Grim statistics on retirement age and life expectancy

[Joe]

However, bright and responsible parents do not necessarily produce bright and responsbile offspring, and I believe that it's also possible that
dumb and irresponsbile parents may have bright and responsible progeny.

Genetics is weird, and results aren't always as some might expect. Thus eugenics hasn't always worked in the past - perhaps fortunately.

In the same way that mongrel dogs and moggies are usually more healthy than pedigree breeds, a bit of a mixture is better than too much of the same. But it's all a huge gamble when all's said and done. As Sly Stone put it:

'One child grows up to be
Somebody who just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn'.

[Marco]

As for pensions, I learned fairly early in life (in my mid-20s) that paying into pension plans (either through work or privately) was largely a mug's game, as the main beneficiaries are almost always the companies making interest on your payments!

And if the pension company or business you've been paying funds into for years goes bust, before you retire or the policy is due to pay out - what happens to all the money you've invested...?

No, I decided early on that the best way of securing my future was to utilise my selling/entrepreneurial skills, and accrue assets through working hard and/or smart (largely from starting my own business, which fortunately was a success), which in future would have sufficient value to help fund my old age. That's why, among other things, I dabbled in the property market, by judiciously investing money into it, using some of the profits I'd made from my business.

Therefore, my 'pension' now (and Del's) is tied up in bricks and mortar: properties we bought at a good price when the market was less buoyant, have gained significant value since and now own outright, thus can sell when necessary.

My advice? Try and have a plan that secures your future, but which doesn't rely solely on influences out with of your control. Too many folks are born with skillsets that are never properly utilised, or to earn them a living, by turning what they're good at into cash, so years of their lives are wasted working for companies and making others money instead!

Always try and be as self-sufficient and in control of your life and destiny as possible, as more often than not it pays dividends

Marco.

[Sherwood]

No Probs ...



However, bright and responsible parents do not necessarily produce bright and responsbile offspring, and I believe that it's also possible that
dumb and irresponsbile parents may have bright and responsible progeny.

Genetics is weird, and results aren't always as some might expect. Thus eugenics hasn't always worked in the past - perhaps fortunately.

Sorry, I would say the Holocaust was pretty effective. Don't confuse talk about eugenics with being anti PC!I can't believe the point needs to be made here! Again

[Pigmy Pony]

In the same way that mongrel dogs and moggies are usually more healthy than pedigree breeds, a bit of a mixture is better than too much of the same. But it's all a huge gamble when all's said and done. As Sly Stone put it:

'One child grows up to be
Somebody who just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn'.

It's true that while parents play a big part in how their kids turn out, there are other factors - I have one daughter who says she never farts, and would never use the word "fart" anyway, while my other daughter taught her four year old nephew to burp the alphabet. Not sure which one takes after her dad.

[Pigmy Pony]

Sorry, I would say the Holocaust was pretty effective. Don't confuse talk about eugenics with being anti PC!I can't believe the point needs to be made here! Again

Well January is looking a bit light, topics-wise. So maybe a bit of recycling is in order.

[Joe]

It's true that while parents play a big part in how their kids turn out, there are other factors - I have one daughter who says she never farts, and would never use the word "fart" anyway, while my other daughter taught her four year old nephew to burp the alphabet. Not sure which one takes after her dad.

I have one daughter who loves horror films, the gorier the better, and another who faints at anything remotely scary. One only likes Metal music, the other can't stand it. One dresses almost exclusively in black, the other prefers bright colours. One is tidy to the point of OCD-ness, the other is extremely untidy. It's completely baffling.

[Pigmy Pony]

I have one daughter who loves horror films, the gorier the better, and another who faints at anything remotely scary. One only likes Metal music, the other can't stand it. One dresses almost exclusively in black, the other prefers bright colours. One is tidy to the point of OCD-ness, the other is extremely untidy. It's completely baffling.

You wouldn't want it any other way would you? And despite their differences no doubt they will grow up to be best friends, if they haven't already! While our kids may have wildly differing personalities, it's the morals, their sense of right and wrong, which are really important. And I think they mostly get that from their parents.

[struth]

its not so much about intelligence, although at extremes it plays a part, if doing the upbringing, but its more about care levels and love and leadership. its not guaranteed to produce a level headed child or adult but statistically, problem kids more often come from problem parents.

[willbewill]

As for pensions, I learned fairly early in life (in my mid-20s) that paying into pension plans (either through work or privately) was largely a mug's game, as the main beneficiaries are almost always the companies making interest on your earnings!

And if the pension company or business you've been paying funds into for years goes bust, before you retire or the policy is due to pay out - what happens to all the money you've invested...?

No, I decided early on that the best way of securing my future was to utilise my selling/entrepreneurial skills, and accrue assets through working hard and/or smart (largely from starting my own business, which fortunately was a success), which in future would have sufficient value to help fund my old age. That's why, among other things, I dabbled in the property market, by judiciously investing money into it, using some of the profits I'd made from my business.

Therefore, my 'pension' now (and Del's) is tied up in bricks and mortar: properties we bought at a good price when the market was less buoyant, have gained significant value since and now own outright, thus can sell when necessary.

My advice? Try and have a plan that secures your future, but which doesn't rely on the success or survival of outside influences. Too many folks are born with skillsets that are never properly utilised, or to earn them a living, by turning what they're good at into cash, so years of their lives are wasted working for companies and making others money instead!

Always try and be as self-sufficient and in control of your life and destiny as possible, as more often than not it pays dividends
Marco.

My way was different. For most of my working life I had a job that I loved, thankfully it was as a civil servant with a final salary pension scheme. So when the job morphed and became stressful and no fun I walked away with a reasonable, but not full, pension at 59 - over 5 years ago. I do a bit of part time self employed work when I feel like it on my own terms which helps pay for holidays etc.

But those schemes are no longer available.

[Pigmy Pony]

its not so much about intelligence, although at extremes it plays a part, if doing the upbringing, but its more about care levels and love and leadership. its not guaranteed to produce a level headed child or adult but statistically, problem kids more often come from problem parents.

As usual, Grant says what I'm thinking, but without the waffle I thinks kids during their formative years take their cues from their parents, and see the way they live as 'normal', whatever that may be. There, I'm waffling again.