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Is Now a Good Time to Retire?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Is Now a Good Time to Retire? Here’s How to Decide Whenever someone says, “This time it’s different,” most of us instinctively raise an eyebrow. After all, a few decades of life experience teaches us that history tends to repeat itself. We’ve seen market crashes, recoveries, inflation, and political squabbles before. And yet, when it comes to retirement, this time truly can be different, …

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Forced Savings for Retirement Success

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

If you were to gather a group of retirees and ask them what single factor most contributed to their ability to retire successfully, you’d likely hear some variation of the same theme: “I started saving early, kept saving consistently, and didn’t stop.” It’s simple in theory but powerful in practice. And it’s rooted in one key principle that underlies nearly every …

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What Recent Retirees Tell Us About Retiring

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Here’s something surprising that we’ve noticed after many conversations with recent retirees: not a single one has told us that retirement is awful. That’s right – not once has someone said, “I regret retiring.” Instead, we hear about long-awaited trips, cherished time with grandkids, leisurely mornings, and household projects that may or may not get finished (but no one seems too …

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Client Corner: Kent and Karla

In Articles, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, SLC Summer 2025 by Scott Dougan

Retirement at 65 had always been our goal. We felt confident we were financially prepared and wouldn’t need to change our lifestyle. Still, it wasn’t until we sat down with Chris Cordova that we received the confirmation we needed to move forward with peace of mind. Thanks to Melissa Ceballos, Elevated Retirement’s Director of Talent and Business Acquisition, we connected …

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2025 Summer Newsletter: Salt Lake City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

As with most summers, my family and I have been busy, and mostly with baseball. We just got home after spending a week in Cooperstown, New York (upstate). Our son, Michael, played in the famous 12-year-olds-only national Cooperstown tournament. He, his teammates and us coaches got to stay in a bunkhouse together for a week at one of the most …

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A Retirement Plan Includes Long Term Care

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Long-term care is one of the most unpredictable and emotionally charged aspects of retirement planning. It’s also one of the most frequently overlooked, either because it’s uncomfortable to think about or because many people assume it won’t apply to them. But the truth is, nearly 70% of people over age 65 will require some form of long-term care during their …

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Your Personalized Retirement Plan

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Your Personalized Retirement Plan: Matching Your Money with Your Mindset When shopping for a new car or appliance, most people turn to a buyer’s guide to compare features, evaluate options, and feel more confident about their decision. So why shouldn’t retirement planning work the same way? While there’s no official guidebook for converting your life savings into lasting retirement income, …

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Team Corner: Farewell Fall Festival

In Articles: Kansas City Office, Summer 2025 by Scott Dougan

FAREWELL FALL FESTIVAL We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued trust and support. Over the years, our annual Fall Festival has been a highlight for us—a chance to connect, celebrate, support worthy causes and for us to show our appreciation for wonderful clients like you. After much consideration, we’ve made the decision to retire the Fall Festival …