Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 26, 2016

B3

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, November 26, 2016 

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


SAVING OUR 
FINANCIAL FUTURES

Our country is one of consumption. We buy, we use, 
we throw away. Unfortunately, this mentality has led 
to a society where over half of Americans lack a stock 
portfolio and where we are judged not just on our buying 
power but what we do with it. After all, who wants to 
sock money away for retirement when the new iPhone 7 
just came out? So, in a culture where nearly half of all 
Americans have no retirement savings, we must stop 
and ask; what’s going on here? This question may be best 
answered by an Anthropologist or Sociologist, but we 
can still learn a lot by just looking at the numbers:

· 45% of working-age American households have no 
retirement account savings

· 53% of all Americans have no stock investments

· $403.35 is how much the average American spent on 
Black Friday in 2015.

 What do these numbers say? Most obviously, they 
tell us we’re better at spending than saving. And all 
this spending doesn’t necessarily improve our lives - in 
meaningful ways at least. So, the lesson to be learned 
here is simple; it’s easier to spend than to save. And all 
that spending takes a toll no just on our finances, but 
on our planet, as well. In the US alone we generate 220 
million tons of waste a year, with over half of it ending 
up in landfills. Think about that the next time you buy a 
cheaply made, “disposable” item.

 Saving for retirement and avoiding over consumption, 
however, is easier said than done. Making a real difference 
is a result of making better choices, consistently. While 
it’s hard to see the benefit of saving a few dollars here 
and there, it does add up over time. I can put an amazing 
estate plan together to enable a client to pass on their 
wealth to the next generation, but if I don’t help that same 
client conserve – or better yet, build – wealth, there may 
be nothing left to pass. So, part of my job, at least, is to 
help clients improve their financial position throughout 
their lifetime, as well as help ensure the financial validity 
of their estate plan.

 At my firm, we don’t just draft documents. We ensure 
clients make informed and empowered decisions about 
life. That includes their estate plan, finances, legal issues, 
and everything else that affects their ability to protect 
and provide for the people they love most in the world. 
By taking that holistic approach, we are able to be a part 
of real transformation – not only in the lives of our clients 
but for their extended families, too. That’s exciting stuff.

 Dedicated to empowering your family, enhancing 
your wealth and embedding your legacy,

 

A local attorney, father, and CASA volunteer (Court 
Appointed Special Advocate for Children), Marc Garlett is 
on a mission to help parents protect what they love most. 
His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, Sierra 
Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment to sit down 
and talk about ensuring a legacy of love and financial 
security for your family by calling 626.355.4000 or visit 
www.GarlettLaw.com for more information.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com