The Buckets Of Money Retirement Solution: The Ultimate Guide To Income For Life

Investors, shell-shocked by the "Great Recession" of 2008-2009, are looking for answers, for something fresher than the old 'buy-and-hold' mantra. They hunger for stability, yet yearn for growth to rejuvenate their battered portfolios.
Ray Lucia's The Buckets of Money Retirement Solution: The Ultimate Guide to Income for Life provides just that—a reassuring and scientifically proven strategy that gives investors both growth and income.
Lucia, a Certified Financial Planner who's helped thousands of people invest more than $2 billion, explains how to spend down 'safe' buckets (containing, for example, Treasuries, CDs, bonds), while leaving a riskier bucket (real estate, stocks and alternative investments) to grow long-term. This strategy shields investors from the short-term ups and downs of the market. And it gives them the courage and discipline to stay invested no matter what the future holds.
Written in a breezy, accessible style and loaded with tons of examples and clear, specific calculations, the book explains how to set your financial goals, divvy up your money accordingly, and then invest intelligently. With this book as your guide, readers will learn how to achieve both income and growth while at the same time reducing risk. "All in all," Lucia writes, "this plan is akin to a sports car that seats six, approximating the best of both worlds. In this case by being a conservative strategy that's also growth-oriented."
Almost every kind of investment—stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate—plunged in the past year or two, turning off millions of investors who'd been planning for and counting on a reasonably comfortable retirement. These retirees or near-retirees need solutions…something fresher than the old 'buy-and-hold' mantra. Yet here's what they hear from the financial-services industry: Set up an asset-allocation model, then take a systematic withdrawal to support your retirement…remembering, of course, to rebalance the accounts to remain in sync with the model. Wrong! That maximizes the advisors' fees but doesn't protect the investors' assets during the tough times.

RAYMOND J. LUCIA is one of the nation's leading authorities on financial, tax, and retirement planning. Over the course of his 36-year career in the financial services industry, Lucia, a Certified Financial PlannerR, has helped thousands of people invest more than $2 billion using his renowned Buckets of MoneyR retirement strategy. Registered Rep. magazine named Lucia one of the "10 Best Brokers in America." Lucia is the host of the nationally syndicated Ray Lucia Show on Business TalkRadio Network, and is a frequent guest on Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, and the Today show. He is also a local business editor on TV stations in his hometown of San Diego.
DALE FETHERLING has written or coauthored more than fifteen nonfiction books, and has also taught writing and editing at five colleges and universities.

Forword by Ben Stein.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
Part I: Regain Your Balance.
Chapter 1: Adapt to the Changing Landscape.
The End of Easy.
The Lessons.
A Final Word.
Chapter 2: Prepare for Whatever the Future Holds.
Rebuild Your Savings.
Rethink Your Retirement Years.
Retool Your Retirement Savings Plans.
Reinvent Your Strategy.
A Final Word.
Part II: Forge a New Plan.
Chapter 3: Grasp the Buckets of Money Concept.
Put Time on Your Side.
Other Risks.
Wall Street's Answer.
Flawed Analyses.
Main Street's Myopia.
"Reverse Dollar-Cost Averaging."
Proper Allocation.
Proper Location.
A Final Word.
Chapter 4: Choose the Proper Investments.
Bucket 1: The Income Bucket.
Bucket 2: The Relative Safety Bucket, Mid-term Investments.
Bucket 3: The Growth Bucket, Long-Term Investments.
A Final Word.
Chapter 5: Execute the Buckets of Money Strategy.
First, Check Goals.
Art and Science.
Filling the Buckets.
Bucket 1.
Bucket 3A.
Planning for Inflation.
Bucket 3B.
The Bottom Line.
The Fate of the Heirs.
Another Scenario.
How Much Risk?
How to Allocate.
The Importance of Bucketizing Now.
A Final Word.
Part III: Refine the Plan
Chapter 6: Take Another Look at Annuities
What's an Annuity?
Predicting the Future.
Good Evidence.
What Academia Says.
Recovery Strategy.
Risks and Opportunities.
A Final Word.
Chapter 7: See What REITs Can Do for You
What Exactly Is a REIT?
Combining the Best Features.
Public versus Nontraded REITs.
Another Advantage.
The Lowdown of Loads.
Are All REITs Low-Leveraged?
What Kinds of Properties Are Best?
Differs from Homes.
The Role of REITs In a Portfolio.
What Should You Look For?
Getting Help.
My Personal Bias.
A Final Word.
Chapter 8: Play It Smart When It Comes to Personally Owned Real Estate.
Your Home and Your Future.
Buying Other Real Estate.
A Final Word.
Chapter 9: Give Uncle Sam His Fair Share—But No More.
Tax-Free Municipal Bonds.
Tax Management of Stock Portfolios.
Real Estate.
Roth Conversion.
Incorporating Your Business.
Tax-Credit Investing.
Choosing Smart Location of Assets
A Final Word.
Part IV: Live Happily Ever After.
Chapter 10: Craft a Workable Withdrawal Strategy.
Beware of Averages
Pitfalls Abound.
Getting Set Up.
Drawing Down Your Total.
Retirement Resources.
Keeping Taxes Low.
A Few More Thoughts about Stocks.
A Final Word.
Epilogue: Keep Your Eye on Enjoyment.
About the Authors.
Recommended Resources.
Index.