Deciding When to Take Social Security
One of the most common questions people ask about Social Security is when they should start taking benefits. Making the right decision for you can have a meaningful impact on your financial income in retirement. Before considering how personal circumstances … Read more…
The Sequence of Returns
What exactly is the “sequence of returns”? The phrase describes the yearly variation in an investment portfolio’s rate of return. But what kind of impact do these deviations from the average return have on a portfolio’s final value? Let’s take … Read more…
Generating income in a volatile, rising rate environment for retirees.
For the past 80+ years, investors have typically looked at bonds as a safe haven in their portfolio. There was an ideal that bonds and stocks move in opposite directions, and that bonds will never experience the same magnitude of … Read more…
What Is a Roth 401(k)?
While many people are familiar with the benefits of traditional 401(k) plans, others are not as acquainted with Roth 401(k)s. Since January 1, 2006, employers have been allowed to offer workers access to Roth 401(k) plans. And starting in 2023, … Read more…
Mortgages in Retirement
Anyone who has gone through the process of mapping out their retirement knows there can be a lot to keep in mind. Saving, investing, anticipating medical costs, and making sure you have enough tucked away for years to come is … Read more…
Emotions and your portfolio
2022 has most likely been a difficult year in your portfolio. As of December 8th 2022, the S&P 500 is down nearly 18%, while the US Bond index (AGG) is down nearly 15%. During these periods of volatility, it is … Read more…
A Checklist for When a Spouse or Parent Passes
When you lose a spouse, partner, or parent, the grief can be overwhelming. In the midst of that grief, life goes on. There are arrangements to be made, things to be taken care of – and in recognition of this … Read more…
Managing the Risk of Outliving Your Money
“What is your greatest retirement fear?” If you ask some pre-retirees this question, “outliving my money” may be one of the top answers. In fact, 42% of workers say they fear outliving their savings and investments.1 Retirees face greater “longevity … Read more…
How Retirement Spending Changes with Time
New retirees sometimes worry that they are spending too much, too soon. Should they scale back? Are they at risk of outliving their money? This concern may be legitimate. Some households “live it up” and spend more than they anticipate … Read more…
