Unlike their counterparts from even a generation ago, today’s retirees face additional uncertainty about the future. As the number and availability of traditional company-sponsored pension plans dwindle, Americans are now shouldering more of the responsibilities—and risks—for ensuring that their futures are financially secure. Threatening that security is increasing health care expenses, including the cost of long-term care, which pose serious financial threats to retirees and can quickly deplete a lifetime of savings. This changing landscape means that retirement planning is even more important and urgent than ever before.

In this course, you’ll also learn about the unique needs of senior clients and the specific areas that concern them: namely, retirement income planning, health care planning, estate planning and wealth distribution, and final needs planning. You’ll also learn how the different pieces—personal savings, Social Security, long-term care insurance, annuities, life insurance, estate planning, and transfer techniques—can fit together to help your clients achieve a comfortable and secure retirement.

Updated for Secure Act 2.0.

Upon conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

• recognize the characteristics of today's retirees and their retirement income planning goals
  
• identify the benefits and limitations of Social Security
• recognize how life insurance and annuities can provide supplemental income and lifetime benefits
• recall the importance of Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare supplement insurance, and long-term care insurance
  
• recognize methods used to prepay funeral arrangements
• recall CPAs' and other financial professionals' ethical duties when working with senior clients