​Are you self-employed? Or do you own your own business? If so, you likely have a lot of challenges on your plate. You have to provide great service to your customers, prospect for new customers and manage your company’s cash flow. You also may have to manage your employees, develop new products and services and work to achieve your long-term goals. As a business owner, you probably wear many different hats.
 
Retirement may be one challenge that isn’t on your radar. Many business owners assume they can work as long as they want. They funnel their energy and resources into their business rather than plan for the future.
 
However, retirement is too important to ignore. You may not be able to work forever, and you may not be able to sell your business to fund your retirement. It’s always helpful to have assets set aside for retirement. Also, a business retirement plan may be a helpful tool to attract new employees.

​Are you in the homestretch of your career? Can you see retirement on the horizon? If so, you may already be dreaming about vacations, golf outings and time spent relaxing at home.
 
It’s hard not to look ahead when retirement is so close. However, you also may want to use this period to nail down the final steps of your retirement planning. The last few years of your career may be your last opportunity to boost your savings, cut your costs or protect yourself against risk.
 
Below are a few steps to consider before you head into retirement. If you haven’t yet taken these steps or even developed a retirement strategy, now may be the time to do so. A financial professional can help you implement these steps and others so you can enjoy a long, financially secure retirement.

​So retirement is approaching quickly, and you’re worried you don’t have enough money saved. You’re not alone. According to a Gallup survey, more than 50 percent of Americans are worried about having enough money for retirement. In fact, retirement is Americans’ top financial concern.1
 
Unfortunately, those concerns may be justified, especially for baby boomers. A survey from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found that baby boomers have a median retirement savings balance of $147,000.2 While that may be a significant amount of money, it’s unlikely to be sufficient to fund a long, enjoyable retirement.
 
If you feel like you’re behind on your savings, there’s still time to get back on track. However, you may need to take action quickly. Below are three simple steps you can take to correct course. A financial professional can help you develop and implement a plan that’s specific to your needs.

​Is retirement right around the corner? If so, you may be in the process of planning your retirement income. If you’re like many retirees, you’ll be able to count on income from multiple sources, including Social Security, retirement account distributions and possibly even a pension.
 
Many retirees rely on withdrawals from their savings and investments to fund their spending in retirement. Unfortunately, much of that income may not be guaranteed. If you suffer a market downturn in retirement, or if you live longer than expected, you may struggle to generate the kind of income you need.
 
Fortunately there are tools you can use to create reliable sources of retirement income. One such tool is an annuity. Annuities offer a variety of ways to generate income, sometimes guaranteed for life. Below are three different annuity strategies you can use to generate consistent, predictable retirement cash flow: