As we age, we are increasingly confronted by those younger who insist on pointing out “things have changed,” and they, as part of the younger generation (which they take pride in telling us we are not), know a better way to go about planning for the future than we do. While certainly, there are new ideas out there all the time, the wisdom we have acquired through experience, hard work, and staying true to our core values brings more to the table than youth. Keep that in mind as you approach retirement. The need for safety in our savings only

While there is no way of predicting how things will play out in the financial markets in the coming months, allowing yourself to become distracted and unsettled by volatility will likely lead to rash decisions that can disrupt your well thought out long-term plans. Instead, stay focused on what you can control. This means sticking to your plan of making sure a portion of your money is safe from the volatility around you. Call us. We can work with you to make that happen. We’re always here to help.

We all want to eventually retire, and a dream for many would be to retire rich. Choosing when is the best time to retire is one of life’s big decisions, and one that requires thought before taking the plunge. While financial markets should never be the main driver behind this decision, they inevitably can have a huge impact. Call us if you are trying to determine if now is the best time. We’re always here to help.

After years of diligent saving, many retirees become unsettled by the volatility in the markets, along with the risk of the unknown. The free-floating anxiety that exists when questions like when should you start withdrawing funds, how much is too much, will you have enough money to cover unexpected expenses, what if you outlive your savings, etc, are asked, all give rise to legitimate concerns. Call us for guidance on options that may help alleviate some of these concerns in a way where income can be guaranteed, and where that income will continue and can’t be outlived. We’re always here

Uncertainty continues to be the only constant, and volatility is likely to continue as the market reacts to the changing trade landscape. While that can be nerve-racking, our position has always been one of prudence and remaining resilient when mitigating the risk of you losing your hard-earned retirement savings. We believe that will continue to be key to success in helping you stay more financially tranquil in the coming months. Call if you are looking for guidance as you plan ahead. We’re always here to help.

We all know that it is not uncommon for one spouse to be the primary decision-maker when it comes to managing a couple’s money. But this approach can have consequences. One major consequence is if the spouse with the hold on the couple’s financial situation becomes incapacitated or dies, the other spouse may find themselves adrift financially as well as emotionally. It goes beyond that – often times if the surviving spouse doesn’t understand why certain financial decisions were made they will turn to their adult children for an explanation, and those children may jump to the erroneous conclusion that

We often speak with individuals who provide us with calculations for our retirement income, which calculations are based on various assumptions, from asset allocation to market projections to future returns that may turn out to be wrong. Assumptions are only ever indicative or directional, and while a valuable exercise, a retirement strategy based on these types of assumptions looks a lot better on a spreadsheet than in real life. The problem is, if the assumptions are wrong, oftentimes there is no time to even try to undo the damage. So what do you do if you want a retirement income

We frequently receive inquiries from family members of decedent owners of various insurance products where there is a disconnect between their impression of who the owner of the policy wanted to be a beneficiary, and who, in fact, ended up becoming the beneficiary. So, we thought to address that topic briefly in this commentary.  While you should always consult your personal attorney for legal questions, from a very general standpoint, the beneficiary of assets in retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and life insurance payouts are typically identified in the product documents. These designations supersede any conflicting instructions in your

No, you’re probably not imagining it. 69% percent of Americans surveyed by Lending Tree in 2023 reported they’d paid an extra fee when using a credit card for a purchase. A smaller, more recent survey by WalletHub put that figure at 79%, with 85% of the participants saying that credit card charges made them feel “nickel-and-dimed”.  It isn’t just the additional credit card fees that are being tacked on, many are also reporting that their annual fee for just having that credit card has also increased, sometimes without them even realizing it. We suggest you make a note in your

Have you heard this phrase? It is often used to refer to the anxiety and stress that people feel in the years leading up to retirement. While it is common to feel a sense of stress with any major change, many feel a higher level of anxiety as they approach retirement due to the various unknowns. This may include not knowing your longevity, what your future health needs will be, or if those family members close to you will experience their own change that requires your assistance. We may be able to help you reduce that anxiety by helping you