This book provides an advanced education combining a scientifically-based and practitioner-developed, retirement-income planning curriculum in support of earning the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) designation. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks and to master the retirement-planning advisory process.

This book is an introduction and companion manual to the curriculum presented in The Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Designation - Curriculum Book for RMA Candidates.The Practice Manual for Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Certificate Holders and Compliance Officers offers a high level overview of the scientifically-based, retirement-income planning curriculum and is a compendium of all the associated process and practice issues. It functions as a desktop summary guide and practice manual for compliance officers and practicing RMAs, and as an introduction for those interested in earning the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) designation. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks and master the retirement-planning advisory process. Financial professionals who take and pass the examination to earn the RMA designation are uniquely prepared to deliver retirement-income solutions and services to clients who want a secure income stream and ongoing professional management throughout their retirement years.The focus of the education is on the Household Balance Sheet and Budget in order to "Build a Floor and Create Upside Potential." Most investment professionals specialize in managing client assets, with an eye toward maximizing accumulation during the clients' working lives. The duties of Retirement Management Professionals, however, are broader. These advisors need to manage their clients' assets, liabilities, and cash flows, with an eye toward minimizing a broad range of risks during their clients' retirements.RIIA developed a hub-and-spoke framework to organize retirement-income solutions. The framework has seven chapters - a hub, five spokes and an integrative process. The client is the hub, and the spokes are the steps in a process of integration and monitoring. RIIA calls them "spokes" rather than "steps" for two reasons. First, they represent a cyclical process of interaction with the client that has no specific beginning or end. Secondly, each one strengthens a well-rounded relationship between advisor and client.The objective is to build a floor and create upside potential. RIIA assumes that, during retirement, clients need a sufficient level of income ("a floor") from guaranteed or low-risk sources, as well as the potential for growth through exposure to risky assets (the "upside"). Building a portfolio for retirement income isn't necessarily harder than building a portfolio for asset accumulation, but it does require a deeper assessment of the client's needs. The investment of more time at the beginning of the relationship can pay off, however, in the creation of satisfied clients whose assets will be "stickier" and who will also bring additional advisory opportunities.

Most investment professionals specialize in managing client assets, with an eye toward maximizing accumulation during the clients' working lives. The duties of retirement management professionals, however, are broader. These advisors need to manage their clients' complete household balance sheet assets and liabilities as well as the matching cash flows, with an eye toward minimizing a broad range of risks during their clients' retirements. This book provides a scientifically-based and practitioner-developed, retirement-income planning curriculum in support of earning the Retirement Management Advisor (RMA) online certificate and designation, offered by the Investments & Wealth Institute.

This 2016 update of the RMA Practice Manual is the process introduction and glossary reference book to the RMA curriculum content of the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Designation. -RMA students use it during Week 1 of the RMA online education programs. -RMA graduates keep it as desktop reference. -Compliance officers use it as documentation for placing the RMA designation on their approved list. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks across the household balance sheet and master the retirement-planning advisory process. Financial professionals who take and pass the examination to earn the RMA designation are uniquely prepared to deliver retirement-income solutions and services to clients who want a secure income stream and ongoing professional management throughout their retirement years. The focus of the education is on the Household Balance Sheet and Budget in order to "First Build a Floor, then Expose to Upside." Most investment professionals specialize in managing client assets, with an eye toward maximizing accumulation during the clients' working lives. The duties of Retirement Management Professionals, however, are broader. These advisors need to manage their clients' assets, liabilities, and cash flows, with an eye toward minimizing a broad range of risks during their clients' retirements. RIIA developed a hub-and-spoke framework to organize retirement-income solutions. The framework has seven chapters - a hub, five spokes and an integrative process. The client is the hub, and the spokes are the steps in a process of integration and monitoring. RIIA calls them "spokes" rather than "steps" for two reasons. First, they represent a cyclical process of interaction with the client that has no specific beginning or end. Secondly, each one strengthens a well-rounded relationship between advisor and client. Building a portfolio for retirement income isn't necessarily harder than building a portfolio for asset accumulation, but it does require a deeper assessment of the client's needs. The investment of more time at the beginning of the relationship can pay off, however, in the creation of satisfied clients whose assets will be "stickier" and who will also bring additional advisory opportunities.

