Benefits of applying for a VA loan

Veterans, the men and women currently serve in the military, the home consider funding should look into a VA loan. Because of the have earned the privilege of using certain benefits to your service in the United States. One of these benefits is a VA mortgage to help finance their homes. This type of financing offers several advantages, the may not be available, with a traditional mortgage.

VA loan borrower savings

These loans require a deposit, and need no mortgage insurance.These two benefits alone can borrowers hundreds of dollars to your monthly mortgage payment save! not having a deposit is ideal for a first time home buyers may not lot of money on a new house setting to set. And must pay for mortgage insurance, a home-like costs immediately eliminated.

Some of the cost associated with this loan may be financed often so that the borrower does not have a lot of money at the front to pay. Since these loans Office are guaranteed by the veteran, tend to lower interest rates which saves also borrowers have money on your monthly payments.

It's easy to qualify

Compared to other loans VA loans have simpler Qualifikationsanforderungen.Kreditnehmer are not required to high credit scores or big income have to sign up to qualify. The veteran Office requires that borrowers have clean credit histories of at least one year and you meet minimum residual income to ensure that you can make your monthly payments.The residual income is based on regional location, family size and the height of the Darlehens.Der not borrower dishonorably from the military does have to for this type of funding.

Refinancing benefits

There are various options available, with this type of loan refinancing.Many borrowers refinance to their interest rates to reduce if the market has changed, or the value of your home has increased.Borrowers can also refinance, change the terms and conditions for your loan, including extending the timeframe for their loans or transferring an adjustable rate to a fixed interest rate which saves money in the course of time.

Borrowers can also refinance to consolidate your debts or cash back for other expenditure to get if you haben.Das money you receive enough equity can be used for all your personal expenses.Also, potential borrowers a non VA loan to a VA loan refinance, can use offered to the many advantages of this type of financing.

Additional benefits for disabled veterans available

If a veteran due to a service has been disabled, is he or she benefits additional loan to erhalten.Ihre financing fees will be waived and, depending on your State, you may not have to pay property taxes, which can save borrowers, which are beyond much disabled. it may be disabled veterans eligible for grants to help make more accessible to their homes for their disabilities.

These loans offer several advantages is a good time with a VA loan specialist both veterans and current members of the US Militärs.Jetzt to talk about the advantages of this type of financing.

As soldiers benefit from Army enlistment

Today's soldiers receive the best training and support today than in any other era of the armed forces. The military is a serious investment on individual soldier, as well as any person non-commissioned officers the same commitment for makes to serve your country. Army benefits are registered some of the most generous a rounded seen, inspired to create voluntary forces.

Benefits today fall into three categories for registration. Education benefits for entry through the GI Bill and army College are to get the best options for many Americans, comprehensive training fund.There are a number of pay benefits including salary, performance and training bonuses. Finally there are many advantages for the soldiers and their families to help deal with life on or near military bases and the movement.

Education benefits

The highlight of the army registration benefits the military an amazing amount of support for the Hochschulbildung.Bildung benefits come in many forms. Under the Montgomery GI Bill - active duty, receive soldiers a monthly benefit active service to almost any degrees, certification or training program full-time, including distance and correspondence learning to participate.Soldiers can your own resources and contribute, the military, usually on a 8-1-is based to a large extent.

Since 2001 the post-9/11 GI Bill provides now extended benefits, to pay for the entire tuition fee for State colleges. Moreover, a stipend for living expenses, school fees and books is available. Reservists that at least 90 days can be used up to 80% of the current services and receive.

With many programs and incentives is available for both the active and reserve registered staff education for anyone with the drive itself better accessible.

Pay and bonuses

Basic pay is registered soldiers ausgezahlt.Obendrein based on rank and time in service experience, there is a uniform salary, food allowances or access to a dining room and housing allowances or on base availability.For soldiers, based in the more expensive areas of the country made the cost of living adjustments.

