RISk vS. SAFE RETIREmENT INcOmE

Chapter 12

RIkvs. s sAFe

RetIReMent InCoMe

By JaMMie aVila

“Is there anything you can do to help me?” was the question Ms. Browne
asked me – as we sat across from each other at her kitchen table. It was
February of 2009, and I had met Ms. Browne at a Financial Workshop
I hosted earlier in the month. At the close of every workshop I have an
evaluation form that I have each attendee fill out. Not only does it let
me know how I did as a presenter, but also it gives each person in at-
tendance an opportunity to request a free one-hour consultation either
at my office or in the comfort of their home. Ms. Browne had enjoyed
the financial workshop and wanted an appointment with me as soon as
possible in her home. Since she wanted to meet right away, I adjusted
my schedule so we could meet the next day. I could tell by the look on
Ms. Browne’s face when she answered the door the next day that she
was anxious and worried. Though that was not uncommon with many
of the people I met with during this horrible financial time. We had just
come off 2008 – which was by far the worst Stock Market correction
since the Great Depression. There was a lot of financial uncertainty at
that time and anyone that had their personal nest egg invested in The
Stock Market was dealing with some serious losses.

When I start any consultation I like to find out a little about whom I am
meeting with. Where they are from? What they did for a living? How
old they are? Are they married, etc.? I could tell going through this fact-
finding process that it was starting to annoy her. So I put my pen down