“You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Perhaps there’s more truth to this saying than we want to admit. This year has been tumultuous, with markets declining and interest rates increasing. Were we all soothsayers, we would be rich beyond our dreams. But we aren’t. And it’s disingenuous to think about the money we could have made when interest rates increase, forgetting what we could have potentially lost if we’d taken more risks.  If we’re honest with ourselves, the idea of “risk vs. reward” necessitates an examination of both sides of that equation. As a senior, you must

We’ve spoken in the past about the benefits of saving money for retirement by having automatic transfers from your checking account into a savings account. But, what is often forgotten is that workplace retirement account when you leave one job and move on to another. If you leave a job, consider “rolling” the money from the former employer’s plan into a different retirement account or other product. There are some options out there that can enable your money to grow tax-deferred, coupled with the ability to acquire an income you can’t outlive.  Call us, we can help walk you through

One potential way to save money consistently is to arrange automatic transfers from your checking to your savings account on paydays. This idea can be also applied to RMDs as we get older. While we may be forced to take required minimum distributions out of qualified accounts, there are no restrictions on how you choose to use that money. One idea we’ve discussed with clients is re-saving those funds by depositing them into non-qualified accounts. Call us. We’d be happy to explain how this play can increase your savings. We’re always here to help.

Sometimes it’s best to start with the basic steps when planning for retirement. Are you contributing enough to your 401(k) to get your company’s full employee match? Have you paid off any high-interest-rate debt you may be carrying? Eliminating a monthly credit card or auto loan with a high-interest payment may enable you to save more money than you think. Do you have an “emergency fund” of extra money? This is important, as with this money set aside, you won’t have to dip into your retirement savings if you need cash in a hurry. Once you’ve handled debts and created

The five years before you retire and the next five after retirement are among the most important and vulnerable for a retiree’s savings. The reasoning is that, as you approach retirement, there are far fewer years left to correct or recover from a mistake. The consequence of a misstep during this time can affect your quality of life in retirement, and the likelihood that you’ll have enough to last the rest of your lifetime. If retirement is fast approaching for you, or even already here, you want to make sure you have everything figured out. Reach out to us, we

We frequently receive inquiries regarding who the beneficiaries should be for the financial products we recommend. And, if the division among multiple beneficiaries should be equal. This brings up an interesting point.  When making this decision, people sometimes place descriptions on their offspring that relate to their current needs or proclivities. What we sometimes forget to think about is that time often changes people and their circumstances. Your son or daughter that is currently employed and financially stable may in the future not be. Meanwhile, the one that historically hasn’t been on the same fiscal page as we are may

There may be a gap between how much you spend and how much you think you spend. This gap should be factored in when trying to determine how much you’ll need in retirement: Probably more than you think. It’s natural to not want to think about this: It can be disconcerting to see what you spend on those one-off purchases that you rationalize in the moment, but don’t factor into future consequences. Call us. We can help you navigate your options to fill this gap and have enough to retire comfortably. 

Have you ever reflected on the fact that frequently, the final years of your full-time career often coincide with your peak income? However, as your earnings increase, so can your expenses. And if you’re not saving at the same rate, it could be difficult to sustain your lifestyle in retirement.  The reason for this is that many individuals who are not yet retired assume they will need less income in retirement, because the ‘expense’ of saving will no longer be there. They neglect to realize that not only will some expenses increase in retirement, for example, healthcare, but so will