There are many ways for bonuses.Civilian experience and specialty training often directly translated into a periodic bonus.Re-enlistment bonuses are also available for returning soldiers.Demanding jobs numbers incentives such as a translator with fluent in Arabic and other oriental languages.

Family benefits

The family and dependents of those in the armed forces are just as important as selbst.Umzug will pay the soldiers benefits and separation staff is provided, free of charge gestellt.Gesundheitswesen and life insurance at a discount gestellt.Bildung are advantages to members in the event of disability and Veteranen.Urlaub for the time being many leisure and entertainment for family members and children live for 30 days and one year provided is based on available. also many services such as tax preparation and legal services are available free of charge.

Army registration benefits are extremely großzügig.Den take your investment in individual soldier Ernst forces as are the front line of rights and freedoms America.

Chris Harmen writes informative articles of interest for the examination of a career in the army .Besuchen provides the links to learn more about Army jobs, request to a free career information package.

Checklist, the first a VA loan

VA loans are a form of funding for veterans, the men and women to serve in the military currently available. These loans provide several benefits, including low interest rates, no deposit required and no mortgage insurance! This type of loan to finance their homes can borrowers in a cost-effective manner. Learn the steps the better prepared to be process when applying for a VA loan for the purchase or refinancing.

Ability to determine

Before these loans, an applicant should determine whether he or she is to finance. There are different prerequisites that must be met.Applicants must meet certain service length requirements, which vary according to when they served in the military and whether they are used or in the reserve served an applicant a veteran must if he or she have done from the military under conditions other than dishonorable. If a veteran on the basis of his or your service in the military has been disabled, it can additional loan benefits available to him or you.

Applicants must meet certain credit and income requirements for this loan.The VA does not require that applicants have a high credit score, but up-to-date want applicants to a clean credit history of at least 12 months most lenders accepts only credit scores of at least 620.Die maximum debt to-income ratio, an applicant may have is 41%, which means your monthly expenditure that less than or equal to 41% your require monthly gross income. Applicants must be a minimum residual income (the amount left to pay all monthly expenditure), perform, varies based on family size and geographical location.

Prior approval for the loan

Once an applicant determines that he or she the loan is eligible, it's time to get advance approved.Once an applicant is advance for a loan, he or she should start your home search, if you haven't already.An applicant should decide, which functions in a House and realistic wants to determine what his he or she or affordable is with a loan specialist on credit terms and prices can talk your household help, an applicant who decide which options is best for his or her your financing needs.

There are certain documentation that must have lenders for a final loan approval.This documentation contains copies of the W2s from the past two years tax returns, evidence of insurance, certificate of eligibility or a contract of sale a month worth of consecutive numbers of stubs, if available.Before buying the House, do a VA approved evaluators assess's House value to ermitteln.sobald that handles loans and is closed, the homeowner will have typically over a month before, the payments will be.

Make the best of the loan

The above steps are for buying a home, but the steps are pretty ähnlich.Wenn his or her loan refinancing with a VA loan refinance, needs a homeowner to decide what he or she to out of refinancing will.Ein homeowners can refinance to consolidate debt, get a lower interest rate, change the terms of the loan or get Bargeld.Der homeowners can discuss to decide his or your options with a loan specialist what type of refinancing loan for its or your situation is most appropriate.

That can be trained on the process of getting a loan the process make smoother and more efficient, because the applicant better vorbereitet.Antragsteller that want to buy or refinance a VA loan to start a loan specialists learn to speak.

Life insurance information you should know if you are a veteran

After he their country many soldiers home disabled back, so it is good to see that at least there are some programs, such as the Veterans mortgage life insurance policies are there to help. For veterans that hard your service has been disabled because of these policies are introduced to help their families when they should die. A mortgage is a big responsibility and loss is a loved one an enormous loss which should not above have loss of the home because of the inability to pay the mortgage on it. The veteran's there not only to the soldiers who also buy the families that behind left to help help Association.

