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Show Page 4 The Gunnison Valley Gazette A good week to think about retirement savings Submitted by DARIN FRANDSEN ings. What can you do? Here are a few suggestions: • Determine how much you'll need in retirement. Try to define the lifestyle you want during retirement. Will you travel the world or stay close to home? Will you work part time or spend your hours volunteering or pursuing hobbies? Once you know what your retirement might look like, try to estimate how much it might cost. • Identify your sources of retirement income. Take into account your IRA, 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan, Social Security and other savings and investments. How much income will they provide? How much can you withdraw from these vehicles each year without depleting them? • Calculate any retirement shortfall. Try to determine if your savings and investments will be enough to provide you with an income stream that's adequate to meet your retirement needs. If it isn't, develop an estimate of the size of the shortfall. • Take steps to close savings "gap." If it doesn't look like you'll have enough to meet your retirement needs, You may not see it posted on your calendar, but this is National Save for Retirement Week. This annual event, endorsed by Congress, is designed to raise awareness about the importance of saving for retirement — so why not take some time this week to review your own strategy for achieving the retirement lifestyle you've envisioned? Of course, you may wonder why we even need a National Save for Retirement Week. Unfortunately, it seems many Americans are not doing a good job of saving and planning for their retirement years. Consider these figures, taken from the Employee Benefit Research Institute's 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey: • Just 16 percent of survey respondents say they are very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement. • 54 percent ofrespondents say that the total value of their household's savings and investments, excluding the value of their primary home and any defined benefit plans (i.e., traditional pension plans) is less than $25,000. • Less than half of the respondents say they and/or their spouse have tried to calculate how much money they will need for a comfortable retirement. you'll have to adjust your savings and investment strategy. You may have to contribute more to your IRA, 401(k) and other retirement accounts, or you may have to adjusting your investment mix to provide more potential growth — or you may need to take both of these steps. • Monitor your progress. Once you've put your investment strategy into place, you'll need to monitor your progress to make sure you're on track toward achieving your retirement savings goals. Along the way, you may have to make adjustments in response to changes in the markets, your objectives or your family situation. Taking these types of action can be challenging, so you may want to work with a professional financial advisor who has the experiences and resources necessary to help you identify and pursue your retirement goals. In any case, though, take action soon — and National Save for Retirement Week is a great time to start. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor Darin K Frandsen Financial Advisor 446 South Mall Drive B-7 St George, UT 84790 435-627-2159 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC Edward Jones MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING ThE Outdoor Report Prepare for the rifle buck deer hunt Utah's most popular hunt—the general rifle buck deer hunt—begins Oct. 23. If you're one of the lucky hunters who obtained a permit for the hunt, getting prepared now—by gathering materials and gaining knowledge—are the key to a safe and successful hunt. And while taking a deer is usually the highlight of any deer hunt, make sure you take advantage of all the experiences deer hunting offers. "Don't be so focused on taking a deer that you miss out on everything deer hunting has to offer," says Gary Cook, hunter education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Camping with your family and friends and enjoying Utah's wildlife and the beautiful state we live in are all things you can enjoy during your time afield." Cook provides the following tips for an enjoyable and safe hunt: Personal preparation: • Be familiar with the area you're going to hunt. If possible, scout the area before the hunt. "Knowing the area and the habits and patterns of the deer that live in the area is vital for success," Cook says. • Put a survival kit together. The kit should include: 1.A small first aid kit; 2. Three ways to make a fire (e.g. matches, a cigarette lighter, fire starters); 3. Quick-energy snack foods; 4.A cord or rope; 5.A compass; 6.A flashlight; 7.An extra knife and; 8. A small pad of paper and a pencil (so if you become lost, you can leave information at your last location about yourself and the direction you're traveling). Preparing your firearm: • Be as familiar as possible with your firearm—know how to load and unload it, and where the safety is and how to operate it. • Make sure the barrel of your firearm doesn't have any obstructions in it. • Make sure you have the correct ammunition for your firearm. • Sight-in your firearm before the hunt. Firearm safety: • Controlling your firearm's muzzle is the most important part of firearm safety. Never let the muzzle of your firearm point at anything you do not intend to shoot. That