PLANNING IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

Retirement is expensive! At minimum you should plan on 70% of your pre-retirement income. Higher income earners should plan on 90% or more to maintain their current standard of living.

Call the Social Security Administration for a free Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement at 1-800-772-1213. The average retiree receives approximately 40% of pre-retirement earnings. Although you can start collecting Social Security at age 62, you receive a reduced benefit when doing so. Additionally if you were born after 1938 your actual age for receiving full benefits may fall somewhere between age 65 and age 67.

If your employer offers a pension or profit sharing plan learn what your benefit is worth. If you are planning on changing jobs, first find out what happens to your pension. Find out what benefits you may have from previous employment and what you may receive from a spouse's plan.

If your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan suggest that they start one. Contact the Internal Revenue Service by calling 1-800-829-3676 and ask for information on simplified employee pensions.

Put money into a Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Depending on your income you may be able to take a tax deduction on your contribution. Money that you put into an IRA grows tax deferred and is not taxed until you take it out. Visit the IRA section of this web site for more information.

Contribute to a tax-deferred investment plan such as, a 401-k or 403(b) retirement program. Sign up and contribute as much as you can. Your taxes will be lower, and your company may match or contribute an additional sum. Salary reductions make contributing on a regular basis easy. Deferral of taxes and compounding of interest help your money accumulate faster.

Start now and don't touch your investments. The sooner you begin to invest the more time your money has to grow. Don't rob your retirement investments. You will lose principal and earnings and quite possibly tax benefits. If you change jobs, roll your investments into a qualified plan such as an IRA or your new employer's retirement plan.

Life Insurance. The life insurance coverage provided by your employer may cease at retirement. For some this may be the only life insurance coverage you have.

If an employers life insurance plan is convertible at retirement, it is typically to a permanent life insurance product. Permanent life insurance is a higher cost than term, and as the conversion is most commonly available without proof of insurability the cost is further inflated due to the increased risk the insurer bears. These policies are issued at the then current age, which will also account for a higher premium.

The convertibility option at retirement can be of critical importance to some as it may be the only option due to declining health or other underwriting criteria that would cause one to be ineligible for new coverage. Therefore a conversion option without proof of insurability can be a welcome safety net. However, for those who are still in good health, researching other life insurance options can be cost saving.

Taking the time to find out if your policy is convertible at retirement is worthwhile. You never know when your life circumstances may change to cause you to have a continuing need for coverage.

If you find that your policy is not convertible and you are now in good health, it may be wise to investigate other insurance options. Life insurance can protect your assets, pay off a mortgage, protect a spouse or business partner, and/or assure your children's education in the event of your death.

Be responsible. Ask questions. Understanding your pension plan, the investments you make, levels and type of risk, your time horizon and the affect of inflation are all important. Talk to your employer, your bank or credit union, your financial or tax advisor. Get answers that make sense to you.

Disclosure:
Variable annuities are subject to market risk which may cause value to fluctuate including loss of principal for variable accounts. For more information about Variable Annuities, please call MEA Financial Services for the contract prospectus and the underlying sub account fund prospectuses. Both the contract prospectus and the underlying fund prospectuses contain information relating to the product's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses as well as other important information. Please call us at 1-800-292-1950 for the product prospectuses. Please read the prospectus and carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses and other information before investing because these factors will directly affect future returns. Guarantees and/payments are based on the claim-paying ability of Issuer and not on the value of the securities within the account.