Financial Planning Retirement Seminar – What To Look For…

Looking to attend a financial planning retirement seminar? What are the things to look out for? Here are some things to take note. Before attending such a seminar, do know what your expectations are and what the people organizing the seminar can deliver. Usually, part of the financial planning retirement seminar will include sales pitches on products propagated by the organisers.

This is really quite a normal industry practice, and most people are alright with it. Just be aware of your own needs in terms of such financial services and products. Some areas that should be covered in such a seminar should include personal financial planning, retirement, savings and investment as well as other similar topics.

Some retirement planning seminars may have speakers suggesting risky propositions for higher investment returns. The logic is that with higher returns, you will be more assured of a more comfortable and secure retirement. All well and good, but you need to understand your own risk appetite and profile. One good way to understand this is to talk to a competent and professional financial planner.

The adage “caveat emptor” (buyer beware) describes this well, although perhaps only figuratively. The lesson to take away is that you do not get involved in anything that you do not first understand thoroughly. The financial planning retirement seminar is for you to better understand the available instruments and investments that will help you reach your retirement goals. It is not an avenue for you to lose your hard-earned money that is meant to be part of your retirement funds. Do not feel rushed or compelled to agree and follow everything the speaker says. Some (not all) may have commercial reasons to be speaking at these seminars.

Before attending such a seminar, it will be good to ask what you are trying to accomplish. Some questions such as “how much should you save for retirement?”, “what do you want to do during retirement?” will help shape your expectations and perceptions of what the retirement seminar can accomplish.

For instance, most financial planning advisers will suggest that your retirement income should be about 60% to 80% of your present income. There are several reasons for this financial planning “rule of thumb” – but all these reasons may not apply to you. Only you will understand your own needs. Thus, only you should decide. And in order to do that effectively, you must have a robust personal financial plan in the first place. If you do not already have a plan, then hopefully attending a financial planning retirement seminar will start that plan rolling. If you already have one, it may be a good opportunity to enhance it. All these form part of good personal financial planning.

About the Author: Andrew Chan

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