A practical guide to getting personal investing right Somewhere along the way, something has gone very wrong with the way individuals save and invest. Too often, households are drawn in by promotional suggestions masquerading as impartial investment advice. Consumers get saddled with more risk than they realize. Authors Zvi Bodie and Rachelle Taqqu understand the dilemma that today's investors face, and with Risk Less and Prosper they will help you find your financial footing. Written in an accessible style, this practical guide skillfully explains why personal investing is all about you—your goals, your values and your career path. It shows how to understand investment risk and choose the particular blend of risk and safety that is right for you. And it lays out several simple yet powerful ways for small investors to cast a reliable safety net to achieve their financial goals and truly prosper. Coauthors Bodie and Taqqu challenge the myth that all investments require risk, then highlight some important risks that families often disregard when deciding where to put their money. Later, they connect the dots between investment and investor, showing us all how to grasp our own investment risk profiles and how we may use these insights to make more fitting investment choices. Outlines a straightforward way to invest by aligning your investments with your goals and the risk levels you can bear Provides basic investment abc's for readers who are otherwise literate Lays out a simple, actionable plan for achieving your goals Explains the role of risk-free assets and investment insurance in assuring that you reach your most essential goals Contrary to popular belief, investing doesn't have to be complicated. You can build wealth without taking great risks. Risk Less and Prosper will show you how to make investment decisions that will make your financial life less stressful and more profitable.

Clients nearing retirement have some significant challenges to face. And so do their advisers. They can expect to live far longer after they retire. And the problems they expect their advisers to solve are far more complex. The traditional sources of retirement income may be shriveling, but boomers don't intend to downsize their plans. Instead, they're redefining what it means to be retired—as well as what they require of financial advisers. Planners who aren't prepared will be left behind. Those who are will step up to some lucrative and challenging work. To help get the work done, Harold Evensky and Deena Katz—both veteran problem solvers—have tapped the talents of a range of experts whose breakthrough thinking offers solutions to even the thorniest issues in retirement-income planning: Sustainable withdrawals Longevity risk Eliminating luck as a factor in planning Immediate annuities, reverse mortgages, and viatical and life settlements Strategies for increasing retirement cash flow In Retirement Income Redesigned, the most-respected names in the industry discuss these issues and a range of others.

This book provides a desktop reference of glossary terms and key best practices to complement the RMA Curriculum Book, which provides an advanced education combining a scientifically-based and practitioner-developed, retirement-income planning curriculum in support of earning the Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) designation. The RMA designation, created by the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), is a rigorous educational and ethics training that focuses on building the retirement plan to mitigate risks and to master the retirement-planning advisory process. Financial professionals who take and pass the examination to earn the RMA designation are uniquely prepared to deliver retirement-income solutions and services to clients who want a secure income stream and ongoing professional management throughout their retirement years. This book is intended for financial professionals, including: asset managers, licensed agents and representatives of broker/dealers, registered investment advisors, and certified financial advisors (both in the retail and the employer-sponsored plan sectors). These professionals can expect this book to help them: - Organize their thoughts about their clients' financial situations - Reach conclusions about their clients' retirement-income needs - Recommend appropriate retirement-income plans - Explain why the plans make sense - Implement the plans by changing the clients' allocations to risk-management techniques, thus enabling them to purchase a better mix of products - Take the examination for RIIA's RMA designation The focus of the book is to "Build a Floor and Create Upside Potential." Most investment professionals specialize in managing client assets, with an eye toward maximizing accumulation during the clients' working lives. The duties of Retirement Management Professionals, however, are broader. These advisors need to manage their clients' complete household balance sheet assets and liabilities as well as the matching cash flows, with an eye toward minimizing a broad range of risks during their clients' retirements. RIIA developed a hub-and-spoke framework to organize retirement-income solutions. The framework has seven chapters - a hub, five spokes and an integrative process. The client is the hub, and the spokes are the steps in a process of integration and monitoring. RIIA calls them "spokes" rather than "steps" for two reasons. First, they represent a cyclical process of interaction with the client that has no specific beginning or end. Secondly, each one strengthens the relationship between advisor and client. The objective is to identify the proper, client-matched strategies that will build a floor and create upside potential. RIIA assumes that, during retirement, clients will need a customized level of income ("a floor") from guaranteed or low-risk sources, as well as the potential for growth through exposure to risky assets (the "upside"). One size does not fit all. Building a portfolio for retirement income isn't necessarily harder than building a portfolio for asset accumulation, but it does require a deeper assessment of the client's needs. The investment of more time at the beginning of the relationship can pay off, however, in the creation of satisfied clients whose assets will be "stickier" and who will bring additional advisory opportunities.