This type of life insurance is limited to the Group of people who are able to use it. It is only open to those a grant from the veteran's Association customize their home or create a new home, have received specific changes to their disability. If the veteran is one those soldiers return from their days service with a severe disability may home up to ninety thousand dollars are granting. Then if the veteran of these policies will allow takes, should become the payment on your mortgage, you pass what ever the ninety thousand dollar remains away before the mortgage is paid.This policy is very specifically a compensation program aimed at a specific group that is believed to further help need. is it in place, to make the difficulties which they relate to at least a little easier.

But veteran who decides to take this life insurance needs to understand its limits as its advantages. There is no cash or dividends during the lifetime of this policy. It is taken out for the sole purpose of payment of the mortgage. That is if the mortgage before the death of the owner of the policy are paid, there is no reason they no longer maintained. Premiums for this type of protection are quite reasonable.They are not more expensive than the usual policies of this Art.Diese premiums by the Veterans age, the amount and determines the term that disbursement of the loan is up to. It is a very common way to formulate a premium.

Maintaining its own family after suffering injuries, a person, the severely disabled persons have left, even more responsibility for the family is money earner.This means that planning on what happens should understand the disability life bedrohen.Egal which should get life insurance policy reason why a person decides is this kind of policy for those of use who are left.

Military advantage for modern vets - have as times changed

Founded after the second world war were to return a number of advantages, the designed to give you a functional part of the US economy make offered. Key benefits of GI Bill funds were for:

a complete college education for the return of Tierärztenund NULL deposit home loans for veterinarians and their widowed families

Provided with 16 million military personnel, and so these benefits can many using it more than strong family values and hard work to explain why those who fought in the second world war the "greatest generation" called. These services spread so far and so close to the age group that already always the "engine" one economically, targeted set the stage for long-term prosperity.

Vets benefits provided after military operations have declined over the years. The more than one million military men and women deployed since 9 / 11 get some benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but are far receive less comprehensive than what WWII vets.

Active duty service members who give up $ 100 per month for your first year of deployment can receive a flat payment of up to $ 1101 per month for College for 36 months under the MGIB AD program.Educational benefits for on the job training or teaching programmes are smaller. Requires qualification for the full advantage of this programme, that the veterinarian meets haben.Reserve and national guard, selected even though you have long seen deployments can a considerable number of service and needs not guaranteed the same benefits.

The VA guaranteed loans for veterinarians, allowing banks to some credit for now down payment to make available. But "regular military" professionals have several eligibility requirements to receive service to ACE certification in connection with its length of active employment. selected reserve and national guard may for these advantages into consideration if you were released complete six years of the service or with a service-connected disability.

There is how it always receive additional benefits of vets can the small business administration's Patriot Express makes it easier for veterinarians, a loan to start a new business.States offer business loans, unemployment and insurance sometimes for veterinarians.But these benefits are not a substitute for the holistic support originally for veterinarians under the GI Bill.

The MP estimates that more than 200,000 vets on every night and 400,000 experience homelessness in a given year are homeless.These veterinarians in every war have served, but most have come from the % of homeless people are Korean war, cold war, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and operation Iraqi freedom. 47 veterinarians expected from the Vietnam era.

Veterinarians from Iraq and Afghanistan appear already on US Straßen.In sometimes are victims of slow or inadequate treatment for injury (mental and physical) in the war zone.In other cases you can simply not employed to find which benefits or gradual educational benefits use exercise home loans unenforceable real.

After the war, a four-year war with the United States the problem of how to reintegrate of military professionals in the business head provided developed the GI Bill to support their education and financial requirements soon after their Rückkehr.Das result was a generation of veterinarians, which could contribute to our society in almost any capacity.

Led to a failure to the needs of the vets returning from subsequent wars increasingly ill and desperate population of homeless Tierärzte.vielleicht is the smartest investment we can make in the military, for a new of GI Bill remake.Es is the best way to insure as the "greatest generation" would have wished that this generation "Greater Still" is.

Six steps to an effective financial planning for everyone

Some advisors to the Government financial planning too complicated and try to blind clients with their technical knowledge, rather than straightforward advice.

