Wait…That doesn’t sound right! Retirement years are supposed to be “the easy years,” right? There is a saying (paraphrased) that states that what messes up most in life is the picture in our head of how things are supposed to be. Retirement is a prime example of this. We assume that if we work hard,… Read more
For many Americans, putting money back into a retirement account such as a 401(k) or traditional IRA has been their primary choice to save for retirement. After all, most company plans offer some sort of matching incentive based on what you contribute and your contributions are deducted from your taxable income. In fact, you may… Read more
Everything is so expensive! Can I still retire? For most of the last 30 years, we Americans have lived in a bubble where no one really understood first-hand what inflation was. There were a couple years from 1991-2020 that the cost of living increased by over 4%, but for most of these years the cost… Read more
Recently I was speaking with a client about how important it is to take preventative measures in regard to health – eating right, exercising, and taking the right supplements. People are living longer than ever before, but that doesn’t mean we are living healthier than ever before, which can prove to be a double whammy.… Read more
The word “guarantee” most often breeds two responses— Sigh of relief…Safety Is this too good to be true??? I think it’s safe to say that anyone facing imminent retirement today or anyone who has been retired for quite some time would tell you that they would love to see the success of their retirement guaranteed.… Read more
Across most of the world, our American work ethic is perceived as crazy. There was an article in Business Insider called, 11 American Work Habits Other Countries Avoid at All Costs.1. It named these: Crazy long hours Very little vacation time Not enough family leave Americans eat at their desk Breaks during the day are… Read more
Over the weekend, I read commentary around a new book by a gentleman named Bill Perkins. The book is called “Die with Zero,” and the premises is just that—you don’t get to take it with you, so you need to enjoy it and attain fulfillment. This fulfillment, Perkins states, may include giving money to your… Read more
What is a fiduciary? A person or organization that acts on behalf of another person, putting their clients’ interests ahead of their own, with a duty to preserve good faith and trust. Being a fiduciary thus requires being bound both legally and ethically to act in the other’s best interests. –Investopedia.com With retirement plans, there… Read more
There is nothing like waking up on a Monday morning…and taking a look at our national debt. That certainly ought to get your juices going, so let’s take a good look: Are you aware that as of September 2023, it costs 879 billion dollars to simply maintain our debt each year? This is 14% of… Read more
Let’s face it, inflation hurts. You may be buying a little less these days…or not, and just spending more. You may be performing a tango between the two. No matter, if you are breathing and spending your own money then chances are you’re starting to see the effects of inflation on your lifestyle. I heard… Read more
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