“If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments”
-Earl Wilson
Welcome to the August Edition of Ryan’s Retirement Ramblings – The monthly newsletter that will bring you the latest developments from the qualified plan space & provide updates for the retirement team at Wheeler Retirement Plans.
On A Personal Note…
Oh what a night. I was whisk fully taken back to 2016 attending the Smashing Pumpkins/Green Day concert this month at Target Field. Hard to believe 30 years has passed since I sat in the locker room getting pumped up listening to “When I Come Around” and “Today”. I remember Dookie being the album in High School and here we are 30 years later. I had a blast, I lost my voice and I felt like I was surrounded by friends. Thanks Billie Joe and Billy; you still have your fastballs.
Closing the Financial Wellness Engagement Gap
A recent survey from market intelligence firm Cerulli Associates highlights a striking disparity in the financial wellness space. According to the report, U.S. Retirement End-Investor 2024, more than 90% of defined contribution recordkeepers provide financial wellness services and 71% of plan sponsors have adopted such programs. Yet at the same time actual engagement remains low, with usage rates for most resources below 20%. And while 41% of participants find their financial wellness resources “very helpful,” a majority (57%) express neutral sentiments….
The Road to 15%: Helping Participants Navigate Toward Retirement Readiness
Many advisors recommend saving 15% of pre-tax earnings, including any employer match, to prepare for a secure retirement — but to accomplish this, timing is crucial. According to Forbes, savers need to begin by age 35 to retire comfortably by age 65; to retire by age 62, they’d need to get started by 25. Looking under the hood at participant data allows plan sponsors to better tailor strategies that help participants accelerate savings goals — and avoid financial speed bumps along the way….
The Arrival of TDFs with Annuities
With participants thinking erroneously that there is a guaranteed paycheck built into their retirement plan, the production of an “Income Target Date Fund” has grown exponentially. Since 2020, some target-date series now include a form of guaranteed income, providing participants with a more predictable future….
Participant Corner
How Much Do You Know About Target Date Funds
The average person is likely unfamiliar with the term “TDF” however it is the most utilized and fastest-growing investment option in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. As a plan participant, it is essential to know what you are investing in. Follow along below to educate yourself about your retirement investments….
Mr. C’s Movie Review
So, I just got out of the mush anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine flick, and let me tell you, this film is the perfect mix of “I can’t believe they just did that” and “Did they really just do that?”
First off, the chemistry between Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is like watching two former High School teammates trying to one-up each other in the locker room: it’s chaotic, hilarious, and oddly endearing. The characters are clearly having the time of their lives, and their on-screen banter is sharper than Wolverine’s claws after a fresh sharpening. Sitting in the audience made me feel like I was part of their friend group.
The plot? Well, who needs one when you have Deadpool and Wolverine making every scene a masterclass in irreverent comedy? There’s enough Marvel meta-humor and fourth-wall-breaking here to make even the most jaded moviegoer question their grip on reality. Deadpool’s constant jabs about Wolverine’s haircut and the movie’s budget are worth the price of admission alone.
Special effects? They’re great! But let’s be honest, we all know the real magic happens when Deadpool and Wolverine are exchanging quips while slicing through bad guys like they’re part of a particularly violent cooking show. The gore is over the top but when the titular characters seem to be having so much fun delivering it; how can one not be entertained?
On a scale of: “Like It”, “Love It”, or “Gotta Have It”; it’s a “Gotta Have It” for me. Deadpool and Wolverine: The Movie is a riotous, over-the-top, and completely unapologetic romp that will leave you in stitches— from laughter between real life best friends. Ryan and Hugh…..THANK YOU. If you’re a fan of either or both; buckle up and prepare for a cinematic ride that’s equal parts hilarious and ferociously fun.