CastleBranch has partnered with Cannon Financial Strategists to offer retirement planning guidance and counsel.

That means you have a trusted partner who understands your needs and is committed to helping you reach your retirement goals. We educate and advise by creating personal, long-term relationships. Your Cannon advisors are available for one-on-one retirement planning counsel as well as group education sessions.

Advisory Services

Our advisory services focus on three core concepts that we feel serve as the foundation for a successful retirement plan. Meetings will focus on:

  • How to save, including the benefits of tax-preferred savings.
  • How to invest, starting with proper asset allocation.
  • How to retire, with the help of intelligent income-replacement planning.

Meeting Checklist

Make the most of your meeting with your Cannon rep by coming prepared with the following items.

  • Login information for existing accounts
  • Statements or login information on any accounts outside of past employer plans
  • Student loan statements; if applicable

We know every participant’s retirement planning needs are different, so check with your Cannon advisor prior to the meeting to inquire about any other information you need to supply.

Define your risk tolerance

It would also be helpful for us to gain a better idea of your risk tolerance. Take the Investment Risk Tolerance quiz, print off the results and bring it with you.

 

Resources

Participant Retirement Plan Login Information:

Investing for retirement and budgeting for everyday needs—all while savings for those big purchases and paying down debt—can be a challenge. We’ve created some resources to guide you through the basics and shared some prevailing insight on managing it all.

Roth vs Pretax Accounts: The Basics

Roth IRAs offer investors three main benefits: tax diversification, no required minimum distributions, and more flexible liquidity.

Learn more >

Pitfalls of Chasing Market News

The stock market is in constant flux, with changes triggered by any number of factors including company earnings announcements or political events. However, chasing such news is a common mistake.

Learn why >

Rollover Existing Retirement Accounts

If you have an existing 401(k) plan—or more than one—from a past employer, you can rollover those accounts into your new account at Cannon. Why do it?

Learn more about rollovers >

Aside from the hassle of multiple statements you’ll receive each quarter, multiple accounts can make it difficult to determine if you are properly diversified. Plus, you may qualify for lower fees or other perks if you maintain a large account balance at a single financial institution, which is easier to achieve with a large portion of your money in one place.

Rolling over any existing plans into your Cannon account is easy:

  • Complete the personal information section of the forms given to you by your Cannon advisor.
  • Contact your former plan provider and ask for the necessary forms to rollover your account to your new employer’s retirement plan.
    • Ask if they have surrender charges to move the account!
  • When you get the forms, complete the personal information, sign and give the form to your Cannon advisor along with a copy of your statement.

Print off the complete checklist here.

Schedule a Meeting with Your Advisor

Cannon advisors meet periodically with plan participants at the Castle Branch office. Please check with Human Resources for the date of our next onsite visit, and then schedule time to meet with your advisor.

Jay Cole

Jay is the primary advisor for Castle Branch employees.

Matt Goyen

Matt is the supporting advisor for Castle Branch employees.

 

 

Retirement: When and How Much to Save

If you’re in your 20s and struggle with a tight budget, it can be difficult to prioritize retirement savings. However, before you decide to postpone retirement savings until later, you should get informed on how much growth you could miss out on.

Student Loans

Between 2004 and 2012, student loan borrowers increased 70%. The average debt for the classs of 2014 is estimated to be $33,000. Paying off students loans continues to be a top financial concern, but it doesn’t mean you can’t look to the future as well.

Budgeting

Budgeting is a powerful financial tool. It helps you identify your long-term goals and work toward them, ensures you don’t spend money you don’t have, and it prepares you for retirement and any unexpected surprises. Learn how to make budgeting work for you.

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