| Release Date | Press Release | |
| 11/1/2007 | Certified Senior Adviser Issues Caution on U. S. Savings Bonds | |
| More than 55 million Americans own in excess of $180 billion in U.S. Savings Bonds, for an average of about $3,000 per person. If you are among this staggering number—or want to consider purchasing savings bonds—do you have a firm grasp on the program? All too often, the answer is "no," reports Jim Flanagan, a Certified Senior Advisor who says that some Americans operate under outdated or simply inaccurate information. "In some cases, for example, people are holding onto bonds that no longer bear any interest whatsoever," said Flanagan. "This is no better than stuffing cash under your mattress and losing ground to inflation." To educate people on the various aspects of the U.S. Savings Bond program, Flanagan is holding a free seminar at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Warrenville Park District, 3 S 260 Warren Ave. in Warrenville. To pre-register, please call 630-393-7279. All attendees will receive a Savings Bond performance evaluation valued at up to $100. And among other insights, Flanagan will share information about what to do in light of significant changes that the U.S. Treasury Department has made in recent years to the U. S. Savings Bond program. His observations will include: • Since May 1, 2005, EE bonds carry a fixed rate and no longer rise and fall with market interest rates. • As of September 1, 2004, the conversion of E or EE bonds to HH was discontinued. • HH bonds are no longer an option to avoid income tax. Taxes must be paid. • The Treasury has doubled the minimum time EE and I bonds must be held, from 6 months to one year. Cash them in before 5 years and pay a 90-day interest penalty. • Very soon paper bonds may no longer be issued. Internet accounts only will rule the day. Jim will also discuss the different types of bonds, interest rate/maturity issues, using bonds for education and common Savings Bond owner mistakes. In addition to being a Certified Senior Advisor, Flanagan is a Certified Estate Advisor and is on the national advisory board for the National Association of Financial and Estate Planning. He is also a Certified Estate Planner, Registered Financial Consultant and a financial columnist for Chicagoland Senior News. Flanagan resides in River Forest with his wife, Jane, and their three children, Patrick, Molly and John. A board member for Oak Park Township Senior Services, Flanagan has been assisting senior investors for more than 20 years. His company is online at www.bentron.com. | ||
| 10/26/2007 | Leading Senior Advisor Offers Tips To Avoid Financial Abuse | |
| For more information, contact Jim Flanagan at 630-505-8373. Leading Senior Advisor Offers Tips To Avoid Financial Abuse Free talk is Oct. 26 at Burr Ridge Park District Among seniors, the fear of being defrauded tops all other worries, even health crises and terrorism, according to a nationwide 2004 survey. For a variety of reasons, seniors are especially vulnerable to those who would exploit them, says Jim Flanagan, an outspoken advocate for seniors and a Certified Senior Advisor. Flanagan will be presenting a free workshop at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the Burr Ridge Park District headquarters, 15W400 Harvester Drive. Flanagan’s 45-minute program, which includes a question-and-answer portion, is called “Nine Tips For Seniors To Avoid Financial Abuse: A Guide for Seniors and Those Who Care for Them.” “Seniors hold 80 percent of the nation’s wealth, yet their main fear is that they will lose their capacity to live independently,” said Flanagan. “Because of this fear, seniors are a ripe target for the unprincipled and unethical purveyors of seemingly attractive, but deceptive, financial schemes.” Flanagan encourages seniors to invite family members and other trusted advisors. To learn more and to pre-reigster, call the park district phone number at 630-920-1969. Flanagan is founder and owner of Bentron Financial Group, Inc., with offices in Naperville and Oak Park. Flanagan is a Certified Estate Advisor and is on the national advisory board for the National Association of Financial and Estate Planning. He is also a Certified Estate Planner, Certified Senior Advisor, Registered Financial Consultant and a financial columnist for Chicagoland Senior News. A board member for Oak Park Township Senior Services, Flanagan has been assisting senior investors for more than 20 years. His company is online at www.bentron.com. For more information about the 2004 nationwide survey, you can visit the web site of Financial Freedom. The firm, which is the nation’s largest lender and servicer of reverse mortgages, commissioned the survey among 62- to 75-year-olds. It is online at: http://www.financialfreedom.com/About/PressRoom/Article/?id=14 | ||
| 10/15/2007 | Six Mistakes Retirees Make’ on tap at Niles Senior Men’s Club | |
| For more information, please contact Jim Flanagan at 630.505.8375. Six Mistakes Retirees Make on tap at Niles Senior Men’s Club Retirement planning expert is featured guest speaker on Oct. 15 Retirement planning expert Jim Flanagan will be the featured speaker at 11 a.m. Monday, October 15, before the Niles Senior Men’s Club. Flanagan’s 45-minute talk will revolve around one of his most sought-after seminar topics, Six Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Finances And How to Avoid Them, at the Niles Senior Center, 999 Civic Center drive in Niles. Among other topics, Flanagan will offer this scenario to those in attendance: If you are 70 years old, does it make sense to invest a substantial portion of your money with a 15-year timeframe in mind? At first glance, it might seem to be a foolish proposition. After all, it’s well documented that life expectancy is less than 80, so what’s the likelihood of making it into your mid-80s? Quite good—if you have already made it to 70. For this group of Americans, the life expectancy is actually 86. So it isn’t a far-fetched idea to adopt such a long-term investing approach at that advanced age. The answer surprises most people, says Flanagan, and that underscores one of the challenges facing seniors today: often they are operating under a set of assumptions that they grew up with, but which have perished long before they have. “It’s really a different world that we are living in,” says Flanagan, founder and president of Naperville-based Bentron Financial Group, Inc. “It used to be that you retired at 65 and die at 75. Now, at 75, you’re just hitting your stride. People are simply living longer, which reduces the size of the estate that they pass on to their heirs.” “This is setting into motion a chain effect that will mean each succeeding generation will need to become increasingly mindful of the extended length of time that they are likely to live and their need to be self-reliant financially,” says Flanagan. “Consequently, we all need to think earlier about thinking long-term.” To help guide people through what can be an overwhelming process, Flanagan recently published an updated set of four booklets on a variety of issues affecting seniors and their estates. They are The Six Greatest Annuity Myths Exposed Protect Your Estate From the High Cost of Long-Term Care Why Is Everybody Talking About Living Trusts? and Five Secrets Your Bank Hopes You Never Discover About Your Certificate of Deposit. Flanagan first published the booklets in 2002. He produced the updated versions, which are roughly 25 pages each, to address a variety of changes that have developed, including in the legal, financial and medical arenas. He also provides free seminars on the topics. Flanagan is a Certified Estate Advisor and is on the national advisory board for the National Association of Financial and Estate Planning. He is also a Certified Estate Planner, Certified Senior Advisor, Registered Financial Consultant and a financial columnist for Chicagoland Senior News. Flanagan resides in River Forest with his wife, Jane, and their three children, Patrick, Molly and John. A board member for Oak Park Township Senior Services, Flanagan has been assisting senior investors for more than 20 years. His company is online at www.bentron.com. | ||