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Retirement Planning Made Simple: A Friendly Guide to What Matters Most

Retirement planning does not have to feel like a giant spreadsheet that bites back. For most families, the real goal is simpler: know what you have, know what you need, and make a plan that lets you sleep a little easier at night. A lot of folks put off retirement planning because it sounds bigger and more complicated than it really is. But the truth is, retirement planning is mostly about answering a few plain-English questions: How much money will come in? How much will go out? And how do you make those two things play nicely together for the long haul?

Financial Planning for Retirement: A Friendly Guide for People 50 and Older

National surveys keep finding the same thing: a lot of people are unsure if they’re on track for retirement. In recent Federal Reserve reports on household well‑being, only about one‑third of non‑retirees say their retirement savings are on track, even though most retirees say they’re doing at least “okay” financially. That gap between “I hope we’ll be okay” and “I know the numbers” is where a simple retirement plan can make a big difference.

Health: The Most Underrated Investment You’ll Ever Make

If someone offered you an investment that improved your energy, lowered your stress, boosted your confidence, reduced future costs, and made your retirement years way more enjoyable… you’d at least hear them out, right? Good news: that investment exists. Bad news: it doesn’t come with a ticker symbol. It’s your health. Health is one of the most talked-about things in the world—and somehow still one of the most overlooked when it comes to long-term planning. We talk about eating better “someday.” Exercising more “after things slow down.” Managing stress “once life settles.” (Spoiler alert: life does not settle. It just changes outfits.)

Moving During Retirement

Some people stay in place when they retire, while others buy a second home or relocate entirely. If you’re thinking of buying a new home, should you plan the purchase before you stop working, or is it possible to get to a mortgage after you’re retired? Plenty of retirees can qualify for a mortgage while on a fixed income, but it can be more difficult. It’s easier if you’re looking to buy a primary residence, as a vacation home could be more of a challenge if you still have a mortgage on your main home.

Midyear Market Outlooks

In its midyear review, market analysts at Charles Schwab say that economic growth in the United States may have peaked in the second quarter of this year. They also note that the rollout of Europe’s largest-ever stimulus plan should aid growth and the region still has some way to go before peaking — meaning eurozone stocks could deliver further gains.

Retirement Withdrawal Strategies

As hard as retirement saving and investing may seem, that’s the easy part. The real challenge is figuring out how to make your accumulated savings last throughout your and your spouse’s retirements. You need a strategy, and it’s best to have that strategy developed before retirement begins.

How Infrastructure Spending Affects Municipal Bonds

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the 10-year tab to meet the country’s basic infrastructure needs is about $6 trillion. The report, published in March, includes $125 billion needed for bridge repairs, $435 billion for roads, and $176 billion for the nation’s transportation systems. Today, two-thirds of infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, highways, and airports are financed by municipal bonds.

How to Plan for Old Age

Thelma Sutcliffe turned 114 years old in April, making her the oldest living American and the seventh-oldest person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group. The Omaha, Nebraska, resident attributes her relative good health and longevity to the fact that she never had children, never smoked, and made it a habit not to worry. It’s also a good idea to establish a plan that provides a confident retirement.

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Th Top 10 Things to Consider When Preparing For Your Retirement Guide

Top 10 Actions When Preparing For Retirement

Planning for retirement income may seem like a daunting task, but can help you get a handle on preparing for your financial future.

Retirement Planning Made Simple: A Friendly Guide to What Matters Most

Retirement planning does not have to feel like a giant spreadsheet that bites back. For most families, the real goal is simpler: know what you have, know what you need, and make a plan that lets you sleep a little easier at night. A lot of folks put off retirement planning because it sounds bigger and more complicated than it really is. But the truth is, retirement planning is mostly about answering a few plain-English questions: How much money will come in? How much will go out? And how do you make those two things play nicely together for the long haul?

