Chapter 48

tCgAkIn ontRol oF YoUR

FInAnCIAl DestInY

By peter GarCia

Success comes in many forms through a variety of avenues and can be
realized at almost any age. In recent years I have seen many very young
entrepreneurs have great successes in their early lives. I also have had
the privilege of helping older adults plan for a successful retirement after
decades of “nose-to-the-grindstone” work, as well as guiding hundreds
of clients toward achieving a position of financial security, comfort, and
in many cases, becoming financially affluent through a systematic ap-
proach to wealth management.

One thing I have realized over the course of my career is that, whether
your success and the corresponding wealth comes at an early age or
from a lifetime of accumulation, you must have a strategic financial
plan in place to maximize and preserve your hard-earned dollars.

Many individuals set their sights on retiring in financial comfort and
with the peace of mind that they will not outlive their money. And right-
ly so, longevity risk is the greatest risk of all because it is the multiplier
of all the other types of risks associated during your retirement years.

People want to retire successfully. That is, they want their money to
work for them so they can enjoy a certain lifestyle and amenities dur-
ing their “golden years.” These “amenities” vary greatly from person to

TAkING cONTROl OF YOUR FINANcIAl dESTINY