Believe the best consulting firms financial planning is comprehensive, unbiased advice simply the process of helping customers to meet their financial objectives.

No matter how much wealth, the client may, covers the financial planning the same six steps.

(1) Find out about you

Advisers regulated by the financial services authority follow a strict code of conduct, that is unless the consultants sit down and learn know your customers, you can not give the advice you need.

A 1: 1 is getting to know customers and their financial goals-session, to discuss benchmark; pensions and investments save your current financial strategy, your current performances to see not require grade and those who and why.

It is intended to identify your aspirations in life, and for many preserved, will simple like a good education for your children savings for a worry-free retirement and maybe some savings for this rainy day and help children to get a good start in life.

Eventually, everyone has doubts about their mortality and realized we are not to ever want to provide life and those we love by a will and endeavour to hold together our wealth the future for our family.

(2) Identify financial concerns

This is learning your attitude to risk, ethical investment and your financial concerns like what happens when you get sick and can not work or your partner and her family have enough money to survive should die.

The idea is to identify the personal pain points and customize a personal strategy, which are the questions to increase.

Each customer is different and has provide other financial based on whether you are married or with a partner, life, whether you have children and the amount of money which would perpetuate your lifestyle in retirement.

Of course many customers have out a financial status that a different level of the advice - from the well to a modest income leading braucht.Die consultants have the experience and resources for each client to make the best of their financial situation what you be.

3. Goal setting

This is where clients with consultants sit down and discuss the numbers.Objectives are not good if measure performance against you, so your hopes too realistic reach specific and amounts of money within a time frame in are enabled.

A goal that can be measured is want as a pension fund amounting to £ 150,000 over 10 years.

This is measurable, but have also to balance, whether it is as cash invested in the Fund and whether you fund with more payouts increase are available.

(4) Prepare written by options and recommendations

This is where the leading consulting work their magic, because from previous hit you, you, your financial goals and your attitude towards money and investments know.

You have made clear if you want to retire and lifestyle goals, you reach.

This is where works with an independent financial advisor whole of-the market pays off because a company has to seek contacts and experience, the best products suit your circumstances.

Some advisors to the regime, which describe themselves as independent by belong to a group or range, which is a basket of products from different vendors, but includes other limited.

(5) Implementation of your decision

A customized strategy creates the best consultants and then set to discuss, the options.

Once a strategy that meets your goals and your budget will agree, the consultants create all the necessary documents and works with the financial services as your agent.

Rest assured that nothing will continue without your formal permission and signoff.

6. Review of the plan

Once you have a financial strategy, the worst is, what you can do, sitzen.Ein of good consultants leave it there in the market strategy builds a regular review session to measure performance against targets and managing changes in tax rate revisions, new laws and more up-to-date and effective products, coming as.

Part of this plan should also make a will which may revise, if you have any big life changes such as marriage or divorce.

How: wise, healthy and prosperous retire

Retirement - A New Beginning

Going back about fifty years, retirement was considered to be the short gap between receiving a gold watch and the last rights!

Happily today retirement is accepted as the start of a whole new life adventure.

With the likelihood that we will retire with all our faculties intact and fully functioning and with a good number of years in front of us, we now need to take a little more time to plan our retirement years to make sure we get the absolute most out of them.

Whatever your retirement dream - from a home in the sun, a boat on a river, or simply pottering about in the garden - all of these things are possible with careful planning.

But have you ever wondered why so many of us constantly push the practicalities of retirement planning to the back of our minds while rushing through our lives complaining about the pressures of work and dreaming of the day when we can finally put our feet up?

What is it that causes this dichotomy in us?

I think that most of us would agree the two main causes are lack of time and reluctance.

And yet each and every one of us knows how important it is to plan and save for our retirement!

After all we are quite literally bombarded by the media week in week out with facts about the pension time bomb and the fact that many of us will apparently struggle for the price of a cup of tea let alone a beautiful villa in the sun when we get to 65!

So, with all that information taken on board what can we do to make our retirement a happy one?

