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Creative Wealth Maximization Strategies - February 2012

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This month's newsletter features the following articles:

WILL ROBOTS MAKE THE 401(k) A DINOSAUR?

In a static employment situation, where steady paychecks and long-term employment are the norms, the 401(k) seems like a sound concept. Even today, generic financial advice from mainstream media still usually includes the phrase “max out your 401(k) contributions.” But the viability of a 401(k) hinges on ongoing employment and a steady income. Given the changing dynamics of employment, making 401(k) contributions a financial priority may be committing to an approach that is no longer well-suited for the current economic climate.

CHECKING (and fixing) YOUR UNIVERSAL LIFE POLICIES… Before It’s Too Late

Universal Life (UL) is a type of permanent life insurance policy introduced in the early 1980s. Some of the features of UL were quite innovative, but because of the economic conditions in which UL was introduced, the true long-term impact of these UL innovations is only now becoming evident. Since many long-term owners of UL policies are just now coming to grips with these issues, it is important to understand the concepts and factors that impact UL contracts, and how to address them.

GURUS, NEWSLETTERS & “FINANCIAL ENLIGHTENMENT”

Today’s financial gurus have TV shows, newsletters, DVDs and do-it-yourself money makeovers. They are smart enough to get your respect, entertaining enough to keep your attention, and down-to-earth enough to make you say, “hey, he/she is one of us! I can relate to this guy/gal!” But while a guru might make personal finance simple and entertaining, their “objective advice” is sometimes a thinly-disguised reach for your wallet. A recent Wall Street Journal highlighted the inaccuracies and questionable performance claims of a company affiliated with a prominent “personal-finance expert.”

PREPARING FOR YOUR “BASE INCOME YEAR”

For parents who anticipate their child/children will attend college, part of the process will almost assuredly include compiling personal financial documentation to apply for grants, loans and scholarships. Among the factors that determine financial aid eligibility, the base income year is the one that counts most because it establishes a baseline income level for successive years. With some foresight, parents may be able to adjust their asset positions to improve their financial aid profile.

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Ashford Advisors Creative Wealth Maximization Strategies- February 2012

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Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents, or employees do not provide tax or legal advice. The Associates of Ashford Advisors, Inc., are not licensed to sell insurance in all 50 states. To find out if an agent is licensed in your state, please contact Johnny Howard at 770 390-2600. The Registered Representatives are securities licensed in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New York, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, Illinois and Nevada and is strictly intended for individuals residing in those states. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside these specified states. The information or opinions contained in this Internet site should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any particular investment product. The information contained herein is directed solely to those individuals who reside in jurisdictions in which the representative is registered in the state where the consumer and/or prospective client reside. Any subsequent direct communication with a consumer and/or prospective client shall only be conducted by a representative that is registered in the state where the consumer and/or prospective client reside. The information on this web site is designed to be general in nature and for educational purposes only. Guardian, its agents and employees do not give tax or legal advice.

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* Registered Representative of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA 30346. Securities products and services offered through PAS, (770) 390-2600. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Ashford Advisors is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.
PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC.

** Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA 30346. Securities products/services and adv isory services are offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, (770) 390-2600. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Ashford Advisors is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.
PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC.

Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only and it is not to be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed reliable, please note that individual situations can vary, therefore the information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

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