RetireRoatan

Money Isn't the Key to Retirement Bliss

"Elizabeth Brinckerhoff never thought adjusting to retirement would require so much work.

"It took about six years to get used to it," she says.

Isn't building the nest egg the hard part? Well, apparently, money isn't the key to retirement bliss, although scarce savings could trip you up as you try to walk away into the sunset."  -- MSNBC Retirement

Enjoying life is what retirement is all about.  There is no better place to experience relaxation coupled with a low cost of living like you will find in Roatan.  One of the western most Caribbean islands.  If you are interested in hearing more email me [email protected]

How to move your belongings to Roatan

After people have purchased their home in paradise, the question arrives, "How do I get my belongings to Roatan"?  There are several ways to move your belongings to Roatan.  The first option is to simply send your belongings to one of the two shipping companies serving Roatan, Hyde Shipping and Dip Shipping.  Hyde shipping goes directly to Roatan, where as Dip Shipping goes through the Port of Cortez.  I recommend Hyde Shipping and I will share the contact and phone number with you shortly. 

Delaying Retirement, Here You Don't Have To

"NEW YORK (CNN) -- Charles and Anna Burge were so certain of retiring to Florida this year that they had begun packing up their house. The dining room of their Long Island, New York home is barren, spare a virtually empty china cabinet and a pile of cardboard boxes that hold its former contents. The couple sold their kitchen table, got rid of chairs, took pictures down from the walls and began sending belongings to their Florida condominium.

'We sold our dining room chairs and now we're sort of living half and half not,' said Charles, a superintendent with New York City's Sanitation Department.

This Retirement Strategy Will Work Today, Not Tomorrow

  “Like many financial advisers, Kelemen tells clients not to bank on Social Security as a source of income -- especially if they are still in their 30s or 40s. Even the Social Security Administration offers a bleak assessment: Given the current rate of payouts and the expected number of retirees, the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted by 2041, and ‘there will be enough money to pay only 75 cents for each dollar of scheduled benefits.’ That's straight from the statement you get each year stating how much of a payout you can expect.

‘The middle class is hurt by the fact that two legs of the three legs for retirement are disappearing -- Social Security and pensions,’ says Andy Brincefield, CFP, a financial adviser with the Consolidated Planning in Charlotte, N.C. ‘They just can't count on Social Security the same way.’

Roatan's Exponential Growth Factor

Roatan is really gaining momentum in its growth.  The sleepily little undeveloped  island is transforming right before our eyes.  I am being generous when I say the island is < 10% developed as not to steer anyone wrong, however, the developed areas are exploding and beginning to spread out.  The two vehicles you see the most these days are taxis and cement trucks. The mall complex being built in the French Harbor (15 min. east from the airport) is being completed with cement trucks going in and out like waves.  The mall will bring in the islands first big chain restaurant Applebee's.  The island's first golf course has finally revealed its course layout

Today's Status on U.S. Retirement

  There are many great reasons to owning property on a Caribbean island, especially one that defines paradise.  Caribbean real estate will eventually hit the equilibrium point where prices are generally the same.  The world is getting smaller each day and people are discovering our island.  Easy flights can be had from Europe to Newark International Airport then from Newark International Airport straight/non-stop to the Island.  In Roatan taxes are low, labor is inexpensive, and capital gains are only 4% of your profit from the sell of your home.  Roatan is still undervalued by a substantial margin when compared to the rest of the Caribbean.  Now is the perfect time to purchase your property and secure your nest egg and secure if not upgrade your standard of living.  Below is another reason why you should shrug off the stress of retirement and start with your Roatan real estate purchase.

"NEW YORK - Nearly one-third of baby boomers ages 51 to 61 are at risk of not having enough in savings to finance a comfortable retirement, according to a study being released Tuesday by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College."  -- MSNBC - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20042927/

Roatan Pic of the Day

... Come Relax With Us in Roatan!
Location of picture, Las Rocas on West Bay Beach

Planning for Retirement

The sheer cost of retirement, and the fact that many workers want to do something active, are pushing many to think about "downshifting" into retirement rather than jumping in at once. Three-quarters of  baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 now plan on working part time, extending work or moving into a different career, either because they have to for financial reasons or because they want to, says Bob Skladany, the vice president of research for Retirementjobs.com. --- Quoted from MSN @ MoneyCentral

Roatan is a great opportunity to "downshift"! With need for educational teachers, diving instructors, part time help, consultants, florists, cooks, mechanics, technicians, baristas and so much more. There is already another Cruise port being developed on the island and just released . .  new flights to and from Roatan, this will double/triple the tourists we already have.  Roatan Bay Island is one BIG growing "city" and needs people of all trades and skills.

Real estate is GREATLY affordable now and allows you to purchase paradise at prices much lower than most coastal properties in the USA.  It can't be matched in costs for real estate throughout the Caribbean. We are just below the Hurricane belt and weather is consistent and warm year round. 

Retirement planning for baby boomers
What can boomers expect from pension plans and Social Security?

Roatan Picture of the Week - Pelican Bay Beach

Pelican Bay is a development with acres of white pristine beach. Will feature private villas, secured access, beautiful tropical landscaping and so much more.

13 Retirement Myths as reported by Money magazine

1. You need a big income to have a big nest egg
2. You can't get rich with a 401(k)
3. Everyone has debt
4. A million dollars will cover you
5. Boomers will crash the market
6. Without a pension, you're doomed
7. Social Security won't be there
8. Your house can finance retirement
9. You're too old to start saving
10. Short-term market swings don't matter
11. Top priority is the kids' college
12. Decent savings plan = early retirement
13. You're bound to mess up your 401(k)

Each of the points above are explained much further in the CNN Money article. We will cover a few exerpts from each myth which you can than read further by clicking the links in this blog post.