As an IBO, one of the things I heard over and again was that 98 percent of people will be dead or broke by the time they reach the age of 65. As a result of a recent Google search on this subject, it appears that, regrettably, over 10-11 percent of senior persons in the United States live in poverty. That is a sad figure, but it is a far cry from the claims made by certain uplines to their downline IBOs that everyone will be dead or broke by the time they reach retirement age. Some snippets from my research are provided below:
http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SeniorStats/2008/20080826-USSeniorCitizensInPoverty.htm
" The poverty rate for adults 65 and older and those 18 to 64 remained statistically stable at 9.7 percent and 10.9 percent, respectively, according to the Census Bureau. In 2006, the poverty rate for children under the age of 18 climbed from 17.4 percent to 18.0 percent. In 2007, the percentage jumped to 18.0 percent."
One of the reasons provided was that people are living longer lives, which means that their resources are depleting and they are forced to rely on social security or some other form of government help. It is true that there are a large number of people who are in this predicament; but, the question is: how might becoming an Amwa IBO help to change this condition?
Since the vast majority of independent business owners never make a profit, I struggle to see how you might avoid becoming a statistic by joining Amway. IBOs who "do nothing" earn an average of $115 a month in gross income, which includes crown ambassadors but does not include IBOs who "do everything." Dedicated Independent Business Owners (IBOs) who attend functions and acquire additional training materials are almost certain to incur a net loss.
I know a lot of retired individuals, and the most of them have paid off their mortgages and are living quite comfortably. My mother is 68 years old, has no mortgage, and receives social security income in addition to a pension. She is a single parent. She also has investments from which she can draw when the occasion arises. The couple travels many times a year with friends who are also retired and live a similar lifestyle to theirs. While there are some seniors who are struggling, the majority of seniors are content in their golden years.
So, why do uplines employ this strategy? I believe they are attempting to scare people into believing that the only way to make money is to join Amway and get a residual income. Unfortunately, most people find themselves with less time and money as a result of this. I'm hoping that by posting this post, people will begin to think about their retirement years. Save and invest, and consider working for a company that offers a retirement plan or pension to help you supplement your income during your golden years. As of right now, I am unable to advise you on the "optimal" approach to prepare for your retirement years; but, I hope that this piece may stimulate some discussion.
Wishing you the best of luck!
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