Want A Better Retirement Plan? Own Your Own Business

So about ten years ago, I had what I now recognize as a defining moment in my life. I was building a successful law practice on eastern Long Island and I found myself discussing the virtues of practicing law with some of the “old timers” in the area. They told me about how proud they were having built their own practice to the point where they could support their family in a comfortable lifestyle and put their kids through college. With any luck, by the time they were 65-70 years old, they’d be able to “slow down a little, maybe even retire”.

All the while, I began to read books and listen to audio programs. I was searching. I knew that something was amiss, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was.

Then one morning it all came together. As I took the long walk from the front door of my office to the mail box it hit me. I stood there on Main Street and looked west. As I did I recalled the earlier conversations with my colleagues about how proud they were for how long and hard they had worked. Then, I looked east and recalled similar conversations I had had with the attorneys whose offices were in that direction.

I had a realization.

If I continued on the path I was on, I’d wind up in the same shape they were in. Older, overworked, tired, spending more time telling war stories than planning an exciting future. And it was in that moment that I vowed to find a better way.

Let’s face it, no matter how much you enjoy your career, at some point you want to be able to stop working. My goal is to not stop working – total retirement sounds way too boring for me. But it’s nice to know that you don’t have to work forever, isn’t it? Imagine if you could do whatever you wanted with your time, without having to concern yourself with money. If you could go to the office and do what you do just for the love of it.

By having your own business, you gain access to retirement plans that allow you to contribute not thousands of dollars but tens of thousands of dollars each year and to invest those funds in virtually any kind of typical investment or business so that it can grow faster than ever.

So, now you know why you must have your own business to get ahead financially. The next step is to begin taking action.

I’ve learned that in business recognition and accolades are the booby prize. Not so in our personal lives, but in business, if I get an ovation or a pat on the back, I’ve failed miserably. For me success means convincing other people to take action.

I implore you to take action.

I’m going to suggest that you set up an important account to ensure your future. That’s your saving or investment account. You’ve probably heard the expression “pay yourself first”. For years, I didn’t understand what that meant or how to do it. So, this is how you pay yourself first.

Each week, you take a pre-determined amount and deposit it into a savings account. It might be between 5% and 10% of your anticipated profit. Over time that account will grow and provide you with the means to make other investments. After all, if you are not setting aside some savings, what are you going to retire on? Social Security? Forget it! You have to provide your own retirement plan and this is the first step.