From the Editor's desk at Route 422 Business Advisor — Relevant news and information of interest to business owners and operators along the Route 422, Route 100 and Route 30 corridors in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please visit www.422bizmag.com

Retirement Planning - Part Three Retirement Investing and Setbacks

Whether a person has many years until retirement or it is just around the corner; investing

for long term growth is essential. In an earlier article, it was mentioned that proper balance

between the basic asset classes - stocks (equity assets) and bonds (fixed income) - helps to

decrease market risk. Essentially, the higher the allocation to high quality bonds the lower the

market risk. In addition, diversification within those basic asset classes further decreases risk and

provides the best potential for above average returns.

5 Steps to Building a Retirement Income Plan

Modern thinking has taught us that, as the average life expectancy continues to climb (Could age 90 be the new 70?), our real concern should be more than a magic number for retirement savings. It should be creating a retirement income plan that ensures we will have income in retirement that lasts as long as we will.

By building a strong foundation of assets and implementing strategies first to grow them, then to protect and preserve them, you are setting yourself up for retirement income success. Here are some key steps that will help you get there.

How Digital Marketing Companies Fill in the Gaps and Help You Focus on Your Core Competency

The buzz around increasing organic traffic is sufficient to let everyone know why it’s important.

But are you aware that it plays a major role in the success of any business?

The entire SEO industry is built around organic search traffic to improve the organic ranking of the websites the SEO company has been entrusted. In fact, research shows that organic traffic represents more than 60% of the total traffic on any website.

Retirement Planning - Part Two - What savings vehicles are available to prepare for financial independence and retirement?

The amount of assets needed to sustain cash flow, as well as, where and how it is

invested must be carefully considered when planning for financial independence and retirement.

People with a plan tend to be more confident that they will be comfortable throughout retirement.

Saving and investing to provide for the future may be in the form of pre-tax payroll deductions

that grow tax-deferred, or after-tax contributions to tax-deferred or tax-free vehicles, or

contributions to a taxable account, or any combination of all of these vehicles.

Did you pay too much in taxes for 2017?

Problem: If you earned over $300,000 last year you probably paid way more in taxes than you should have!

Many professionals--doctors, dentists, lawyers--and small business owners often find they have spent so much time and effort developing their thriving practices and growing their profitable businesses that they just didn't have the time to plan for their own personal retirement situation.

Retiring Soon? Don't Make These 9 Mistakes

There is plenty you can do to avoid running out of money in retirement. Whether you are newly retired or retiring soon, planning is key. Some retirees just plunge in and get into trouble.

Mistake 1: Not planning for medical expenses

Retirement Planning – Part One -What amount of assets do you need to be financially independent enough to retire?

What amount of assets do you need to be financially independent enough to retire? A long time ago, the assumption or a starting point was that most people needed about 70 percent of pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle in retirement. The reality in my experience is that most people need 100 percent of pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle in retirement. It seems that even though there are a few financial obligations that disappear, such as, mortgages and paying for college, a few new obligations appear impacting financial security in retirement.

Over Organic Traffic from Search Engines or Purchased Traffic/Followers?

The New York Times recently ran a story about actors, athletes, politicians, TED speakers, comedians and so-called influencers who purchase followers for their Twitter accounts, and who use amplification bots to retweet their missives.

The Newsweek website was caught purchasing fraudulent traffic as well.

Why?

SEO & Social Media Trends to Look Out for in 2018!

Google has been known to roll out a few big changes throughout the year, each year.

While some updates are larger than the others, it’s worth keeping a track of and knowing what each update is about.

Merely responding to the changing SEO and social media trends is passé!

If you’d like to stay ahead of your competition and always have an edge over them, predicting how the face of SEO will look in the coming months is equally, or may be even more crucial than staying in line with the current trends.

Investment Management: Building Wealth

Sound investment management requires clearly defining your goals, knowing your risk tolerance and understanding various investment options. Building wealth requires patience and a strategy appropriate for your personal situation and objectives. Frequently, investors have a high-risk tolerance when the stock market is increasing and a low-risk tolerance when markets decline. Clearly, the best strategy is one that does well in good times and mitigates loss during market declines.

Berks County “Ride to Prosperity” Update — Workforce and Talent Development

In 2009, eight leading Berks County organizations began collaborating to develop a new economic development plan for Greater Reading and Berks County.

New Investment Drives Economic Development in Pottstown

Public and private investment is flowing into Pottstown. How much? During 2014 and 2015, approximately $3.5 million in Federal, State, and County grants were awarded to community and economic development projects throughout the Borough. Over the last 12 months alone, over $4.3 million in private capital has been invested to acquire commercial buildings in just two blocks of the downtown. Additional private dollars are being put to work funding projects in other areas of town.

“Careers in 2 Years” Part 2 — Cultivating a Skilled Workforce to Meet a Growing Demand in Berks County

Manufacturing has always been a vital part of Berks County’s economy. “We have almost twice as many people involved with manufacturing as the counties that are contiguous to us, in great part because of the legacy of manufacturing in Berks County,” says Jon Scott, president of Greater Reading Economic Partnership (GREP). “We are known for having people with that skill set.”

GREP’s “Careers in 2 Years” Campaign — Promoting a Skilled and Passionate Workforce to Meet a Growing Demand

CI2Y is a Win-Win for Berks Manufacturers and Job Seekers

GVF Research Project to Help Reduce Congestion Along Route 422 Corridor

In collaboration with Temple University’s Center for Sustainable Communities and CFA Consultants, GVF was successful in securing a $200,000 PennDOT research grant to conduct a US 422 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) study. The research project utilized GVF’s transportation expertise to help reduce congestion and improve air quality along the US 422 Corridor through more effective TDM implementation.

Sunnybrook Village Business Campus The Area’s Premier Office Address

Today’s business owners are looking for more than just office space. They want to rent in a place where amenities and services are just a short walk away. A place where their employees enjoy working and their customers enjoy visiting. In short, they want a community like Sunnybrook Village Business Campus.

Amenities

Progress on the “Ride to Prosperity”

Beginning in 2009, eight leading Berks County organizations — The Berks County Industrial Development Authority, the Berks County Planning Commission, the Berks County Workforce Investment Board, the City of Reading, the Greater Berks Development Fund, the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Reading Economic Partnership — began collaborating to develop a new economic development plan for Greater Reading and Berks County.

Revitalization of Pottstown— Gaining Momentum in 2014

“I’m positive that five years from now, Pottstown will be a better place than it is today. Not that it’s a bad place today. There are small things that we can all do. Support our local non-profits. Use local vendors. Patronize local merchants and service providers. Keep rolling that dollar over and over again.”

Andrew J. Monastra, December 2012

2013 Ride to Prosperity Version 2.0 Part 2 — The Work Plan

Ride to Prosperity 2.0 Work Plan

Ride to Prosperity 2.0 Part 1 — Progress Report

Beginning in 2009, eight leading local organizations — The Berks County Industrial Development Authority, the Berks County Planning Commission, the Berks County Workforce Investment Board, the City of Reading, the Greater Berks Development Fund, the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Reading Economic Partnership — began collaborating to develop a new economic development plan