take an interest in your own future and be proactive about the decisions that will affect your family.  I know we’ve all taken a look to the left and envy the lifestyle of some of the wealthly; but we have to be honest about why some attain and maintain wealth.  Some things can be “blamed” on the classic arguments about social status, good ol’ boy network, et. al.  But in many respects people that attain and maintain a wealthly lifestyle and future do so because they have worked hard to learn what it takes to achieve that status.

I’m definately not where I want to be financially; but I am making decisions to get there soon.  Are you there?  Are you planning to be there?  If you don’t know where to begin; ask.