By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

There are many things that can yield happiness during retirement: grandchildren, free time, long-awaited travel, and afternoons on the golf course or lunch with friends. But without financial security, it can be more difficult to truly enjoy your "freedom years."

According to Tracy Dellaria, a retirement counselor at Sedgebrook, in Lincolnshire, one of the most important financial considerations for older adults is being able to avoid unexpected expenses and protect your nest egg with solid, guaranteed investments.

Avoiding unexpected expenses
For example, Dellaria says, Sedgebrook’s fixed monthly service package, which includes all household expenses, utilities, and one meal a day, better enables residents to prepare for their futures.

"All the utilities, basic cable, and all the maintenance are included in one monthly fee," Dellaria says. "So if a plumbing issue arises or if an appliance breaks or the heat needs to be cranked up, they still pay the same amount each month, rather than it fluctuating as it would if they owned a house."

Dellaria says most people find that the all-inclusive monthly service package is very affordable. And recently, to make the Erickson retirement lifestyle attainable for even more people, Sedgebrook reduced the cost of the monthly service package.

"I don’t know of any homeowner or other community that can say their monthly expenses have come down," Dellaria says.

Protect your nest egg
Another feature that draws financially savvy retirees to the community is the 100% refundable entrance deposit, Dellaria says. People have worked hard to build their nest eggs, and Dellaria says they want to know their money will be safe.

The 100% refundable entrance deposit achieves something few investments can promise these days—a guaranteed return.

"Other communities only give back a portion," Dellaria says. "Our residents like that they are preserving their estate for their heirs."