What's upsetting you today? - Page 197

lookout123 · 12-03-2008, 03:59 PM

eh, thanks. It isn't so much that I worry about what they are saying. I live in a city of millions and I'm licensed in other states as well. there are always more clients to uncover. It's really the stress of sitting with people, looking them in the eye, and telling them horrible truth. They can blame me or not blame me, but it doesn't change the fact that these people have watched their retirement dreams get flushed. it may be by their own decisions but the fact still remains they work for 30+ years with a reasonable expectation of a comfortable retirement. I now have to sit with them and explain that Yes, I know they are ready to make some changes now, but I've run the numbers dozens of different ways and the answer keeps coming back the same - they will outlive their money. It sounds cliche and ridiculous but people don't hire me to watch money - they hire me to ensure they reach life goals. I've been spending waaaaaay too much of my time over the last few months explaining to people that its time to come up with different goals because the old ones? not gonna happen.

Pie · 12-03-2008, 04:00 PM

Think of all the people you did help, LO. The majority of clients that took some or all of your sound advice, and are consequently much better off than they would have been.
You can't save people from themselves.

ETA: the future's not guaranteed. You work hard, you do (mostly) the right thing, and guess what? Sometimes, life still sucks. Like getting diagnosed with cancer 6 months after your retirement...

sweetwater · 12-03-2008, 05:44 PM

We've never gotten upset with our financial adviser (not sure if that's what you do but it sounds like it could be). Then again, we've done everything he's suggested, only adjusting a few times for the risk we were willing to accept under our current situation when he made the suggestions. I know he has more knowledge, both current and historical, than us. I don't know that he has the same conscience and sense of personal responsibility as you. Tell me again, in what states are you licensed?

Aliantha · 12-03-2008, 06:03 PM

My aunt and uncle retired about 12 months ago. They're now worth 30% less than they thought they'd have to retire on. Fortunately they reckon they're going to outlive this crisis and end up being ok anyway.

The good thing for them is they not only have shares as investments but they have realestate which they draw an income from.

I guess it's always good to have a couple of different investments so you're not totally reliant on one income stream.

People are just angry and afraid and upset as you know lookout. It's really not personal when everyone's in the same boat. These people have relied on your advice that's for sure, but they could have made different choices also. You're not responsible for the choices they've made in the end. You've only offered them choices.

DucksNuts · 12-03-2008, 07:45 PM

I haz a headache and thrush.

Being a chick soooooooo rocks

Aliantha · 12-03-2008, 07:49 PM

Get thee to the chemist! (and stay there till you're better lol)

Pooka · 12-04-2008, 09:35 AM

Busted water heater discovered as I entered the shower.... and they can't fix it till next week per Home Warrenty contractor... Bullshit I say... you want me to keep the home warrenty it will be fixed today...

Flint · 12-04-2008, 09:38 AM

Get 'em honey! Rip their balls off! help me get her all riled up, she's great at this stuff

Pooka · 12-04-2008, 10:02 AM

I called AHS back and said "You honestly expect me, my husband (who has to go to work every day... clean and well groomed), my two children for whom meal time is more of a contact sport than it is eating and a bath is absolutely required... you expect us to shower in freezing ass cold water duing the winter for 4 days? No... this is our ONLY hot water heater in our Only shower/ bath and there is a HUGE amount of water on my floor... the lenolium is pealing up and rolling over on itself, the wood is puffing and I just had 20K worth of foundation repair work done. No I cannot wait till tomorrow much less next week. I need it fixed today or I will call around and find a company who can fix it... and believe me if I have to pay for this out of my own pocket... I WILL CANCEL MY WARRENTY WITH YOU... you will NOT talk me out of it this time." The poor bastard on the other end of the phone said he'd bump it up to an emergency and they call me within 2 hours... so at this point they have 1 hour left to produce a solution before I cut them off and pay for a new water heater with my fucking credit card... I would have been able to buy one outright had I not been paying my monthly warrenty bill... the ONLY 3 reasons I've kept them... 1. the AC is 22 years old and bound to die soon, the Hotwater is 12, the huge double oven around which the kitchen was designed is 55 years old. They are supposed to replace if unrepairable. I 've just been afraid they die at a time when we couldn't manage to fix them on our dime.