includes not pointing the muzzle at yourself. • Never carry a loaded firearm in your vehicle. • Don't put your finger on the trigger until your firearm's sights are on the target. • Before shooting, make sure of your target and what's beyond it. Vehicle preparation: • Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition. •Make sure you have a shovel, an ax, tire chains, jumper cables and a tow chain in your vehicle. • If you experience mechanical problems with your vehicle or become snowed in, stay with your vehicle—don't leave it. Before leaving on your trip: • Let someone know where you're going and when you expect to return. While in the field: • Never hunt alone. • Wear proper safety clothing: 400 square inches of hunter orange on your back, chest and head. Field dressing your animal: • Use a sharp knife. A sharp knife does a better job of cutting than a dull knife does and is safer to use. • Cut away from you—never bring a knife blade towards you while cutting. Your physical well-being: • Know your physical limitations, and don't exceed them. • Prepare yourself for weather changes by dressing in layers. Dressing in layers allows you to regulate your body temperature by adding or removing clothes as needed. • Drink plenty of water, no matter how cold it is. "You can become dehydrated, even in cold weather," Cook says. The Outdoor Report is Sponsored by: SATTERWHITE CFO 1OGfOMES Family. Experience. Quality. Into all the 'World Elder Jeremy Reid is currently serving in Adenta in the Ghana Accra Mission in West Africa. He is pictured here with Elder Rex and Sister Kathy Brown of Centerfield and a member who ran into him at the Adenta Stake Conference. The Brown's have actually run into Elder Reid a few times and are always so kind as to take a picture to send to Jeremy's parents. The African missionaries always ask Elder Reid if the Brown's are his grandparents because they always want a picture of him and, of course, they are also American! Elder Reid loves the people in Ghana and he will miss them tremendously. Elder Reid is the son of Darrel and Stacey Reid who will be traveling to Ghana in just five weeks to pick him up and tour his mission! into all theiVorld Rasmussen Ace Hardware •Hypothermia (the loss of body temperature) can occur in temperatures as warm as 50 degrees. Be aware of the signs of hypothermia. Some of the first signs are violent shivering, stumbling or becoming disoriented. "When you notice these signs, sit down immediately and build a fire," Cook says. "Get yourself warm and dry." • Frostbite. If you're hunting in cold weather, watch for signs that you're getting frostbite. White spots on your skin are the first sign. Check your face, feet and hands regularly. You'll notice the first signs of frostbite on your face sooner if you're hunting with a companion who can alert you. If you get lost: • Don't panic. Sit down and build a fire, even if it isn't cold. "A fire is soothing. Building a fire will help you relax and think clearly," Cook says. After calming down, try to get your bearings and think your way out of the situation. If you think you know which direction you need to travel, get the pad of paper and pencil out of your survival kit and leave a note at your location. Indicate on the note who you are and the direction you're traveling. If you find other hunters, don't be embarrassed to ask them for directions and help. If you don't know which direction you should travel, stay at your camp and build a shelter several hours before sundown, if possible. Build a smoky fire (this type of fire can be spotted from the air) or build three fires (a distress signal that can also be spotted from the air). Remaining at your camp is usually a good option. "If you have to, you can live without food and water for several days," Cook says. Alcohol and firearms don't mix! • Do not handle a firearm if you've been drinking alcohol. • Do not give alcohol to someone who's cold. Instead of warming the person, alcohol will actually make them colder. 528-5001 Hwy 89 Northeast of Gunnison Open Monday - Saturday The First Word and Last Name in Log Homes! Think Satterwhite for Log Homes, Rough Lumber, Timbers, Animal Bedding and Firewood is sponsored by ACE Paints Sporting Goods Whirpool Appliances 528-7513 435 South Main • Gunnison The helpful place. Hospital Volunteers to hold book fair DREAMING UP THE IDEAL RETIREMENT IS YOUR JOB. HELPING YOU GET THERE IS OURS. These are obviously troubling statistics — and they indicate that most of us probably need to put more thought and effort into our retirement say- Thursday, October 21, 2010 The Gunnison Valley Hospital volunteers will be hosting their annual fall book fair on Thursday October 21st from 10 am to 5 pm in the hospital lobby. The book fair will feature books and assorted gift items. All proceeds from this sale will go toward providing a nursing scholarship from the hospital. Volunteers will be available throughout the day to help patrons with their selections. Beautiful Custom Brick Home in Centerfield on 1.05 acres • 3600 sq. ft. 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths • 3 car garage Completely landscaped Priced to sell! • $239,000 Call Lynn at 435-896-3618 or 435-528-5876 NEAP WEEK This week's Heap of the Week goes to Katrina Simonsen. Katrina drives a white Chevy Lumina. "It's amazing!" HEAP of the WEEK Is sponsored by: V,t coNo'47.1 stm .NI‘ #44 Factory Authorized Dealer your comfort specialis ts coin )ed H ELL 528 - 3988 50 E. HWY 89 - Gunnison Heating & Cooling Systems |
