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Have you ever wondered how Bob and Eileen² got such a nice house, went on that great trip to the Far East with their whole family in tow, and seemed to always drive a nice SUV? Their neighbors may have thought, “John Deere^TM must pay their engineers a fortune!” (Average salary is actually around $84,000.³) In fact, it wasn’t until the most recent years that Bob earned a salary over $100,000. Let’s open up the financial story of this Cedar Valley couple – including the numbers – and look inside. Read on for a reveal of what solutions may be available.

“Never wish away the now.” That’s how Carol and Marty ² take on each stage of their lives, through the many challenges and chances it has brought. Let’s pick up Carol and Marty’s story after their kids have all but vacated the family home for lives of their own. As background, Marty is a 55-year-old supervisor with a labor grade of 9 at John Deere^TM. He is married to Carol, a high school Math teacher who returned to the workforce recently after investing almost two decades raising their children.

I’m Justin, a 28-year-old John Deere^TM employee who wants to be retired. ² My folks would describe me as adventurous, but I like to think of myself as just enjoying life – in interesting places! Anyway, my parents really only have themselves to blame. We have always traveled for our annual family vacations; a cabin in northern Minnesota, the Grand Canyon, and NYC were all favorite memories of mine. One of the reasons I took my backpacking trip after college was to check a few European cities off my bucket list.

I’m Ryan Shaw, Investment Advisor Representative at Financial Resource Advisors (FRA) of Waterloo. I meet young professionals like ‘Justin’ as a regular part of my advising work. He represents a generation with a very clear vision of its goals, but financial ones may not be primary. Join us as we explore the things that our fictional Millennial has done well (written in black) – and areas where improvement could make a big difference in his financial future from my perspective (in blue). ⁴

I’m a 50-something, skilled tradesman with about 20 years seniority at John Deere^TM Engine Works in Waterloo. I won’t tell you my pay level, but I probably earn more in a year than my father did in a decade. I’m a UAW member. ⁵

¹ This hypothetical couple is presented as a story and case study to educate and illustrate. The actions and examples reflect a composite of Financial Resource Advisors’ (FRA) experiences over many years serving clients’ needs and objectives. The advisory processes and strategies demonstrate solutions to common issues many people encounter along their financial journey. The objectives for this article are two-fold; to help the reader learn from the stories shared and to know that FRA welcomes the opportunity to discuss their needs and the benefits of professional advice.

² We have chosen to write this article partially in story form. Stories teach lessons in an interesting and engaging way. They hold attention while conveying ideas. We have called the two main characters Bob and Eileen, Carol and Marty, but those names were chosen randomly. Paragraphs involving our fictional husband and wife have been set off in italics. Any resemblance to the financial journeys of real people is purely coincidental. 

³ The typical John Deere^TM Engineer salary is $83,979. Engineer salaries at John Deere^TM can range from $67,499 - $96,160. This estimate is based upon 25 John Deere^TM Engineer salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/John-Deere-Engineer-Salaries-E195_D_KO11,19.htm 11/6/20

⁴ It is generally accepted that people born during a period in our society share common experiences, attitudes, habits, and buying preferences. For this article, we highlight a representative of the Millennial Generation. Here are the birth years for each labeled generation: Gen Z, iGen, or Centennials: Born 1996 – TBD; Millennials or Gen Y: Born 1977 – 1995; Generation X: Born 1965 – 1976; Baby Boomers: Born 1946 – 1964; Traditionalists or Silent Generation: Born 1945 or before.

⁵ United Auto Workers (UAW)

Financial Resource Advisors (FRA) does not claim any legal or binding relationship with John Deere^TM. Deere has not reviewed FRA's case study materials nor do they endorse any independent financial advisory firm. Any reference to John Deere^TM, its policies, or fictional workers are made for educational purposes only.

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