Planner’s rate of return unrealistic

Financial planner Brent Kessel’s statement about the $1.7-million nest egg has no foundation in reality. From where does he get the moderately risky 8.8% return on this investment at this time? (“Tough problem: What to do with a $1.7-million nest egg?,” Money Makeover, March 16.)

In the same business section, there are no such positive figures as Kessel fantasizes about in his assessment of the Haibachs’ financial situation. The major stock indexes have posted double-digit percentage declines since last year.

Franz O. Gerich

Long Beach