Last weekend I attended a training with our product partner company, Wealth Masters International, that brought home to me how little education most of us have on managing (and growing) our finances.
In particular, the training focused heavily on how little control Australians and New Zealanders are taking over their primary financial asset – their Superannuation.
The situation is the same the World over with Americans having their 401K accounts decimated and other countries retirement savings being degraded by the day – without most of us even noticing, let alone taking steps to reverse this.
What is happening and why should you care?
Well firstly it’s “YOUR MONEY” and it’s “YOUR FUTURE” but for the vast majority of us we hand over control of this asset to a complete stranger. Somebody with no emotional attachment to our money or us.
We then pay this person (or Company) a large amount to ‘manage’ this investment on our behalf with the ‘hope’ of future returns.
How’s that worked out for you in the last two years? Do you even know?
And when it comes to Super Funds it appears that paying more does not necessarily mean you will get the best advice and/or returns on your investment.
A new report out today called “Supernomics” by the Industry Super Network indicates that ‘tens of billions of dollars are being milked from workers’ retirement savings to pay for financial advice most people do not get.’
The report says millions of workers are charged in their super fees for financial advice that they do not receive.
“We estimate that well over 4 million people are paying for financial advice that they don’t receive.”
“For an average income earner they could spend up to one year’s wages in fees and commissions for financial advice that they don’t receive.”
And, according to Supernomics, “the money leached out in fees will cost the economy $120 billion in lost retirement savings over the next decade.” (See review of Supernomics report here by Stephen Long)
Why are we letting this happen?
Because that’s what we have been trained to do.
We are forced to put a percentage of our income into a Super Fund that generally is chosen by our employer or financial advisor and then we just hope it will be enough to retire on.
If you are self employed like us you may have “Self Managed Super” but who’s managing this? and how? Do you know? Would you know if they were doing a bad job or charging excess fees?
I know I didn’t.
True we aren’t all “financial experts” and the rules change so often that management of your retirements savings can be a complex task. But my advice to you is this….
Seek the education.
Find out how your super is being managed and by whom. Are there cheaper fund options for you? Could/should you be managing this yourself? Or at the very least take a more active role in accessing financial advice from an alliance or Industry professional with no conflict of interest ie somebody that isn’t just selling you a service because it makes THEM the most money.
Think of how much research you do into buying a house or new car, and use the same approach in manging your superannuation. Are you really getting the best deal for you in the long term?
Our eyes have been opened wide by the financial education that we are receiving through Wealth Masters International (see my previous post for details on WMI in Australia). Wherever you chose to seek your education is up to you but I encourage you to do just that.
Stop letting a pimply faced kid with a keyboard somewhere whittle away your financial future so that Corporate headquarters can make their balance sheet look rosy enough for the CEO’s remuneration review.
Or don’t. The choice is yours. But now you can’t say you “didn’t know”.
Love to here your comments on how you are educating yourself to maximise your retirement savings?
Agree/Disagree with me? Let me know in the comments below.
Oh and pass this information on to those your care about.
You can send them this link: http://ow.ly/1eu2R
Hit the “Tweet” button above to share on Twitter or any of the share buttons below to post to your favourite social networking sites.
Have a “Super” Day (sorry couldn’t resist).
Wealth Masters International has just unveiled it’s new product range and Hybrid Wealth Plan.
WMI is now a truly Global Business and membership is booming not only in the USA and Canada but throughout Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, South Africa and around the World.
What exactly is Wealth Masters International? Watch the WMI Introduction Video here:
For more information on building wealth with WMI products or business opportunity contact us via email at info@MarkandZoe.com or visit our business website at www.e-Bizonline.com
Mark and I are often asked for our recommended home business or more directly, “what business are you in?”. While we are happy to support marketers from any direct sales company to grow their home businesses with our training we do have a primary business that we promote. This business is Carbon Copy Pro.
For complete details on the CarbonCopyPro business and why we believe it is the ‘ULTIMATE internet based Home Business’, go to our website at www.CarbonCopy-Pro.com or click on the banner on the right of this page. I have also compiled an article that answers the most frequently asked questions on CarbonCopyPro and you will find the complete article here.
Below is a few of the major points to consider when investigating the “CarbonCopyPro Business”:
So What is the “CarbonCopyPro Business”?
Carbon Copy Pro is an automated, turn-key internet based marketing system promoting financial education and wealth creation products of Wealth Masters International.
How do I Get Started in a CarbonCopyPro Business?
1) Visit our Carbon Copy Pro website at: www.CarbonCopy-Pro.com and sign in with your name and email address.
