Walter wants to retire within the next few years.
he's been working at the same company for over 15 years as an accountant.
During that time he's been saving his money and paying off his debts.
However, even with savings and investments, he isn't sure that he'll have enough money for retirement.
If he doesn't, he'll have to keep on working, which depends on the company.
For now, the company is ok, but it's no longer growing as fast as it used to.
Whether or not he can keep on working will also depend on his health.
Fortunately he is in good health, but he knows that that could change at any time.
If he fell down or had a stroke, it could force him to stop working.
If that happened, he would have to rely on his savings and other assets to survive.
Sooner or later, he knows his health will decline and he'll have to stop working.
So he needs to prepare.
Walter wants to retire within the next few years.
For now, the company is ok, but it's no longer growing as fast as it used to.
If he fell down or had a stroke, it could force him to stop working.
Most of his wealth is in the form of company stock and the value of his home.
Both of these are at risk.
A company's stock may go down and the value of his home may also fall.
The company he works for is a pharmaceutical company.
It develops new drugs, which is a risky business and sell them worldwide.
It's expensive to develop new drugs. And it can take a very long time to get a new drug approved.
Without government approval, it can't be sold, which can result in a huge loss.
Another threat to the company comes from foreign competition, which is getting stronger.
The company has also started to move some of its research and production facilities overseas.
Salary levels are lower there and the quality of foreign workers is getting better.
As a result, the company has reduced its local hiring and is no longer giving large bonuses.
One thing he is considering is to sell his shares in the company.
He could begin to sell a little at a time and reinvest the money somewhere else.
But where would we invest?
he doesn't know much about investing And several of his friends have lost a lot by making bad investments.
Investing in real estate or the stock market could be very risky.
A company's stock may go down and the value of his home may also fall.
Another threat to the company comes from foreign competition, which is getting stronger.
It has reduced its local hiring because salary levels are lower overseas.