Piper on the economic downturn

I received my annual mutual fund statement recently--ouch! If your investments are like mine you may be faced with re-thinking your future plans. Here's a great perspective to keep you from getting down.

My future according to financial advisors

A financial advisor has been after me for months to start an IRA for Kristin. We spoke on the phone again today and he asked, "what will you live on when you retire?" and other worrisome questions.

Ironically, another financial advisor spoke with Kristin and me just a couple of days ago. He is a lot less smooth than the first one and is aware that we have been contemplating another IRA. Thinking of the future that the first financial advisor envisions for us, this is what he had to say about it, "Weep. You have laid up treasures in the last days. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence."

The future these two financial advisors paint couldn't be more different. We want to believe the first without rejecting the second, but how is that even possible?