Retirement has always been a tough undertaking but in today's tumultuous economy, it sometimes seems like an impossible task. There's no question that countless risks go hand in hand with retirement. However, even during a recession, you can manage these risks. Here are the top five most common retirement risks and the best ways to deal with them:

To embrace — and benefit from — change, follow these guidelines.
Unrelenting and increasingly rapid change demands that the insurance industry rapidly uncover new ways to evaluate and respond to its marketplace.
I’ve worked with many highly successful insurance companies and agencies, helping them achieve higher levels of profitability through more sales, customer and employee loyalty, and retention. However, in many of these organizations, management remained blind to the dire need to change, despite its apparent desire to achieve higher profits. Managers can’t see the compelling need to change from the ways that allowed the organization to be successful in the first place.

Through the years I have seen Life policy applications and agents' reports with erroneous information. You probably have, too. I don't mean judgment calls with room for honest disagreement; I mean downright wrong information. One of the most common untruths may be the statement that a new policy will not replace an existing policy, when in fact it will. The agent may save the trouble of bothering with replacement forms, but he or she also may be buying a big problem.

FUEL AND OIL DISTRIBUTORS - 'YOU ARE IMPORTANT' Dear (Customer Name): DO YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE? Millions of people rely on your services as a vital link in the nation's fuel d...

FULL ACCOUNT SELLING WE VALUE YOUR BUSINESS Dear (Customer Name), (Your Agency Name) is proud to have you as a customer. You've been with us for many years, and we've enjoyed w...

FURNITURE DEALERS - 'YOU DON'T JUST SELL FURNITURE' Dear (Customer Name): You don't just sell furniture. You may also offer antiques and curios. You may provide decorating services to your custo...

Dear (Customer Name), I would like to review four different areas of commercial insurance with you. First, you are aware of the tremendous rise in replacement...

GENERAL SOLICITATION - 'YOU CALL US' Dear (Customer Name): Customer service - We've built a business on it. As your insurance agent for ( ) years, we hope you've been pleased with the service we...

GENERAL SOLICITATION - NEW LIFE COVERAGES AVAILABLE Dear (Customer Name): Eighty percent of all assets people leave at death consist of Life insurance proceeds. Have you checked lately to ensure tha...

GEORGE, THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST by Chris Burand This object lesson shows how NOT to grow your agency. A few years ago, an agency principal let...