iQuanti: Retirement represents one of life's most major shifts. For many, it's the first time in decades that they are not working for the majority of the day. That also makes it a time for people to enjoy the wealth they have accumulated over the years.

Of course, building enough wealth to create the retirement you want is not a simple process. You'll need to get clear on your desired lifestyle and set several financial goals, then work toward those goals. To help you out, this article will explain how financial goals work and cover four you should set before you hit retirement.

What are financial goals?

Financial goals entail anything you'd like to achieve that involves your money. That could include buying a home, saving for a child's college, setting aside a certain amount for retirement, and more. Retirement on its own is a major life change, which brings its own significant financial needs as well. You need to ensure you have enough money to live an enjoyable retirement, minimize taxes, and perhaps leave wealth behind for your heirs.

Set these financial goals before retiring

Retirement can involve significant planning. Set these four financial goals before retiring so you're financially prepared:

1. Save up an emergency fund

An emergency fund helps tide you over financially and avoid debt in case of unexpected medical bills, an auto accident, or some other emergency. These are especially important in retirement since you will no longer have a predictable paycheck. Many experts recommend saving three to six months of expenses, but you should aim to set aside even more as you approach retirement.

2. Determine your retirement needs

Along with saving for emergencies, you should determine how much you'll need every month or year in retirement. This helps you see if you're on track to save up enough for retirement or if you need to increase your retirement contributions. It also enables you to plan for the fun parts of retirement, such as spending more on travel or hobbies.

3. Finish paying off your mortgage

The last debt many people approaching retirement have is their mortgage. Paying this off before or early in retirement can provide significant financial peace of mind for several reasons:

• You eliminate your biggest expense, significantly reducing your monthly spending
• You can save a lot on interest payments
• You can tap into more home equity in retirement if you need additional income
• You can get a reverse mortgage if needed

4. Do your estate planning

We can never know what the future brings. That's why you should set up your estate plan as early as possible. Estate planning helps you distribute your assets according to your wishes once you pass away. This allows your heirs to enjoy your legacy without the troubles of court and potential family fights. It also lets you document your desires for end-of-life medical care and similar matters.

Set yourself up for a comfortable retirement

Setting financial goals for retirement and working towards them is hard work, but the peace of mind a plan creates is well worth it. Set a goal for an emergency fund and work out your retirement needs to determine how much to withdraw from your assets. From there, consider paying off your mortgage to slash your spending and work with an estate planning attorney to put together your estate plan. Taking these steps will make you feel financially secure as you approach retirement, letting you enjoy your golden years.

iQuanti: If you need money but are worried that you won't be approved for a traditional loan, then you've got other options that you can try. Many lenders offer something called a secured loan for poor credit applicants. In this article, we'll talk about how secured loans for bad credit work and what you need to apply for one in 2023.

What is a secured loan?

A secured loan is a personal loan that requires something called collateral. Collateral is an asset that the lender can seize if you're unable to consistently make your payments. This would be something of value like your house, vehicle, or retirement fund.

Unlike many loans that require a good or fair credit score to be approved, secured loans have less stringent terms thanks to the collateral. They also offer a fixed rate of interest and payments that last between five and 15 years.

How to apply for a secured loan

If you believe that a secured loan would be a good option for your financial situation, then here's what you can do:

1. Determine how much money you'll need

Before applying for a secured loan, you'll want to give some serious consideration as to how much you'll need. Don't overshoot because this will naturally lead to higher payments and more interest to be paid over the life of the loan. At the same time, you shouldn't ask for too little only to need more money again a short time later.

2. Shop around for a competitive rate

Not all lenders will necessarily offer the same interest rates for secured loans. Some may be more eager for your business than the competition. Others may place more weight on factors such as your income and employment history. Do yourself a favor and spend some time comparing various offers.

3. Choose a reputable lender

Once you've narrowed down your options, you'll also want to make sure that the lender you're going to work with is legit. It's smart to read online reviews and look for any red flags that may stand out. 