“A guide for planning that rich season of life, based not just on money, but also on how to create meaningful relationships, memories, and legacy.” —Dan Miller, author of 48 Days to the Work You Love Rock Retirement offers inspirational advice on how to enjoy the journey to retirement to its fullest. Traditional retirement advice usually boils down to saving more, sacrificing more, and settling for less. This approach makes people dependent on systems outside their control, such as the market, economy, and investment returns. The result: people lose power over determining their life. What sets Rock Retirement apart is its holistic approach to helping people take back control and act intentionally towards the life they want. It addresses the fears, hopes, and dreams that people have about retirement, goes way beyond the numbers, and shows them how to balance living well today and tomorrow. “Too many books think retirement is just about finances. Instead, retirement is about looking at life in full and working out what it is you want to do and then turning to finances to make it happen. That’s exactly the focus of the practical and helpful guide.” —Andrew Scott, coauthor of The 100-Year Life “Roger Whitney lays out a plan for today’s modern retiree. If you are exhausted with being fed that retirement is the end game of life, then Roger’s book is a must-read!” —Darryl W. Lyons, author of 18 to 80 “If you’re dreaming of a retirement free of worry, chao and confusion, Rock Retirement will give you the clarity, a solid plan and fresh inspiration to help you get where you want to go.” —Jevonnah “Lady J” Ellison, author of Love Letters for Leading Ladies

Praise for Financial Statement Analysis A Practitioner's Guide Third Edition "This is an illuminating and insightful tour of financial statements, how they can be used to inform, how they can be used to mislead, and how they can be used to analyze the financial health of a company." -Professor Jay O. Light Harvard Business School "Financial Statement Analysis should be required reading for anyone who puts a dime to work in the securities markets or recommends that others do the same." -Jack L. Rivkin Executive Vice President (retired) Citigroup Investments "Fridson and Alvarez provide a valuable practical guide for understanding, interpreting, and critically assessing financial reports put out by firms. Their discussion of profits-'quality of earnings'-is particularly insightful given the recent spate of reporting problems encountered by firms. I highly recommend their book to anyone interested in getting behind the numbers as a means of predicting future profits and stock prices." -Paul Brown Chair-Department of Accounting Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NYU "Let this book assist in financial awareness and transparency and higher standards of reporting, and accountability to all stakeholders." -Patricia A. Small Treasurer Emeritus, University of California Partner, KCM Investment Advisors "This book is a polished gem covering the analysis of financial statements. It is thorough, skeptical and extremely practical in its review." -Daniel J. Fuss Vice Chairman Loomis, Sayles & Company, LP

Conventional wisdom portrays the People's Republic of China (PRC) People's Liberation Army (PLA) as a backward continental force that will not pose a military challenge to its neighbors or to the United States well into the 21st century. PLA writings that demonstrate interest in exploiting the revolution in military affairs (RMA) are dismissed by a large segment of the PLA- watching community as wistful fantasies. The author offers an alternative perspective by outlining emerging PLA operational concepts and a range of research and development projects that appear to have been heavily influenced by U.S. and Russian writings on the RMA. Fulfillment of the PLA's vision for the 21st century could have significant repercussions for U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region.