2) After viewing videos and reading through the information you are prompted to submit an “Application”.
3) Once you have paid your application fee (see costs below) you can immediately access your application and submit this online. All new members are required to submit an application. Carbon Copy Pro see this as being crucial to weeding out the time wasters and also to helping you decide if a CarbonCopyPro business is really right for you.
4) The CarbonCopyPro call centre contacts all applicants to advise if your application has been accepted and answers any questions you may have. If you live outside of the USA or Canada they will usually contact you via email rather than telephoning you, but you still have full access to the call centre if you would prefer to speak to somebody and live web chat.
5) Once you Application has been accepted, your next step is to purchase Carbon CopyPro’s Business in a Box or BIB
6) As soon as you have purchased your CarbonCopyPro BIB you can access your ‘back office’ marketing suite and establish your account.
7) The CarbonCopyPro Marketing System then takes you step by step in setting up your membership profiles at both CarbonCopyPro and Wealth Masters International. Including setting up your websites, autoresponders and marketing system.
8 ) Your last step is to choose your initial product purchase from Wealth Masters International. It is not compulsory to purchase any of the WMI products to operate a Carbon Copy Pro business, but you will dramatically restrict your commission earning potential if you don’t purchase a WMI product.
Then you need to begin following the training provided in your CarbonCopyPro back office and start marketing your business. Your goal with your new business is to drive traffic to your websites and create leads that then go through the 8 step process above as well to become your new members.
So How Much Does it Cost to Start a CarbonCopyPro Business?
The following costs to set-up a CarbonCopyPro business are subject to change but are provided as a guide to expenses and quoted in US Dollars. All costs are shown as you progress through the application process at our www.CarbonCopy-Pro.com website
1) Carbon Copy Pro Application: $49 + shipping fees
The application is delivered digitally and lodged online. The shipping fees are for the “Inside Out DVD” and workbook by Jay Kubassek and Mike Dillard that is included in your application fee. An awesome DVD that usually retails for $149 online – so the application fee actually makes this a bargain.
2) Business in a Box (BIB): $395 + shipping The BiB includes 3 DVD’s on Developing a “Millionaire Mindset”, “Understanding Online Marketing” and “Web 2.0 Mastery”. The DVD’s are accompanied by two manuals – The first manual is designed to help you work on your mindset and goal setting to establish the foundation for your new business. While the Second manual is a substantial marketing course and plan to drive traffic to your new CarbonCopyPro website and also help you navigate the CarbonCopyPro Business back office and system.
Your BIB purchase price includes your WMI Annual Consultant Fee (regularly $99) and your first month’s payment for the CarbonCopyPro Marketing, Training and Support system (regularly $149). As a bonus you will receive a discount code for $400 off your WMI product purchase within your first 5 days of joining.
3) CarbonCopyPro Business System Membership: $149/month (1st month included in price of BIB) This monthly membership pays for all of your CarbonCopyPro Business websites, autoresponders, call centre follow up to to all of your applicants, extensive marketing training (tutorials, videos and live calls) and support.
4) Wealth Masters International Consultant Membership: $99 Annual Fee (included in BIB price) and $24.95-$49.95/month (dependent upon your level of membership).
5) WMI Product Purchase: Price varies dependent upon the product you chose. Wealth Masters Financial Wellbeing Training course (or Level 1) product is $1995. Remember too that you can access a Quickstart Discount of $400 from your BIB purchase if purchasing this product within 5 days of activating your account.
6) Marketing and Business Running Expenses – you dictate these based on the type and magnitude of advertising that you chose. You will definitely require a computer and good internet connection plus a reliable phone service to access training calls. Mark and I use Skype and highly recommend it.
Will a CarbonCopyPro Business Work For Me?
Honestly I believe that only you can answer that question. There are dozens of testimonials on the CarbonCopy Pro website and we now know first hand that it is possible to make an extraordinary income with a CarbonCopyPro Business.
A Six figure income in your first year is definitely possible if you get to work.
Only you can decide if it is the right business model for you and if you have the internal drive to succeed at a CarbonCopyPro Business, or in any business of your own for that matter.
My advice is to do your due diligence, complete the application process, and read the information on the website thoroughly.
If you have questions after you have been through the applciation process and website please do not hesitate to contact us.
Website: www.CarbonCopy-Pro.com
eMail: info@MarkandZoe.com
Australian Phone: 07 3040 2399
USA Phone: 605-557-2523
UK Phone: 020-3286-3823
