February, 2009 Issue 1
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Welcome to
"Manage The Markets"
with Catherine Avery

 A Personal Note..

 
Dear Friend,      

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope your loved ones treat you well!
 
Last Friday morning, at the crack of dawn I had a physical exam with my doctor.  I am embarrassed to say that the last time I saw him was over 5 years ago.  You know how the story goes - life just got in the way!  I was busy with the kids, trying to juggle a career that was changing every year, and didn't have time to wait 15 minutes on the phone for the receptionist to make the appointment.  It was great to reacquaint myself with the doctor.  I was happy to see that he took an interest in my health in a very holistic way.  He was very interested in how my career had changed over the years and he asked for some advice on how to save for his children's education.  At the end of the visit, he brought me into his office and gave me a list of items to follow up on:  bone density test, colonoscopy, mammography, MRI for my arm.  I walked out of there thinking, "How am I going to get all this done?"  I knew I had 2 choices.  I could leave it on my desk and allow it to stay in a pile, or I could be proactive, get the tests done and take the responsibility of keeping myself healthy in order to prevent illness.  I decided on the latter because if I am not healthy, I will not be able to work or keep up with my children. 
 
The same could be said for how we deal with our financial health.  If we do not deal with it today, we do not know what shape we will be in at the time we retire!  I encourage you to take the time to invest in your financial health to prevent future disaster.

 
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Catherine Maniscalco Avery
 
 

CAIM specializes in creating and managing

customized and fully diversified investment portfolios

for private investors.

203.966.2712  p
203.966.5697  f

 
Catherine Avery
  
 INVESTING IN PREVENTION

 
 
Jack & Jill's Retirement Story
 

Imagine this scenario:  Jack and Jill are in their early 70s.  They've both decided that they no longer want to work.  In fact they're looking to slow down and change their life altogether.  They want to retire.
 
However, having made this decision, they soon discover that the money they have available to them, to live on, is just not enough.
 
Turns out they had never planned on staying in Fairfield County, but had seen themselves moving to Florida once they got older.  They've also recently found themselves in the position of having to help out their grown children, who have fallen on tough economic times themselves.  Jack and Jill also never fully paid off their credit card debt over the years.
 
At this point it certainly looks like they may be working a lot longer than they imagined!
 
There were ways that this couple could have prevented the unwanted situation they now find themselves in.  If only they had taken the time to invest in some of the following preventative measures:
  • Saved their money every year since the first jobs they both got out of college.
  • Kept their debt in check and even figured out a way to pay it down over the years. 
  • Planned ahead as to where they could afford to live and moved there.
  • Lived within their means and regularly funded their retirement plans.
If Jack and Jill had followed the above steps they would be ready for a very happy retirement - right when they wanted it.
 
For those of you who are 55 or 60 and now feel your situation is hopeless because you haven't adhered to any of the above - DO NOT PANIC!!  You may not have done what you should in the past, but there is still time to get where you want to be.  What you will need to do is to start cutting back in the areas of your life where you can.  That might mean using coupons when you shop, cutting back on dinners out, installing a water filter for your home, instead of buying all that expensive bottled water or, ultimately, sitting down with a financial planner.  She can help you come up with a practical, results-oriented plan to cut back and to save.   It's never too late to make that change.
 

 
See you in two weeks with more updates and news!

For those of you with questions, feel free to call me at 203.966.2712.  Also please visit my website at www.catherineaveryinvest.com
 
Please pass along this newsletter to friends and family to spread the word!