Back to the Basics: When Should We Claim Social Security Benefits?
When approaching retirement, one of the big questions you may be considering is when to file for Social Security benefits. Because most people can claim and receive benefits as early as age 62, but each year that you wait earns a bump in pay for the rest of your life, the decision can be confusing and anxiety-inducing. And while it’s …
Back to the Basics: Key To Success
Key To Success: Get Organized Financially If you’ve ever witnessed or even participated in a catch-a-pig contest, it can be quite exciting. The chaos of watching – and hearing – little pigs trying to outrun little kids is truly something to behold. The pigs clearly don’t want to be caught while the kids enjoy what seems like an easter egg …
Back to the Basics: Why A Successful Retirement Starts with Income Planning
There are several questions that hopeful retirees are consistently asking as they seek to build a successful retirement. Some of these questions are: When can I retire? How much do we need? Will I have enough? What if there’s a major healthcare, stock market, or inflationary event that threatens what we’ve saved? While all of these questions are certainly different …
Back to the Basics: 10 Ways To Improve Your Family’s Future, Starting With You
I’m yet to meet somebody who doesn’t want a brighter future for his or her family. Let’s face it; changing other people to see your point of view isn’t easy. In fact, it’s nearly impossible. Because of that sobering reality, the best chance we have to improve our family’s future is to look inward and start improving ourselves. As Gandhi …
Back to the Basics: Financial Decision Making a Four-Year-Old Would Approve Of
I fear that we’re all victims. All too often, we’re victim to forces that surround us that are pushing us to act in ways that appear to be rational but lack something critical: a clear purpose. In the busy-ness of daily life, we act on instinct and sometimes in haste. I do it and I suspect you do too. It’s …
Back to the Basics: Proof and Belief
Money and Markets Beware: I’m going to get existential for a moment. I’ll be quick about it. Beginning in 2007 and through 2009, I found myself having a particular conversation about money with a lot of people. What started as a discussion of the happenings in the markets and economy became a journey into the historical role of gold and …
Back to the Basics: Inflation’s Effects on Your Retirement
The headlines are screaming, and the data is real: inflation is on the rise. In fact, we’re seeing higher rates of inflation now than we’ve seen in 40 years. Prices are going up and that can be a very scary reality for retirees. But how does that actually impact you? If you’re retired now or planning to retire soon, what …
Back to the Basics: The Forced Savings Solution
If you were to ask retirees what was the single biggest factor in their ability to retire, the answer might lie in the fact that they began saving early, saved consistently, and didn’t stop saving. Sure, some people have retirement saved for them, in the form of a pension, but the reality is that nobody lives off of their money …
Back to the Basics: Return Policy
As more and more shopping moves from brick-and-mortar stores to the internet, the risk of getting it wrong escalates. A pair of pants bought from a website, without trying them on first, is something that would have seemed insane 25 years ago. Will they even fit? I recall the back-to-school ritual of trying on jeans while seeking Mom’s approval (since …
Back to the Basics: The Choice Challenge In Retirement
The Choice Challenge In Retirement If you were to ask me what is my very favorite thing, I think I’d say it’s choice. I suppose it’s like declaring that freedom is good. The very ability to make choices with our time, money, relationships, careers…these all make life so much richer than the alternative, having few choices. An uncluttered view of …
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