I haven't really slept in 3 days thanks to the little boy.... and dammnit all I wanted this morning was a hot shower to stand in for about an hour while I try to remind myself that he his just teething not trying to drive me insane.

dar512 · 12-04-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

while I try to remind myself that he his just teething not trying to drive me insane.

Frozen washcloths saved us. Run water over half a washcloth. Wring it out and put it in the freezer. We kept three or four of these things going. Let 'em chew on the frozen end. The cold and the texture do the trick.

glatt · 12-04-2008, 10:30 AM

I've never heard a positive story regarding home warranties. I think they are a scam.

I hope you prove me wrong.

footfootfoot · 12-04-2008, 10:40 AM

All warranties are a scam. Rule #1 never bet against the house because the house always wins.

All that money you pay monthly could be going towards new appliances. When the 55 year old stove craps out and they have to replace it will it be replaced with a $100. Roper or a $5500 Vulcan?

lookout123 · 12-04-2008, 10:42 AM

AHS did replace the hot water heater and AC unit on my first house. Slow and inefficient but saved me a bunch of money.

sweetwater · 12-04-2008, 10:52 AM

We recently put up an expensive fence to keep the neighbor's big bozo dogs from bounding into our yard and terrorizing our softy dog (she likes other dogs, but dogs with manners - a heritage from her show career) and so she and our new dog could play outdoors. We did not fence the lake side of the yard, thinking that a 50" high fence around 3 sides would cause them to roam elsewhere. There were just in my yard, minutes after the pups and I came in. Grrrr! The dogs are just big, clumsy, energetic oafs who like to splash in the lake (one is a lab) but hey! The potential death/injury to my own dogs in their own fenced yard is real. Maybe I'll ask Santa Claus for a pet lion. Or shark. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Pooka · 12-04-2008, 11:08 AM

SW... I can understand your fear. That is exactly... well minus the water... reason we didn't buy a house 2 streets over ( which actually, save that issue would have been a better choice for us) the neighbor next door had Akitas and they were known to break loose and kill other enighbor dogs... with a baby on the way that senerio didn't sit well with us. The neighborhood was taking the dog owner to court, but had tried before with no positive results. It is difficult to control others... even harder ... their dogs.

12-03-2008, 03:59 PM	#2941
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	eh, thanks. It isn't so much that I worry about what they are saying. I live in a city of millions and I'm licensed in other states as well. there are always more clients to uncover. It's really the stress of sitting with people, looking them in the eye, and telling them horrible truth. They can blame me or not blame me, but it doesn't change the fact that these people have watched their retirement dreams get flushed. it may be by their own decisions but the fact still remains they work for 30+ years with a reasonable expectation of a comfortable retirement. I now have to sit with them and explain that Yes, I know they are ready to make some changes now, but I've run the numbers dozens of different ways and the answer keeps coming back the same - they will outlive their money. It sounds cliche and ridiculous but people don't hire me to watch money - they hire me to ensure they reach life goals. I've been spending waaaaaay too much of my time over the last few months explaining to people that its time to come up with different goals because the old ones? not gonna happen. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

12-03-2008, 04:00 PM	#2942
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Think of all the people you did help, LO. The majority of clients that took some or all of your sound advice, and are consequently much better off than they would have been. You can't save people from themselves. ETA: the future's not guaranteed. You work hard, you do (mostly) the right thing, and guess what? Sometimes, life still sucks. Like getting diagnosed with cancer 6 months after your retirement... __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

12-03-2008, 05:44 PM	#2943
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	We've never gotten upset with our financial adviser (not sure if that's what you do but it sounds like it could be). Then again, we've done everything he's suggested, only adjusting a few times for the risk we were willing to accept under our current situation when he made the suggestions. I know he has more knowledge, both current and historical, than us. I don't know that he has the same conscience and sense of personal responsibility as you. Tell me again, in what states are you licensed? __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

