Anyone attended a retirement planning dinner?

[gmi3804]

In this case it looks like there is a fixed menu with a choice of petite filet mignon, wild alaskan salmon filet, or garlic butter chicken. All are accompanied by a house salad. All those items are on the restaurants menu, $68, $48, $38 and $19 for the salad.

Another thing to consider. You’re not getting the menu versions of those items. They’re serving their “banquet” portions/platings, which are usually pretty dismal, so you’re not getting near what the usual restaurant experience is like. I would not choose any of those items listed above if I were going on my own dime. So again, not worth my time.

 

[easyas123]

haha...no offense, but I wouldn't want to go on a 4-5 day cruise that only cost me "a few $100 dinners"!

In all seriousness, IF you are genuinely interested in the material being presented then go. Otherwise don't waste your time or the time of the person putting it on.

Those type of presentations are a dime a dozen around here, along with funeral pre-planning dinners. I suspect a lot of lonely older folks may attend. Although I could be wrong I suppose...

 

[gmi3804]

haha...no offense, but I wouldn't want to go on a 4-5 day cruise that only cost me "a few $100 dinners"!

Right? We’re doing a 141-night World Cruise in 2027!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Never such anything like that advertised in Canada.

 

[kdonnel]

haha...no offense, but I wouldn't want to go on a 4-5 day cruise that only cost me "a few $100 dinners"!

I have managed some really great deals in the past.

My wife and I are taking a 4 day cruise in October that was $515 all in including gratuities. We wanted to visit Carnival’s new private destination Celebration Key and found a screaming deal on a cruise that goes there as well as Half Moon Cay.

We have sailed many different lines from extremes budget, Margaritaville, to high end main stream, Celebrity in The Retreat and many in between. We always have had a great time.

 

[kdonnel]

Right? We’re doing a 141-night World Cruise in 2027!

Sounds fun.

The longest I have done is 14 days. Not sure I could do more than 20-30 days.

Maybe I will learn techniques to stretch my money in retirement so I too can take a cruise for 1/3 of the year.

I confirmed for next Tuesday. Will report back after for those interested.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Noooooo, don't ever attend these kinds of dinners. So many of these "financial planners" are really selling products, primarily overpriced annuities with insane penalties. If you feel like you need assistance in financial planning, go to a fee only planner...and get a check up. If you really feel like you need assistance once you retire with the "decumulation phase" find a very good outfit that charges something in the 0.5%-0.75% range of your portfolio. I understand that not everyone is comfortable with that phase of retirement.

I get about 2-3 of those fliers a week...they all go into the circular file.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I have been wanting to try the restaurant, but not at their prices. But if my wife and I can eat there free while someone gives a presentation.....

As long as you really have the fortitude to walk away....yes them to death, and never call back....why not? But, it's a high-pressured sales deal. Around my parts...most of the restaurants where they hold those dinners....suck .

 

[robinb]

We get tons of those offers. My DH always talks about going to one but he is already retired and we work with a Wealth Advisor that works for the company that is handling our finances.

 

[kdonnel]

Noooooo, don't ever attend these kinds of dinners. So many of these "financial planners" are really selling products, primarily overpriced annuities with insane penalties. If you feel like you need assistance in financial planning, go to a fee only planner...and get a check up. If you really feel like you need assistance once you retire with the "decumulation phase" find a very good outfit that charges something in the 0.5%-0.75% range of your portfolio. I understand that not everyone is comfortable with that phase of retirement.

I get about 2-3 of those fliers a week...they all go into the circular file.

We already have a financial planner. This will be just for the cheap date night.

 

[MillauFr]

haha...no offense, but I wouldn't want to go on a 4-5 day cruise that only cost me "a few $100 dinners"!

In all seriousness, IF you are genuinely interested in the material being presented then go. Otherwise don't waste your time or the time of the person putting it on.

Why do you care if you are wasting the presenter's time?

 

[dvcgirl67]

We already have a financial planner. This will be just for the cheap date night.

Hey...as I said above...if you really have the fortitude to resist...go for it. If there's a teeny tiny part of you that might fold...don't. Particularly now with frothy market values, talk of escalating inflation...on and on.

 

[MillauFr]

I'm sure I would be asked to leave as I would be babbling about getting free advice from Fidelity and various YouTubers. No reason for most people to pay for advice.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We get those offers all the time. We never go. On Bogleheads, they call the attendees with no interest in signing up, "plate-lickers". Mostly, they seem to sell annuities or insurance (whole life or long-term care). If you are interested in these items, you could do some research, including going to the dinner, and make an informed decisin.

We have a financial advisor that we're happy with. Every year, he treats his clients to an amazing dinner--last year, there was a lunch, as well. The dinner is in Dec., lunch was July. Anyway, no big pitch, no high pressure, just a nice meal with door prizes--we didn't win one last year, but I got the lovely floral centerpiece.

 

[tvguy]

My mom loved those dinners. She didn't have to cook that night, and she said she would have been sitting at home watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy anyway. I think she said she went to at least 12 before deciding on what Long Term Care coverage she wanted, and was able to harvest a lot of good information from them. And kept going after she purchased the coverage she wanted......not from any of the people who put on the seminars, but from her long time Financial Advisor. After buying it, she would ask at later dinners what options the host offered that were similar. None of them offered what she bought, a single premium, Long Term policy with a Life Insurance premium.

 

[DCL58]

We get those in the mail all the time. I recycle them all, but the one’s that offer dinner at Ruth Chris steakhouse are tempting. We have a financial planner already, so have no need for anyone else’s services.

 

[tvguy]

Another thing to consider. You’re not getting the menu versions of those items. They’re serving their “banquet” portions/platings, which are usually pretty dismal, so you’re not getting near what the usual restaurant experience is like. I would not choose any of those items listed above if I were going on my own dime. So again, not worth my time.

I have a friend who works at a Seafood restaurant that hosts a lot of those. They are a HUGE part of their marketing. Yes, they have a special menu, a smaller portion of grilled salmon in the case of his restaurant but they want to get people in so they come back and try their full price menu. They are always on what are slow nights, like Monday or Tuesday, nights. Around here some nice restaurants since the pandemic aren't even open those days, not enough business. But my friend says they break even on those dinners, and breaking even means covering the rent and other fixed costs for the night.