Planning for Retirement 1

Walter wants to retire within the next few years.

He's been working at the same company for over 15 years as an accountant.

During that time he's been saving his money and paying off his debts.

However, even with his savings and investments, he isn't sure that he'll have enough money for retirement.

If he doesn't, he'll have to keep on working which depends on the company.

For now, the company is okay, but it's no longer growing as fast as it used to.

Whether or not he can keep on working will also depend on his health.

Fortunately, he's in good health, but he knows that that could change at any time.

If  he fell down or had a stroke, it could force him to stop working.

If that happened, he would have to rely on his savings and other assets to survive.

Sooner or later, he know his health will decline and he'll have to stop working.

So he needs to prepare.

Walter wants to retire within the next few years.

For now, the company is okay, but it's no longer growing as fast as it used to.

If  he fell down or had a stroke, it could force him to stop working.

Most of his wealth is in the form of company stock and the value of his home.

Both of these are at risk.

The company's stock may go down, and the value of his home may also fall.

The company he works for is a pharmaceutical (制药的) company.  

It develops new drugs which is a risky business, and sells them worldwide.

It is expensive to develop new drugs, and it can take a very long time to get a new drug approved.

Without the government approval, it can't be sold, which can result in a huge loss.

Another threat to the company comes from foreign competition, which is getting stronger.

The company has also started to move some of his research and production facilities overseas.

Salary levels are lower there, and the quality of foreign workers is getting better.

As a result, the company has reduced its local hiring and is no longer giving large bonuses.

One thing he is considering is to sell his shares in the company.

He could begin to sell a little at the time, and reinvest money somewhere else.bout 

But where would he invest?

He doesn't know much about investing, and several of his friends have lost a lot by making bad investments.

Investing in real estate or the stock market could be very risk.

The company he works for is a pharmaceutical (制药的) company.  

Investing in real estate or the stock market could be very risk.

Salary levels are lower there, and the quality of foreign workers is getting better.