New Book - Coming November 2010

New Book - Coming November 2010
Help! My 401(k) Has Fallen - And Must Get Up!
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twitter. Show all posts

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Ageism

Ever heard of ageism? Ageism is a term coined by Dr. Robert Butler which refers to discrimination against the elderly. How does this affect you?

As a nation, we are getting older. People are living longer than they did in previous generations. According to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ a male who lives to age 65 can reasonably expect to live until age 82. A female at age 65 can reasonably expect to live until age 85. Earlier this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke discussed the effects of aging on the U.S. economy. Mr. Bernanke stated that "the U.S. must begin now to prepare for this coming demographic transition."  
Dr. Robert Butler, 83 is in charge of the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Butler, a Pulitzer Prize winner, has also written six books about aging issues and is the the founder of the International Longevity Center. In a recent article in Investment Advisor magazine, Dr. Butler discusses his thoughts on aging. Did you know that in 2025, only 15 years from now, more than 1 in 5 persons will be 65 or older?

Dr. Butler says that older people "should probably plan to work longer than they envisioned." He adds that regarding Social Security and our workforce, "It's very obvious and striking that if people stay in the workforce longer, they put more money into the system and take less money out."

What does this mean for you?

For those in my generation (I am 46 at this time.) we need to think seriously about working longer. Also, we need to prepare for changer in Social Security. We must do a better job of saving and investing in our 401(k) or 403(b) plans. Since we don't have pensions and can't count on Social Security for our future income, the 401(k) has to be our main method for retirement savings.

Saving in a 401(k) means you have to do the work. No one else will care about your future the way you do. My book, Help! My 401(k) Has Fallen - And Must Get Up! has several ideas and strategies which will help you in your journey. Get your 'Fallen' 401(k) back on its feet. Contact me to reserve your copy today, or visit http://www.my401khasfallen.com/.

You can also get a FREE report at my website, http://www.helpmy401k.us/ The 5 Biggest Problems With 401(k) Plans - And How To Fix Them. If you live in the South Bend, IN area, I am also happy to help with 401(k) rollovers or IRA reviews. You can follow me on Twitter, Linked In, or Facebook.

My weekly radio show is Improving Your Financial Health on WHME-FM in South Bend, and archives are available for listening on my website.   

Monday, March 22, 2010

Diary of a Wimpy 401(k) - Movie

Well, my daughter wanted to see the "Wimpy Kid" movie yesterday. I know she likes the book series and they are pretty funny so we went.

The movie was pretty funny, a bit different from the book with several new adventures for the Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley, as he deals with surviving middle school. You really don't want to know about the "cheese touch".

I'm not planning a "movie" for my book "Help! My 401(k) Has Fallen - And Must Get Up!" Although if Bruce Willis' agent will return my calls, I may change my mind. James Gandolfini might be interesting also......
a 'mafia' financial advisor......hmmmmm.

Seriously, don't look for a movie with either of these guys. Although I am still planning a short video clip with Pentavision. I'm supposed to meet with them again this week.When we put up the new website, the video will be there and we can direct orders to the page on Amazon.

I'm also getting more book cover ideas this week, which I hope to be able to post and get feedback.

My other project is to find blogs on 401(k)s and IRAs and post responses to questions. I have several which I know of.

If any readers want to send me links for 401(k) blogs, please contact me.

You can get a copy of a free report on my website – "The 5 Biggest Problems With 401(k) Plans – And How to Fix Them".


You may also contact me on Linked In or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/deanvoelker. I also host a weekly financial advice program, Improving Your Financial Health on Blog Talk Radio and WHME-FM.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Blog Talk Radio - Be Our Guest

I've been a bit busy this week, working on my upcoming book, "Help! My 401(k) Has Fallen - And Must Get Up!" . This is an "everyman's" (and everywoman's) guide to getting more from your 401(k) plan. Most books I have seen on 401(k) plans really are geared more to advisors and financial people, which is what inspired me to write it.

For most of us, the 401(k) is a major source of our savings, and for some it may be the ONLY source of savings. We need to get more out of it if we want to retire someday and have our money last the rest of our lives. I'm very excited to contribute something unique - and hope others find it helpful.

Anyway, I plan on doing more with the blog and hope that my message finds the right people. Last week I wrote about Blog Talk Radio. My experience with Blog Talk Radio has been great. I began using it in July 2009 on the advice of a friend of mine, Brian Seim, a radio veteran.

Although I have made a TON of mistakes (and still do!), I must have done a few things right also. A few weeks ago I began an affiliation with WHME-FM in South Bend (103.1) . We agreed to replay my interviews from Blog Talk Radio as a 30 minute program on Saturday mornings - "Improving Your Financial Health" .