12-03-2008, 06:03 PM	#2944
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	My aunt and uncle retired about 12 months ago. They're now worth 30% less than they thought they'd have to retire on. Fortunately they reckon they're going to outlive this crisis and end up being ok anyway. The good thing for them is they not only have shares as investments but they have realestate which they draw an income from. I guess it's always good to have a couple of different investments so you're not totally reliant on one income stream. People are just angry and afraid and upset as you know lookout. It's really not personal when everyone's in the same boat. These people have relied on your advice that's for sure, but they could have made different choices also. You're not responsible for the choices they've made in the end. You've only offered them choices. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

12-03-2008, 07:49 PM	#2946
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Get thee to the chemist! (and stay there till you're better lol) __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

12-03-2008, 07:45 PM	#2945
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	I haz a headache and thrush. Being a chick soooooooo rocks

12-04-2008, 09:35 AM	#2947
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	Busted water heater discovered as I entered the shower.... and they can't fix it till next week per Home Warrenty contractor... Bullshit I say... you want me to keep the home warrenty it will be fixed today...

12-04-2008, 09:38 AM	#2948
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Get 'em honey! Rip their balls off! help me get her all riled up, she's great at this stuff __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

12-04-2008, 10:02 AM	#2949
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	I called AHS back and said "You honestly expect me, my husband (who has to go to work every day... clean and well groomed), my two children for whom meal time is more of a contact sport than it is eating and a bath is absolutely required... you expect us to shower in freezing ass cold water duing the winter for 4 days? No... this is our ONLY hot water heater in our Only shower/ bath and there is a HUGE amount of water on my floor... the lenolium is pealing up and rolling over on itself, the wood is puffing and I just had 20K worth of foundation repair work done. No I cannot wait till tomorrow much less next week. I need it fixed today or I will call around and find a company who can fix it... and believe me if I have to pay for this out of my own pocket... I WILL CANCEL MY WARRENTY WITH YOU... you will NOT talk me out of it this time." The poor bastard on the other end of the phone said he'd bump it up to an emergency and they call me within 2 hours... so at this point they have 1 hour left to produce a solution before I cut them off and pay for a new water heater with my fucking credit card... I would have been able to buy one outright had I not been paying my monthly warrenty bill... the ONLY 3 reasons I've kept them... 1. the AC is 22 years old and bound to die soon, the Hotwater is 12, the huge double oven around which the kitchen was designed is 55 years old. They are supposed to replace if unrepairable. I 've just been afraid they die at a time when we couldn't manage to fix them on our dime. I haven't really slept in 3 days thanks to the little boy.... and dammnit all I wanted this morning was a hot shower to stand in for about an hour while I try to remind myself that he his just teething not trying to drive me insane.

12-04-2008, 10:30 AM	#2951
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I've never heard a positive story regarding home warranties. I think they are a scam. I hope you prove me wrong.

12-04-2008, 10:40 AM	#2952
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	All warranties are a scam. Rule #1 never bet against the house because the house always wins. All that money you pay monthly could be going towards new appliances. When the 55 year old stove craps out and they have to replace it will it be replaced with a $100. Roper or a $5500 Vulcan? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

12-04-2008, 10:42 AM	#2953
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	AHS did replace the hot water heater and AC unit on my first house. Slow and inefficient but saved me a bunch of money. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

12-04-2008, 10:52 AM	#2954
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	We recently put up an expensive fence to keep the neighbor's big bozo dogs from bounding into our yard and terrorizing our softy dog (she likes other dogs, but dogs with manners - a heritage from her show career) and so she and our new dog could play outdoors. We did not fence the lake side of the yard, thinking that a 50" high fence around 3 sides would cause them to roam elsewhere. There were just in my yard, minutes after the pups and I came in. Grrrr! The dogs are just big, clumsy, energetic oafs who like to splash in the lake (one is a lab) but hey! The potential death/injury to my own dogs in their own fenced yard is real. Maybe I'll ask Santa Claus for a pet lion. Or shark. Yeah, that's the ticket. __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

12-04-2008, 11:08 AM	#2955
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	SW... I can understand your fear. That is exactly... well minus the water... reason we didn't buy a house 2 streets over ( which actually, save that issue would have been a better choice for us) the neighbor next door had Akitas and they were known to break loose and kill other enighbor dogs... with a baby on the way that senerio didn't sit well with us. The neighborhood was taking the dog owner to court, but had tried before with no positive results. It is difficult to control others... even harder ... their dogs.

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