Whether retirement feels like a distant goal or is fast approaching, staying aligned with key financial checkpoints can help you move forward with clarity and purpose. These steps act as a helpful framework to stay prepared, evaluate your strategy, and make informed decisions as you age.
Countdown to Retirement: Important Checkpoints
What to Consider Doing in a Down Market
The Reality of Market Downturns
Market downturns are not an "if," but a "when." Like the changing seasons, corrections and bear markets are an inevitable part of economic systems. However, downturns don’t necessarily warrant panic. For retirees and those planning to retire, staying calm, informed, and strategic may help in navigating financial turbulence.
Fact or Fiction? Debunking Social Security Myths
Social Security is important for millions of Americans as they plan for or enter retirement. Yet, despite its importance, there's no shortage of misconceptions about how the program works. These myths can lead to costly mistakes, leaving you with potentially less income in retirement than you could have. Here's the truth: understanding Social Security is key to making informed choices—and optimizing not only your benefits, but your overall income and tax plan, as well.
Meaningful Milestones: A Guide to Retirement
Retirement marks the transition to a new phase of life, offering opportunities for personal growth, freedom, and new experiences. However, creating a meaningful retirement often requires thoughtful planning, financial preparation, and a proactive mindset to explore life’s possibilities.
Financial Spring Cleaning Checklist for Retirees
Spring is the season of new beginnings, and being only a few months away, it'll be here before you know it. It’s when flowers bloom, closets get decluttered, and plans for brighter days take shape. But spring cleaning isn’t just for your home or garden—it’s also the perfect time to take a fresh look at your finances.
2025 Economic Trends: Know What to Navigate
As we progress through 2025, retirement planning remains a dynamic journey requiring careful attention to changing economic conditions. For retirees and those approaching retirement, understanding current economic trends is crucial for maintaining financial stability and making informed decisions.
Estate Planning in 2025: Your Guide to Keeping Your Plan Up-to-Date
The new year presents the perfect opportunity to refresh and recalibrate various aspects of our lives, with estate planning being a crucial area that demands attention. For retirees and those approaching retirement, this becomes even more critical as you work to protect and preserve the wealth you've built over decades of hard work. As we step into 2025, ensuring your estate plan aligns with recent changes in your financial landscape, family dynamics, and legal requirements is more important than ever.
Holiday Scams Guide: Essential Protection Tips for 2024
The holiday season transforms our world into a festive wonderland of twinkling lights and celebrations. Still, it also ushers in a wave of sophisticated scams targeting eager shoppers and generous donors. As we rush to find perfect gifts and support worthy causes, fraudsters are working overtime to exploit our holiday spirit. Understanding these threats and knowing how to protect yourself is crucial for maintaining your security—and your joy—throughout the season.
Risky Business: Aligning Risk With Reward in Retirement
When it comes to investing, one thing is crystal clear—aligning risk with reward is crucial, especially as retirement approaches. But here's the catch: your risk tolerance isn't static. It shifts and evolves as market conditions change and your personal circumstances adapt. If you’ve been riding a market rally lately, it might be time to pause and ask yourself a vital question—does your portfolio still match your comfort level and long-term goals?
Invest in Change: Smart Strategies for Meaningful Charitable Giving
Before You Give: Key Considerations
Giving back is incredibly rewarding, but ensuring your donation has a real, positive impact means taking a few preparatory steps. With holiday charity drives and end-of-year giving appeals, now is the perfect time to focus on giving effectively. Start by defining the causes that are meaningful to you. Is it environmental preservation, homelessness, or community programs? Knowing your priorities will help guide your choice of charities and ensure your funds make a difference.