If I had to pick the one factor which has made the show appealing - its the GUESTS! My guests have mostly been financial experts and authors, although some have been very interesting people with great personalities with no financial background at all. Even so, they had something of value to share with listeners and wer a lot of fun to talk with. Some examples would be Ruben Gonzalez, a 4 time Olympian who has written 3 books on staying motivated, or Charlie Adams, who is also a professional speaker and helps High School athletes to get college scholarships. Kristen Harmel who has written 6 novels and has a passion for helping kids with reading, Kay Yasin who overcame personal tragedies to change her life and is now an expert trainer and bodybuilder, and Darin Pritchett who is well known in the South Bend area for his Weekday Sportsbeat show. These and many others are wonderful people and gave fun & interesting interviews. All would all be welcome guests in the future.

Once I committed myself to doing the program, I have always been on the lookout for people who would make great guests . When I find someone I like, I contact them and and tell them about the program and try to schedule a time for them to be on. Always let them know that you are doing this regularly (for me once a week) and tell them names of other guests I've interviewed.

Whatever you choose to do a program about - for business or for fun - I would certainly recommend having interesting guests that fit in with your message. Again, the guests make the show fun. (Who would want to listen to just me for 30 minutes?)

People have often asked me where I find my guests. You can find guests in several places. My main source would be searching the internet for financial blogs or articles I also subscribe to Money and Smart Money magazines and have found great articles there.

Referrals can be a great source also once you tell others what you are doing. My friend, Nikki Stauffer in Ada, MI deserves a special mention. She has referred 2 nationally recognized financial experts and authors to me who are guests. Eric Tyson (author of "Investing for Dummies" and "Personal Finance for Dummies") was one. There aren't many financial advisors out there who can say they have their own "jingle" written by Paul Shaffer of the David Letterman band.  Another is Robert Krakower, who has graciously agreed to be interviewed on March 23. His new book is titled "Redefining Retirement for a New Generation".

By the way, Nikki Stauffer has a great weekly show of her own, "Gather Round the Table" .  She has also done pretty well with guests, including Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), Maria Canals-Barrera (Wizards of Waverly Place), and Mayim Bialik (Blossom), among others. This program promotes the importance of family values by eating meals together, and Nikki's guests normally share one of their favorite recipes. Check out her site and archived interviews at http://www.gatherroundthetable.com/

I also need to thank Erica Sandberg one of my early guests, and author of "Expecting Money", for her referral of a colleague of hers, Sally Herigstad, CPA, and author of "Help! I Can't Pay My Bills!". Both ladies were wonderful guests and I look to have them on Blog Talk Radio again.

Pam Batcho of Express Pros, also has been a great referral source. She referred Ruben Gonzalez, whom I mentioned earlier and also her boss, Norm Robertson, owner of the local Express Pros branch.

Sometimes, it pays to be persistant. Anya Kamenetz was a young lady I had really admired from reading her first book, "Generation Debt" a few years ago. It highlights the challenges of being young today, especially with the high costs of college and student loans. Anya was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her efforts.
She is also a nationally recognized speaker, and has appeared on college campuses nationwide.

I knew Anya would make a great guest, and tried to e-mail her (4 times over 6 weeks) with no reply. Finally one day out of the blue, I got a very kind note from her. She apologized that she had been out of town and wasn't getting her e-mails. She also sent me her personal e-mail and agreed to an interview. The interview went great and it was quite an honor for me.  

Whoever the guest is, I really try to be respectful of their time. I really want to make sure the experience goes well for them - I may want to have them back sometime, or want their help with a project.

Before doing a program, I send the guest specific instructions confirming the date and time and Call-In phone number. Since some of my guests live in different parts of the country, I also make sure I note EST - and whatever time it may be for them. 1:00 pm here is 10:00 am in California. That may seem like a small thing, but trust me - its important!

Another habit of mine is to send the guest a list of questions personally tailored to them. Some guests have even suggested questions that the like to be asked. By reviewing their website or reading their books, it has helped me quite a bit to learn about them. It helps the interview to go more smoothly.

My objective is to build them up as an expert which (I hope) makes me look like a good guy as well. Speaking of building up, its also very important to use a proper introduction. A good introduction should be at least 3 sentences, highlighting their achievements. You are telling your listeners why you chose this person to be on your show and why their advice will be valuable to them.

One last point on guests - You can't say "Thank You" enough. I always thank them at the end of the program and give them a chance to give contact information and promote their book or services . After the show, I also send an e-mail thanking them for their time once more.

Blog Talk Radio has been a great venue for me. I plan on writing one more article about Blog Talk Radio, which includes tips and techniques. You can contact me through my website, http://www.helpmy401k.us/ and
through Linked In or Twitter.