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Sustainably Investing in Our Future

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

While extreme weather events typically affect only certain parts of the country, there is increasing concern that climate change will affect the overall economy – including our investment portfolios. For this reason, the federal government is making composition changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement plan for federal employees. The TSP currently holds more than $762 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

Market Thoughts: Looking Ahead and Abroad

The mid-year U.S. economic recovery numbers look strong. On Wall Street, analysts predict that our economy will expand by trillions of dollars and create 2 million good-paying jobs throughout the next 10 years. However, despite nearly 1 million jobs reported in July alone, the White House cautioned that the resurgence in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated Americans could set us up for an economic relapse in the remainder of the year. While the U.S. lags in vaccination numbers, other countries are starting to pick up the pace.

Young People: Who Said You Have to Be Wealthy to Invest?

Young People: Who Said You Have to Be Wealthy to Invest?

Young adults have weathered difficult times the past two decades: mass school shootings, extreme weather conditions, student loan debt and a global pandemic. But now they’re witnessing an unprecedented job market, where even those with little to no work experience can dictate their own terms. It’s important that we steer our young adults to good saving and investing habits now, while they have the capacity to earn increased income. This job market may not always be the reality, so it’s good to build a treasure chest when they have the opportunity.

Moving During Retirement

Moving During Retirement

Some people stay in place when they retire, while others buy a second home or relocate entirely. If you’re thinking of buying a new home, should you plan the purchase before you stop working, or is it possible to get to a mortgage after you’re retired? Plenty of retirees can qualify for a mortgage while on a fixed income, but it can be more difficult. It’s easier if you’re looking to buy a primary residence, as a vacation home could be more of a challenge if you still have a mortgage on your main home.

Midyear Market Outlooks

Midyear Market Outlooks

In its midyear review, market analysts at Charles Schwab say that economic growth in the United States may have peaked in the second quarter of this year. They also note that the rollout of Europe’s largest-ever stimulus plan should aid growth and the region still has some way to go before peaking — meaning eurozone stocks could deliver further gains.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Retirement Planning Made Simple: A Friendly Guide to What Matters Most

Retirement planning does not have to feel like a giant spreadsheet that bites back. For most families, the real goal is simpler: know what you have, know what you need, and make a plan that lets you sleep a little easier at night. A lot of folks put off retirement planning because it sounds bigger and more complicated than it really is. But the truth is, retirement planning is mostly about answering a few plain-English questions: How much money will come in? How much will go out? And how do you make those two things play nicely together for the long haul?

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How to Evaluate a Stock

How to Evaluate a Stock

There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

While extreme weather events typically affect only certain parts of the country, there is increasing concern that climate change will affect the overall economy – including our investment portfolios. For this reason, the federal government is making composition changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement plan for federal employees. The TSP currently holds more than $762 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

Sustainably Investing in Our Future

Market Thoughts: Looking Ahead and Abroad

The mid-year U.S. economic recovery numbers look strong. On Wall Street, analysts predict that our economy will expand by trillions of dollars and create 2 million good-paying jobs throughout the next 10 years. However, despite nearly 1 million jobs reported in July alone, the White House cautioned that the resurgence in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated Americans could set us up for an economic relapse in the remainder of the year. While the U.S. lags in vaccination numbers, other countries are starting to pick up the pace.

Young People: Who Said You Have to Be Wealthy to Invest?

Young People: Who Said You Have to Be Wealthy to Invest?

Young adults have weathered difficult times the past two decades: mass school shootings, extreme weather conditions, student loan debt and a global pandemic. But now they’re witnessing an unprecedented job market, where even those with little to no work experience can dictate their own terms. It’s important that we steer our young adults to good saving and investing habits now, while they have the capacity to earn increased income. This job market may not always be the reality, so it’s good to build a treasure chest when they have the opportunity.

Moving During Retirement

Moving During Retirement

Some people stay in place when they retire, while others buy a second home or relocate entirely. If you’re thinking of buying a new home, should you plan the purchase before you stop working, or is it possible to get to a mortgage after you’re retired? Plenty of retirees can qualify for a mortgage while on a fixed income, but it can be more difficult. It’s easier if you’re looking to buy a primary residence, as a vacation home could be more of a challenge if you still have a mortgage on your main home.

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