Viewpoints Industry and Borrowing from a 401(k) Plan

There are times when it is absolutely necessary to borrow from a 401(k) retirement plan. Viewpoints Industry shares the types of loans to take that won’t hurt you in the long run.

Keep in mind that some plans and some employers have set rules on taking a loan from a retirement plan. If you need to borrow money from the plan, it is best to know that you won’t lose your job soon and can pay it back within the timeline given. Payments are taken from your paycheck. That is something else to remember before taking money from a retirement plan. Always be sure to read all of the terms and conditions before signing on the line to borrow money from the plan.

If you find yourself out of work with a lot of credit card debt, consider borrowing from the plan to pay off the debt. But be sure there are enough funds in the plan to do this. If wanting the loan to buy a new car or home, traditional loans are better and the percentage rates are usually better.

The 401(k) loan is good for a short-term loan rather than a long-term loan. Viewpoints Industry suggests holding off from borrowing from a retirement plan if possible. The funds growing in the account will be needed when it is time to retire. With the economy still struggling to get on track and the job market looking iffy at best, save those funds for the future. Instead, go to a financial website like bankrate.com and see if there are any banks willing to compete to give you a better loan deal for your needs.

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Viewpoints Industry on ID Theft Vigilance

According to the Identity Resource Center, there have been 368 identity theft breaches so far this year. That number is up almost 19% from the same time last year. Viewpoints Industry reminds readers how they can be more vigilant to protecting their identity.

More than 10 million personal records have been exposed in 2014. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 16.6 million American adults experiences ID theft in 2012. The same agency reports that there were 6.8 million total non-fatal violent crimes during the same time.  These are astounding statistics to ponder. How can the average consumer better protect themselves from identity theft?

Change user name and passwords to financial and credit card companies every month or two. Use a strong password combo which is longer than 8 characters, contains numbers, small and capital letters and a variety of symbols for each account.

Create an email address from one of the free sites like Hotmail to collect junk email and sale notices.

Never give your Social Security Number to anyone who has no need for it such as on an employment application before being hired, in a doctor’s office or in a store.

Review financial and credit accounts every week to be sure every cent is one you spent and one someone else did not. If you find a discrepancy, contact the institution immediately.

Viewpoints Industry TV learns that is takes about 9 hours to clear up ID theft issues, and some people who’ve been affected spent more than a day doing so.  In order to prevent the aggravating hassle of ID theft, remain vigilant when checking accounts online and in person.

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How the Older Generations are Finding a Job from Viewpoints Industry

It is hard for everyone from age 21 and up to find and land a new job these days. Yet, it seems harder for the older generations to gain employment. Viewpoints Industry reviews the different tactics the older generation can try to find a job.

It is hard to sit across from a job recruiter who is in their 20s or 30s when you are 40 plus years old. Every smirk, half smile and comment seems to say “too old for the job”. But there are ways to nip those perceived prejudices in the bud:

Get on LinkedIn and juice up your profile. Choose a great headshot of yourself. Review all the job entries you made on it and tighten then up. Add volunteer work and any projects which were successful. Search for companies you’d like to work for an follow any news they update. Ask questions. Be active and alert.

Improve skills or add new ones by taking free and low-cost online courses in your field. There are a plethora of great educational opportunities available. Take time and research them. Ask friends, mentors, former co-workers for recommendations. Add them to your resume. It shows that you have not been sitting around waiting for a job to land in your lap.

Your image matters. Viewpoints Industry TV learns that a positive attitude and a clean and put together appearance speaks volumes about how well a recruiter thinks you can handle the advertised job. Be a can-do applicant. Don’t snub your nose at a lower salary. Negotiate for more days off, flex time or work from home days. Finally, be willing to accept a temp or contract job until something more permanent becomes available. It helps pay the bills and helps keep skills fresh. Take charge of your job search with these tips and maybe, something good will come from it.

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Viewpoints Industry on a New Look at Retirement

(travel today because tomorrow you may not be able to)

A recent survey reports that many Americans fear being broke in retirement, yet really don’t want to change the way they live right now. This prompts Viewpoints Industry to take a new look at retirement for tomorrow.

Roughly 55% of those who responded in the survey said they fear not having enough money in retirement. The report from Bank of America’s Merrill Edge report, which is released twice per year, also found that 90% of the 1,000 people they polled do have retirement funds in various forms. Sixty-three percent said that living in moment is important to them while they believe that their standard of living will diminish in the after-work years. Many said that competing financial priorities get in the way of regularly saving for retirement. Some of those priorities are paying for a child’s college education, paying down debt, assisting elderly parents and rebuilding emergency savings after a job loss. Tomorrow’s retirement is much different than that of the Boomer Generation’s parents.

Many people who are nearing retirement age or are fast approaching it are finding a new way to enjoy view the coming years. Those who choose to “live for today” and spend earnings on rewarding vacations may know that they are more physically able to travel farther and enjoy new experiences while their health is good. Retirement is what we make of it whether that means endless games of golf and bridge, or working part-time to supplement any savings stashed away. Viewpoints Industry TV encourages readers to re-think what retirement means to them. Tomorrow is near. Retirement is close. What do you want your retirement to be?

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Viewpoints Industry TV on the Best Cities for Single Retirees

Tired of seeing all the ads of happily married retirees on the TV? We are, so we sought out the best cities for single retired people – and realized most of them are in our general area.

The highest number of unmarried retirees are in the Miami and New Orleans areas, where half of the residents are single, age 60 and up. Viewpoints Industry TV also learns that New Orleans has a somewhat large percentage of widows and widowers, while Miami has more who have never been married. Both of these cities offer an abundance of activities from the arts to professional sports. Both have excellent public transportation systems and great healthcare.  In cities like Albany and Cleveland, there are more single retired women than men.

1.Miami 
2. New Orleans 
3. Jackson, Miss. 
4. Memphis, Tenn. 
5. New York 
6. Cleveland
7. Albany, N.Y. 
8. Las Vegas 
9. Buffalo, N.Y. 
10. Los Angeles

Viewpoints Industry learns that many of these cities provide opportunities to continue education. The key to having a great retirement is to keep busy, be healthy and maintain social relationships. All of the above cities give its older residents the ability to do all of that. This is why they all made the top ten. 

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