There is a Free Report now available through my website, "The 5 Biggest Problems With 401(k)s - And How To Fix Them". Please contact me to receive your free copy. This is a sample of my upcoming book, "Help! My 401(k) Has Fallen - And Must Get Up!"

Friday, January 29, 2010

Are You Linked In?

Are you "LinkedIn" to social media? LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/  is a professional business networking website, which launched in May 2003.

Wikipedia states that Linked In has over 50 Million users in more than 200 countries and territories. According to LinkedIn, a new member joins the site every minute. You can learn some of the basics of LinkedIn at http://press.linkedin.com/about. There is an orientation video here which may help you to utilize some of the site's features.

My first exposure to LinkedIn was in 2006. I was invited to connect by Debra Gould, an acquaintance of mine, whom I had met at networking events a few times. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I set up my profile, and "Voila!" - I was now part of social media and the internet!

Of course, I could say that my financial advisory business and LinkedIn page grew like wildfire from there, but that wouldn't be true. Several months went by before I even added a second connection. It can can a while for the "lights to come on". Even as I look through my contacts today, I counted 21 who have only 1 connection (me), and 87 (including the onesies) who have 10 or less. This tells me that LinkedIn is still a largely untapped resource.

After I finally did add a few more people in 2007, I started looking at LinkedIn as a good resource for networking. I could see some value in the site and started looking for ways to utilize it better. I started to join groups and also looked for companies in the South Bend, IN area that I wanted to build relationships with, especially for 401(k) marketing and employee education. Using LinkedIn gave me a chance to show them my 'online resume'.

Of all the Social Media sites, LinkedIn has been viewed by many as the most professional and businesslike. I know of a few people who have effectively used LinkedIn in their career search. (Maybe THAT should have been referred to in the "State Of The Union" address with the topic of 'Job Creation'.)

Before I digress too far - Here are a few basic ways you can use LinkedIn as an effective marketing tool and networking resource for your business.

* Add People - That seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes we need to figure out how to get started.  Don't be shy. When you get business cards from others at networking events or other places, invite them to
connect. Most cards include an e-mail, which makes it easy. LinkedIn has also done many things to make
the site more user friendly. One of them is "People You May Know", which is a bit similar to Facebook's friend suggestions. If you know them, it is easy to invite and add them as contacts.

In fact, invite your Facebook friends also. You may be surprised at how many of them may view you in a
different light when they see your professional profile on LinkedIn. You can also go through your e-mail contacts and import the list into LinkedIn. This will tell you which of your friends already has a profile here. Again, you will be surprised.

* Enhance Your Profile - LinkedIn should be your online resume. Keep it real, and be yourself, but be your BEST self. Don't just fill in the boxes. Tell others up front what makes you unique and what you can do to help them. Why should they work with you? Do you write a blog? Manage a scout troop? Sing in the church choir? Put those things in your profile, along with previous jobs. You never know what may catch someone's eye and attract them to your business.

* Recommendations - These are your testimonials. Ask people you trust to write one for you. (They may ask for one in return.) My only rule of thumb on giving or receiving is - Make it specific and sincere! The testimonial must mention special skills or services you have performed. "John is a great guy." doesn't cut it. Only sincere, well thought out recommendations will make your profile stand out.

* Join A Group - What topics are you interested in? You can probably find a group that discusses them.
Participate in the discussions by asking and answering questions. Some of my current groups include
Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County, Indiana Small Business Development Center, Linking Indiana,
and the Economic Club of Michiana. I have also created 2 of my own, Help My 401(k), and Always Illinois.

A great way to add contacts is to look through the members list. Just click on their profile and send them an invite.

* What Are You Reading? - If you have read something recently which you think others may find interesting, add this to your profile. You may see others also who have read the same book, and that can be common ground for a new connection. If you write a blog on Wordpress, you can also have the blog connected to LinkedIn.

* Search - You can search for people or companies. Are there any companies you'd like to call on, but don't know where to start? Look for them on LinkedIn. More and more companies are on LinkedIn everyday. A company search can tell you everyone who is with that company who has a profile. One word of caution - if the person is no longer with the company, and they aren't an active LinkedIn user, the profile may not be current. But profiles do offer great contact information, including e-mail addresses. The search feature is very easy to use.

I hope these tips help you get started with LinkedIn, or help you utilize the site more effectively.

You can contact me through my website, http://www.helpmy401k.us/. You can also contact me on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/dvoelker, or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/deanvoelker. I am currently hosting a weekly financial advice program, "Improving Your Financial Health" on Blog Talk Radio at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/401kcoach. Let me know how I may help you!