Starting Sept. 16th: `Retire with Confidence’ at NIU Naperville

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Popularized in lyrics by John Lennon, that observation proves to be all too true for many people. In or near retirement, they find themselves without clarity on how to approach the rest of their years—a period that increasingly is measured in multiple decades.

Acutely aware of that scenario through a career advising retirees, Dr. Jim Flanagan this month brings a wide-ranging course called “Retire with Confidence” to NIU Naperville, 1120 E. Diehl Road.

Designed for people 50 to 70 years old who are in or nearing retirement, “Retire with Confidence” is offered as a one-day Retirement Readiness Boot Camp or a two-part session.

The one-day Boot Camp is available first from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 18. A separate one-day Boot Camp will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 25. Those opting for a two-part approach can attend 6 to 9 p.m. sessions on back-to-back Thursdays: September 16th and September 23rd.

Among other topics, Flanagan will cover maximizing your Social Security benefits and help you gauge your financial preparedness and planning through self-assessments that he administers.

Estate planning, Independent Retirement Accounts (IRAs), income planning and investment management are also part of the curriculum. Flanagan is a longtime adjunct instructor at Triton Community College in River Grove and is an adjunct professor at Concordia University Chicago where he teaches gerontology.

“This course is for people who want practical, accurate knowledge, not the same old Wall Street myths to retirement planning,” said Flanagan. “Retire with Confidence provides a straightforward approach to managing the risks and opportunities that come at this crucial stage of life. People want to know how much money they need to retire comfortably, and there are no cookie-cutter answers.”

Anyone who is within a decade of retiring, or has already retired, is an excellent candidate for the course. The information shared will help students learn how to pay less in taxes, manage planning risks and create the income stream desired in retirement.

Flanagan is author of “Packing for Retirement: A Practical Guide to Prepare for Retirement at Any Age”, which offers a comprehensive overview of the myriad facets of retirement planning. All who enroll in “Retire with Confidence” will receive a complimentary copy of the book.

The founder of Downers Grove-based Bentron Financial Group, Flanagan has provided financial guidance to people at or near retirement age for over 30 years. In that time, he has become a nationally recognized expert on financial issues impacting older adults and late-life transitions. In 2001, building on his 15 years in the financial services field and his knowledge of risk management, financial planning and business succession planning, he formed Bentron.

In 2005, Flanagan joined the Oak Park/River Forest Township Senior Services Committee, for which he has served as chairman since 2008. In 2010, he founded the Celebrating Seniors Coalition, a not-for-profit organization that, among other services, helps seniors with emergency needs and raises public awareness of issues affecting seniors in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.

Tuition for “Retire with Confidence” is $79 or $99 with two workbooks. Spouses may attend at no additional charge. To register, visit https://bentron.com/retirewithconfidence-niu/. Anyone with questions can contact Rochelle Stephens at 630-505-8375 or rstephens@bentron.com.

Bentron Financial Group is online at www.bentron.com.