Ider porericans Protect Your Health By Protecting Your Retirement Savings (NAPSA)—Anyone who has ever seen a retirement account take a hit during a recession or stock market correction knows firsthand that it takes a mental and emotional toll. New research, however, has discoveredthatit also makes you sick. ‘Anarticle published in the presti- gious Journal of the American Medical Association, based on a study of how 8,714 adults fared over a 20-yearperiod, Studies suggest taking care of your health involvesfiscal as well as physical action. AsThe Wall Street Journalexplained, unexpected expenses—such as a suddenhospital bill or home repairs—can wreak havoc on even the very best concluded that a “negative wealth shock”can increase an individual's risk of dying within the next two decades by more than 50 percent. “losing one’ life savings in the short term might curtail one’slife span in the long term? What Can Happen Its not entirely clear to researchers howtheloss ofretirement savings can damageyour health—perhapsit’s related to increasing blood pressure or cardio- vascular events—butthescientific findings are consistent with a growing body of knowledge: +The Population Reference Bureau studied the effects of the Great Recession of 2007to 2009 on older Ameri- cans’ health and well-being and found. that financial losses during that time translated into a higher risk of men- tal and physical health problems with stock market volatility is rising and retirement funding plans. One option for coping with a negative financial shock is to unlock hidden value from everyday assets you may nolongerneed. For example, manyseniors are sur- prised to learn that one potential asset for generating immediate cashisa life insurance policy. A life insurancepolicy is considered yourpersonalproperty, so you havetherighttosell that policy any- time you like. When a consumersells a policy—somethingcalled a “life settle- ment” transaction—the policy owner receives a cash payment and the purchaserof the policy assumesall future spond to “greater levels of financial premium payments, then receives the death benefit upon the death of the insured. Candidatesforlife settlements aretypically aged 70yearsorolder, with life insurance policy that has a death benefitof at least $100,000. with life also reported having major maybeable to protect your retirement potential long-term consequences. + The Federal Reservereleased a brief- ing paper in 2013 that found “lower levels of life satisfaction” corre- stress”—58 percent of older adults whosaid they were not very satisfied financial stress. What You Can Do ‘There is no magic bullet to prevent your retirement savings from being depleted by a major financial shock. Economic downturns are inevitable, If you owna life insurance policy you nolonger need or can afford, you savings—andyourpersonal health—by selling that policy for immediate cash. Learn More For further facts aboutlife settle- ments, visit www.LISA.org orcall the LISAoffice at (888) 793-3946.
