Planning Retirement

It’s happened. After a nearly unanimous passage in the U.S. House of Representatives, the SECURE Act (Setting Up Every Community for Retirement Enhancement Act) has become law. The legislation was “attached” to a bipartisan spending bill with the goal of avoiding another government shutdown. The president signed the SECURE Act into law on December 20th,…

Calculating how much income you will need for retirement isn’t necessarily an easy task. Your health expenses will probably increase, but your mortgage payments may decrease or stop. Meanwhile, other expenses might continue to change over time. Of course, you likely won’t have to deal with payroll taxes as much. Chances are you will also…

Ah, the holidays… an annual time of food, fellowship, and fun with family, friends, and loved ones. Everyone returns home and catches up on all of the family happenings over the past year. But the holidays can also be stressful and fast-paced, as people have cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and shopping to do.…

As an annuity owner, you take comfort in knowing that you have planned for an uninterrupted lifelong retirement income stream. Working alongside other income sources from your nest egg, it will pay out, like clockwork, to fund the retirement you have always imagined. But have you considered whether your income streams are as “efficient” as…

Today, Americans bear more financial responsibility for their retirement than ever. The days of receiving monthly pension checks are gradually fading. According to Willis Towers Watson, only 16% of Fortune 500 companies were offering pensions to new hires in 2017, down from 59% of firms in 1998. Defined-contribution plans like 401(k) accounts are taking their…

With new swells of Americans turning 65 each day, it’s one of the most-pressing questions in financial planning: How can I make my money last in retirement? Today’s retirees aren’t just sitting back. As they live longer, they are delving into new opportunities with full steam. Second-act careers. Entrepreneurship. Volunteering for personal causes. Cross-country tours.…

As 2019 begins, two new surveys suggest that both advisors and economists aren’t so optimistic about where the economy is headed. This kind of insight from industry experts is useful, but especially to those who are approaching retirement. Knowing what pundits and advisors believe could lie ahead, and exploring what action can be taken in…

With age comes wisdom – and apparently the ability to better handle unexpected expenses, according to the Society of Actuaries (SOA). In their recent study, the SOA analyzed financial risk management across generations. Chief among their findings? That “the ability to handle unforeseen expenses increases with age, peaking with Early Boomers and then declining for the Silent…

For skiing enthusiasts, the concept of ups-and-downs is quite exhilarating. Just the thought of cutting powder on tall, sloping moguls can make even the “hard cores” blush. But as recent market volatility reminds us, the goodwill doesn’t apply to ups-and-downs in every situation. Sometimes it can bring just the opposite. Earlier this month on Morningstar, Director of Personal…