Whether you've got a full 40 years to save and plan, or if retirement is just a few years down the road and you're worried that it may be a little late to start any radical pension planning, this three part retirement planning roadmap should save you time, remove your reluctance and cover the three key aspects of retirement planning - namely our physical wellbeing, our financial wellbeing and our spiritual wellbeing in retirement.

In other words, read on for some practical tips to ensure that you retire healthy, wealthy and wise.

Healthy - Physical Wellbeing in Retirement

Every single day of our lives we grow, we mature, we develop...and we grow older.

And when we're very young we sometimes view retirement as something that equates to old age. We have images of old people in rocking chairs with blankets over withering legs rocking away the last days of their lives! No need to plan then - just throw me a blanket and I can do the rest myself!

But as we mature and grow older we soon come to appreciate that there can be a considerable amount of time between finishing our working lives and needing to settle into that rocking chair - and that that time is ours to enjoy to the full!

And while it is true that the body ages and that no man can turn back the tides of time, none of us has to get old unless we choose to do so!

Our bodies may age but we don't have to!

So, there are really two considerations when it comes to the ageing process and welfare in retirement - namely the physical aspect and the emotional aspect.

The Physical Aspect

As ill health can smite any one of us at any age, we should consider our physical wellbeing throughout our lives; both from the point of view of prevention and the point of view of cure.

Prevention

When we actively take steps to encourage good health we are far more likely to enjoy longevity; and in taking such action we could make the difference between a happy healthy retirement and an old age blighted by failing health.

Keep active. Many of us have sedentary lives; we drive to work, sit in an office, drive home and then sit down to watch the telly. But keeping active should really be seen as a mandatory part of our lives, right through and into retirement.

While busy lives may make it difficult to find time for set exercise, there are always things we can do to improve our overall fitness. Consider parking your car two streets away from the office and walking the last ½ mile, take the dog for long walk (he'll love you!), buy a bike, go on a walking weekend or weed the garden. Simply by adding a little physical activity into our working lives now, we will be pushing back the years and ensuring that we are able to fully enjoy the freedom that retirement will afford us when the time comes.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy nutritious food, adequate sleep, avoid nicotine and keep alcohol consumption within sensible limits.

Reduce stress. Everyone suffers from stress sometimes, and we are all well aware of the long term damage stress can do to our health. So, do everything within your power to reduce your stress levels. And if it is beyond your control to remove the stresses affecting your life, never feel embarrassed or afraid to seek help. If you can identify the primary reason for your stress maybe you can begin to see what you need to do to fix it. I know this is so often easier said that done - but please remember it is your health and your happiness at stake here and that has to be your priority.

Be Proactive. You know your own body better than any one else. Listen to it, and react accordingly when it is trying to tell you something. Don't ignore potential symptoms, recognise them and get them treated.

Cure

In recent years health care costs have risen between two and three times faster than inflation and naturally enough health insurance has become more costly at the same time making it seem altogether too unattractive an option for some people.

But while the vast majority of us would never dream of driving our car uninsured or living without household insurance, we do exactly that with our own bodies! We trust our health to luck and good fortune!

Consider, if you will, the following facts: -

- The British National Health Service is stretched to its limits with up to a million people on waiting lists at any one time.
- Few other countries in the world offer any form of 'free' medical treatment, if you are thinking of retiring abroad bear this in mind.
- In retirement most people live on a fixed income which does not allow for exorbitant and ever increasing health care costs.
- As we get older our bodies need more TLC and fine tuning, and age makes us more susceptible to ill health and increases average recovery and recuperation times.

These facts show why it is important to consider health care costs when it comes to retirement planning. And in considering health care costs and retirement, factor in increasing health insurance premiums if you have insurance. Factor in health care costs if you are relocating abroad without insurance. Factor in the potential need for private treatment 'back home' for serious conditions, and also consider the fact that you or your spouse may need long term, full time care later in life.

But don't panic!

At this point many people panic and decide to do nothing. (Guilty?)