4. Have your documentation ready

To fill out an application, you're going to need several important pieces of information. This will usually include:

• A government-issued ID
• Your Social Security number
• Proof of income or employment

Additionally, you'll also need to show proof of ownership for your collateral. This might include a receipt, title, or deed depending on the item being listed. The lender may appraise your asset to ensure its value.

5. Make a plan for repayment

Getting approved for a loan is only half the battle. Once funds are received, you'll need a plan for how you can successfully repay it.

A great way to do this is to work those payments into your budget. Make sure that the payment is low enough that you'll be able to manage it for years to come. Remember, the risk is that if you're not able to continue your payments, you could lose your collateral. Take the necessary steps now to ensure that that doesn't happen!

The bottom line

Secured loans can be a great way for people with poor credit to get the financing they need. To apply for one, shop around for a reputable lender and competitive rate. Have your documentation and collateral ready, and ensure that your budget is ready to accommodate repayment.

Revolution Dating

Kelly Leary of Revolution Dating in Palm Beach Gardens shares valuable advice in the December edition of The Singles Scene Column©.

"Season's Greetings. Welcome to the most magical time of the year. Dating in December can be more romantic than any other time of the year. The holidays bring out an abundance of good energy which promote positive feelings in even the biggest Grinch. Cupid and Santa love to work in tandem too, making it even more possible for your dreams to come true. Odds of attracting your future partner are doubled in December. 

However, this time of year can bring on a case of the Holiday Blues. Don't halt dating just because it's the holidays. If you're a single parent, gift yourself. Step it up a bit. End the year strong with ease and elegance! Consider these details below before writing down your December goals.

The Upside of Being Single in December:

1. You don't have to buy your romantic partner a gift. 

2. You can choose where you want to go for holiday gatherings. No long drives to the in-laws! 

3. You have more time for yourself and your family. No splitting time between families. Celebrate the way you want.

The DOWNSIDE of Being Single in December:

1. People will feel sorry for you, no matter what you say or think. 

2. You'll be asked irritating questions that make your skin crawl: "Why are you still single?" 

3. You'll have no one to kiss on New Year's Eve.

4. You'll be sleeping alone on the most romantic nights of the year. 

OUR SOLUTION: No matter what your age is--thirty or eighty--you can find a new partner. We see it every day. Increase your odds of finding authentic and attractive people to date in our 31-year sustainable matchmaking system. It's tough being single, newly single, or widowed this time of year. However, you can flip the script. There is someone out there who feels like you and is waiting to meet you.

A gift of love to yourself will lift your spirits. Doing something changes your vibe for the whole month. Do something now. Beat the rush.

This December I wish you happiness in Loveland. Keep love and hope as your guiding light, and you won't go wrong. 

December holds a mirror up to you and asks, "What do you want this year my dear?" Take responsibility. Make your appointment to meet us, and we will take care of the rest. 

Wishing you an extraordinary Holiday Season and a Happy New Year 2023! Let the good times roll! 

XoXo, Kelly Leary"

Take advantage of once-a-year Holiday Specials. Call The Florida Matchmaker with Code MISTLETOE22 and set up an appointment at 561-630-XOXO (9696) or go to https://revolutiondating.com.

ProcessBarron announced today that it has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Toronto, Canada. ProcessBarron Canada will continue serving customers through the electrostatic precipitator and air pollution control services through its SouthernField-Environmental Elements division. Since 2016, it has safely and successfully executed projects totaling over $15M (US) within every province. The company is excited to further develop new and expanded product and service opportunities in air, gas, and material handling systems.

"We are excited to announce the launch of our Canadian entity. We have worked diligently to register in each province and engaged with an Ontario-based company that guided us in the important areas of health and safety, and compliance. The US-based operations have partnered with customers across Canada for many years with our ProcessBarron and SouthernField-EEC brands, products, and services. This new investment in Canada reinforces our long-term commitment to our Canadian customers," said Ken Nolen, ProcessBarron's CEO.    

