The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) will once again sponsor National Retirement Planning Week this month—from April 12-15. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), and Americans for a Secure Retirement (ASR) are among those joining forces to spotlight the week-long outreach effort to both consumer and financial professional audiences.
“A crisis in retirement readiness exists today, as Americans—still reeling from the effects of the recession—dramatically underestimate the income needed to support their envisioned retirement lifestyles,” said IRI CEO and President Cathy Weatherford. “The retirement readiness crisis is due to shattered investor confidence, diminished savings, longer life spans and the declining role of Social Security and pensions. IRI hopes to help jump-start the retirement planning process by highlighting areas of key consideration during this week, while providing tips and tools that can help streamline the process. IRI will then continue to advance the dialogue in the weeks and months ahead, offering resources to both consumers and financial professionals alike, in order to help them stay focused on long term financial goals.”
Educational materials will be available in conjunction and IRI will be sponsoring a nationally distributed 60-second radio spot as well as op-eds in community newspapers nationwide in addition to its online presence. Daily themes planned for National Retirement Planning Week include:
Monday, April 12—The New Retirement Reality
Tuesday, April 13—Top 10 Tips for Saving
Wednesday, April 14—Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits
Thursday, April 15—Retirement Savings Mechanisms with Tax Preferred Status
The Insured Retirement Institute (formerly NAVA) is a not-for-profit organization and a source of all things pertaining to annuities, insured retirement strategies and retirement planning. For more information, visit www.IRIonline.org.
This month’s focus section is full of benefit planning options and marketing ideas—“golden handcuff” plans, providing for a multi-generational work force, as well as updates on health, dental and other voluntary products. Plus, there is exclusive online content on business equalization planning by one of your favorite authors, John Budihas, Hartford Life.
The Monthly Update this month is on women and insurance, and just as the article says, “Our industry’s barometer of success” should be measured by how successful producers are in closing the coverage gap for women. To round out the special focus article in the print issue you won’t want to miss the online content about ideas for selling to the female market from a panel of leading producers.
While we are on the topic of online content, we encourage you to set up your online account. Even if you prefer to read the print version, your online version has some special features you don’t want to miss. [SAC]