They can only see a potentially huge cost that they simply can't afford. But health insurance comes in many forms. Find a reputable company to advise you, get a second opinion and shop around! And while you may not be able to afford the 'platinum 5 star package' you may still be able to afford a little peace of mind and an acceptable level of care should you need it.

The Emotional Aspect.

How come some people seem old at 40, while other people can exude youth, life and vitality that belies their age?

Presuming good health, I can only assume that mental attitude is at play here!

So how can we make sure we're the ones full of beans in our 80s rather than the ones on tranquillisers in our 40s?

Learn to love life! Life knocks us all about sometimes - and at times we've probably all felt like we've gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson. However take some time to consider the good things about your life. Make an effort to reflect upon the positive; enjoy life's simple pleasures and create a balance that always leans towards the positive and not the negative.

Keep your mind active! Keep learning and developing throughout life. Never feel that you're too old to learn new skills - it's simply not true that you can't teach old dogs new tricks!

Focus on positive emotions rather than negative ones! Negative emotions bring mental and physical disharmony and ill health. If you dwell on regrets, disappointments or resentment you will be weighed down with bitterness and miss out on life. People who can forgive and love will remain youthful simply because they will have anticipation and excitement in their lives. And if you don't love or feel loved you'll quickly start to age and feel lonely.

Don't stop dreaming and hoping and longing! Stay future focused. You will find that your motivation, desire and anticipation for the future and the realisation of your dreams will keep you positive and active and that your stamina will be boosted, your energy levels heightened and your mental attitude will stay young.

Wealthy - Financial Wellbeing in Retirement

Financially speaking, the 'cost of delay' in terms of retirement planning can be illustrated like this - if a 25 year old and a 35 year old were to start saving today for retirement at age 55 and the 25 year old invested £300 a month towards retirement, the 35 year old would have to increase his contributions to £803 a month to achieve the same potential returns!

I know, I know, talking about money - especially pensions - is the fastest way to send anyone to sleep. But seriously, it's never too soon to take charge of the financial aspects of retirement planning!

And if you're still not convinced, according to research out of 100 young people now aged 25, 1 will be rich in retirement, 4 will be financially independent, 5 will still be working, 12 will be completely broke, 29 will be dead, and 49 will be dependent on their friends, family and charity. That means that of those who live to retirement, 93% will be dependant on friends, relatives and charity!

Scary isn't it?
So now that you're ready to start your retirement financial planning (!) here are some important aspects that you need to consider.

Your own personal circumstances are unique: consider seeking professional and personalised independent financial advice before taking action - but do so as soon as possible.

Consider joining your employer's occupational pension scheme (if one exists!) or getting yourself a personal pension - and the sooner the better!

Be realistic about how much you should be contributing towards your retirement - based on your age now, the age at which you hope to retire, and the lifestyle you hope to achieve in retirement.

Increase your contributions as your income increases and pay in as much as you can afford while you're earning.

If you're on a lower income you may wish to consider alternative savings vehicles - ISAs, National Savings or mutual funds for example. These can all be accessed prior to retirement if needs be. However, consider the tax effectiveness of any savings vehicle and remember that pension contributions generally have a higher rate of tax relief.

If you have a pension plan already in place but are unhappy with it or wish to change it, know that pension surrender or early encashment are rarely the best options available to you.

As you get older, consider topping up your pension.

Find out about your State pension entitlements and plan when you want to start receiving your private pension income. You can access funds from the age of 50, but of course it goes without saying that the longer you save, the longer your fund has to mature and the more likely you are to get better returns on your investment.

Never forget that the value of an investment can go down as well as up!

Think about the long term practical and taxation issues relating to the receiving of pension income if you choose to retire abroad or if you have been investing offshore. If you choose to retire in a country not classed as being within the European Economic Area your State pension (such as it might be) will not necessarily increase in line with inflation. Seeking professional advice is the first step in the right direction to finding the right financial solution - it will save you time and money in the long run and reduce your cost of delay significantly!

Is it too late for me?

Some people reading this article will agree with what I've written so far and then say -
"Great, but I'm 55 years old already, is it too late for me?"