ProcessBarron Canada is a turnkey service provider with expertise in custom-engineered solutions, end-to-end system optimization and design, onsite maintenance, support, and outage services. It proudly has one of North America's largest fleets of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), with over 50 in Canada alone and over 1,500 total installations of air pollution control equipment across the world (including ESPs, fabric filters, and dry scrubbers). ProcessBarron Canada specializes in solutions for pulp and paper, mining, cement, biomass power, oil and gas, steel, and other industrial markets.

ProcessBarron-Canada is led by two industry experts, Ivan Stretenovic and Nerses Nersessian. Ivan serves as the Director of Operations and Sales. He has over 10 years of experience in field service work and design engineering for air pollution control equipment as well as 14 years of extensive recovery boiler ESP research. Nerses serves as Field Service Project Manager. He has 12 years of comprehensive professional experience in the areas of Project Management & Execution. Nerses is an accomplished leader in major projects in the power generation sector.     

"Establishing our Canadian entity provides our clients with local technical expertise in critical equipment and a resident team that can quickly identify optimal solutions and provide greater access to our quality products and services. Our familiarity with local regulations and job requirements allows our team to safely and effectively perform inspection, maintenance, and turnkey installation projects across the country. We're really excited to add this unique capability to our company portfolio and continue to support our clients with the highest standard of quality that we hold ourselves to," said Ivan on the launch of the new entity.

About ProcessBarron 

ProcessBarron enables smart, clean, and efficient production. We are North America's innovative leader in custom-engineered products and expert field services. We've been serving industrial customers since 1981 through our safety-focused, professional, and technically advanced teams.

For additional information, visit processbarron.com/about-processbarron-canada/.

Santa on the Roof

25 years ago, Macadins Company created and released a recording of what it might sound like to hear a magical rooftop visit from Santa on Christmas Eve. This recording has become a holiday tradition for many families and in its 25th year of production, "Santa on the Roof" is easily downloadable to any Computer, Tablet or Cellphone and is certain to continue rewarding listeners with joyous memories of Christmases past and present. "Santa on the Roof" is available for purchase and download now at www.santaontheroof.com.

Your child will hear Santa's sled landing with a thump and gliding to a gentle stop. His footsteps as he walks around the roof, his playful antics with his team of Reindeer and of course Santa enjoying his cookie snack left by the children. And more.

An introductory story sets Santa's visit not as a true recording but as a storybook-like magic fairy tale that took place long-long ago, thus preserving the Santa legend and mystique. This story also allows "Santa on the Roof" to be played for a child anytime during the Holiday Season. More adventurous adults start the recording after the story and get somewhat creative late at night on Christmas Eve.

Spreading Memories

For 25 years, parents have been able to provide their children with a magical Christmas Eve rooftop visit with "Santa on the Roof." Watch and enjoy your child's eyes twinkle and dance in delight with awe as their dream to hear the sounds of Santa unfold for the very first time.

This Christmas season capture the magic and wonder of Christmas as you share a very special childhood moment with your children. Celebrate memories of what was and help keep alive a historic and delightful Christmas tradition that is as enchanting and awe-inspiring as the event itself. 

Customer Comments

Feedback from customers is always sincere and heart-warming with one customer commenting they played it at midnight through hidden speakers and their kids were at the window screaming they saw Rudolf's red nose. Another stated they played it at 2 am as an excuse to go downstairs and get the skis Santa had left him. And finally, an elderly Lady ordered "Santa on the Roof" because she always wondered what it would sound like to hear a sled landing on her roof.

For anyone who loves the Santa tradition and wants to share it with their child or grandchild this recording is a must have.

Macadins is a mail order company headquartered in Wethersfield, Connecticut and has been in business since 1997.