At Concordia University: `Packing for Retirement’

When packing for a trip, having a checklist is a great way to provide peace of mind—and to increase your chances of enjoying yourself after you have reached your destination.

With those same vital goals in mind, only on a much more important and far-reaching scale, a pair of retirement planning experts will lead a two-part series soon at Concordia University, 7400 Augusta St. in River Forest.

Dr. Jim Flanagan and Jigar Doshi of Bentron Financial Group will lead the sessions on Thursday, February 6 and Thursday, February 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., as well as on Saturday, February 8 and Saturday, February 15 from 9 a.m. to Noon. The courses are free of charge, with participants able to choose from either the Thursday or Saturday sequences. [Registration link.]

“It’s often said that people spend more time planning their next vacation than their retirement—and, sadly, that’s true in many cases,” said Flanagan. “Even just a little more reflection about and preparation for retirement can make all the difference between failure and success during these golden years of your life.”

Among other topics, those in attendance will discuss the basic need for an estate and/or a financial plan. Flanagan and Doshi will then walk attendees through an estate analysis questionnaire and provide an example of a balance sheet.

The pair will guide attendees through several self-evaluation exercises that help reveal their readiness for retirement. Thereafter, attendees will be introduced to 10 critical questions that every retiree must answer before embarking on a successful retirement.

Flanagan and Doshi will discuss when it is best to access Social Security benefits, as well as how to protect your estate against the high cost of long-term care. They will also touch on some of the basic elements of estate planning.

Flanagan, who formed Bentron Financial Group in 2001, has served on the Oak Park/River Forest Township Senior Services Committee since 2008. In 2010, he founded the Celebrating Seniors Coalition, a not-for-profit organization that provides seniors with emergency services and raises public awareness of issues affecting seniors in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.

Flanagan is the author of Packing For Retirement: A Practical Guide to Prepare for Retirement at Any Age, which offers a comprehensive overview of the myriad facets of retirement planning. In addition, he has attained certification as a Master Registered Financial Consultant, a distinction that reflects integrity and transparency in business and is achieved by fewer than one percent of financial professionals.

Dr. Flanagan also has a series of financial pointers, dubbed My Generation Minute, that air regularly on the radio at 87.7 METV FM in the Chicago area.

A Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Doshi has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai-India, and a master's degree in Financial Markets from the Stuart School of Business-IIT Chicago.

Doshi has been providing clarity and vision to successful people for nearly 20 years, using his expertise to maximize returns and improve the client experience. His service includes investment advising, estate planning, risk management and watching out for clients’ overall financial well-being.

To register for the free classes, visit https://bentron.com/event/pack...