The simple answer is that it's never too late!

You just have to plan differently.

Being realistic is essential - if you don't have a private pension, if you have little in the bank and have had no great luck on the lottery recently then it may be wise to shelve the yacht plans.

But taking the popular retirement plan of a house in the sun for example, that dream may well still be possible.

Consider North Cyprus or France for example - the difference in property prices between UK and both countries often means that there is a good opportunity to sell a UK home and buy in North Cyprus or France and put some cash in the bank.

Being careful is essential - let's just say that you discover you can trade your 3 bed semi in for a 5 bed villa with a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. Well, maybe a better deal for you would be to trade in a for a 2 bed bungalow, leaving a surplus of cash in the bank for further retirement enjoyment - the lower running costs of a 2 bed bungalow versus a 5 bed villa would also mean that your savings could go a lot further.

Never give up on your retirement aspirations - just massage them to fit your financial capabilities!

Wise - Spiritual Wellbeing in Retirement

According to current research around 74% of the British population dream about retiring abroad.

What with the lure of sunnier climes and the fact that the UK housing market has boomed in recent years enabling people to consider selling up, retiring to the sun AND putting some extra cash away in the bank, it is unsurprising really.

But if you decide to move away from your friends and family in retirement, or if your friends and family decide to leave you behind, how will you cope?

Loneliness and depression among the over 50 age group is an all too commonly reported problem nowadays. The death of a much loved partner, divorce, separation from friends and family or the departure of children from the family home can affect this age group particularly hard. And loneliness can often come to those people who do not prepare for their retirement when they suddenly feel the shock of leaving the day to day routine of a job behind, and miss the social contact they enjoyed in the work place.

While we can't plan to avoid loneliness and sadness caused by the death of a loved one, we can make sure we have a good network of friends and family who are there with us always. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy sharing your retirement and to help you avoid loneliness in retirement.

Try and build up strong friendships with lots of people while you're still in your 40's and 50's as it may be harder when you're in your 60's.

If you're planning a retirement abroad (whether overseas or simply in another part of your home country) know that it can be fun and exciting but also a little bewildering!

Think about the friends you'll be leaving behind and make sure that you part on good terms! Make sure your friends are aware that you're not ending your friendship by moving away, and insist that they visit you in your new home - I'm sure they won't object! Also, make provision and effort for regular contact via email or telephone.

If you move abroad you'll probably meet many like minded people who've decided that retirement to the sun is their dream too. As everyone will be experiencing similar emotions: from the joy of a beautiful home to the loss of familiarity and close friends: you will have a tremendous advantage in that everyone will be as keen and eager to meet and make new friends as you are.

Retirees abroad often reflect on how much more open the people are in their new country; the need to be a part of a new community far outweighs any shyness or reluctance to join in! If you retire abroad, jump in with both feet and make an effort to meet and enjoy the company of the people in your new community.

Try learning a little of the language of the country you would like to retire to- the joy of being able to communicate in a foreign language even on the simplest level can add a new dimension and fullness to life and one of the best ways to understand any new culture is through language.

Throughout life make sure you keep your family ties strong. Stay in touch with extended family, get back in touch with long lost relations and remain close to your immediate family if you possibly can. If a family rift has occurred consider being the peace maker - it takes a 'better person' and a very strong and mature person to be the first to apologise.

And finally - if you do find that you suffer from loneliness there is no point whatsoever sitting and brooding about it. If you do that you will never beat it. You have to be proactive, seek out new friends and relationships. Get out of your house. Join a club, a society, an organisation and meet new people - even if you are not the sort of person who likes to get involved or join in - take a chance, you never know it might just pay off! Surely anything is worth one try if the result could be the alleviation of your loneliness?

The start of a new adventure

Retirement isn't something to fear or dread - it's the start of a whole new life with levels of freedom that you've probably never experienced before! Hopefully this article has covered the key points of effective retirement planning for you, and you can follow the retirement planning roadmap and secure yourself a healthy, wealthy and wise future..