The retirement planning work of Marguerita (Rita) Cheng, CFP®, CEO at Blue Ocean Global Wealth, is inspired by lessons from her parents. With a large age gap between them, Rita’s mother was only 46 when her father retired at age 60, and her sister was still in high school. That presented a different set of needs than a traditional position where kids are grown and gone and the retiring couple is in the same age bracket. Seeing them navigate these circumstances convinced Rita that the more options people have, the better.
Later, her father’s struggles with Parkinson’s disease and the difficulty he had managing his accounts led to his family getting involved. They found a solution to help him without taking away his ability to make decisions This led Rita to do additional research on ethics in the retirement space, which has become a key part of her conversations with clients.
Similarly, her parents’ circumstances fueled her passion for talking about future care well before it’s needed. This allows you to focus on the person who’s sick when the time comes because the hard arrangements have already been made, she argues: “We started talking about it when they were healthy, and my mom thanks me every day.”
Finally, Rita believes that tapping home equity during market volatility through a home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be a smart strategy so people don’t feel obligated to sell at an inopportune time and lock in losses. She suggests advisors look at the home as an asset that can be used proactively.
In today’s episode, Rita talks to Jamie about the process she uses to make sure she and her clients will have a mutually beneficial relationship, what her “retirement nirvana” looks like and the legacy she wants to leave in the retirement space.
Key Takeaways
- People should feel ownership in their choices for long-term care by examining all the options. There are alternatives other than a nursing home.
- You don’t want to make decisions during a crisis when emotions are running high.
- Including home equity on your balance sheet can improve outcomes in retirement.
Quote
“Start the care conversation by asking clients if they have a plan about where they want to be cared for and how they plan to pay for it. People need to realize they have options, and the more tools you have, the better.” – Rita Cheng
Links
- Rita Cheng on LinkedIn
- Blue Ocean Global Wealth
- PIMCO Retirement
- Yes, You Can Make a Solid Long-Term Care Plan. Here’s How and Why It’s Important
Retirement planning has many facets, and Carson Group understands the challenges you face as an advisor in this space. Let us help you serve your clients better. Schedule a consultation today. Visit PIMCO to learn more about the work it is doing in the retirement income planning space.
