Back to the Basics: Am I Going to Be Okay?
What every married couple should understand about widowhood, before it happens. Of all the questions people ask in the weeks after losing a spouse, one comes up more than any other. It isn’t about tax brackets or beneficiary forms. It’s said quietly, often with a little embarrassment: Am I going to be okay? It’s a fair question. And the honest …
Briefcase Study: The Call You Can’t Plan For
Long-term care almost never announces itself. It shows up as a phone call. Mom fell in the driveway. Dad got lost driving home from a church he’s attended for thirty years. The hospital is ready to discharge on Thursday, and they’re asking where he’s going. In one afternoon, a family with no plan is making permanent decisions on a deadline, …
The Cognitive Sweet Spot: Are You In It?
Cognitive changes and financial decision-making are not comfortable topics, but they are important for long-term planning, thus they deserve thoughtful discussion. A study from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College highlights a notable pattern: the cognitive “sweet spot” for making sound financial choices tends to occur in our mid-50s, followed by a more rapid decline in the years …
In the Face of Greater Technology, Embrace Analog
Technology moves at a breathtaking pace. A smartphone – the same device you habitually carry in your pocket – has transformed from a simple phone into a powerful tool for banking, scheduling, entertainment, and even everyday errands. It can order a pizza from a car in a cornfield without a single human voice. Impressive? Yes. Comforting? Not always. Yet the …
Active or Passive Investing – What’s Your Plan?
Forecasting markets remains one of the oldest and most debated topics in finance. I’d like to pose a few questions aloud, not as a cheat sheet of statistics or charts, but as prompts for thoughtful reflection during those quiet moments we all treasure. How good are individuals and institutions at predicting the markets, really? The short answer, as many studies …
Running a Retirement Marathon
Getting To Retirement is a Marathon, But Do You Even Know How To Run? Running is something most of us do instinctively…until we don’t. We’ve all learned that there are right and wrong ways to move our bodies, even in a motion as natural as a jog. Poor form can lead to injuries, which explains why so many 40-year-olds switch …
What an Estate Sale Says About Us
Estate sales aren’t everyone’s idea of a good time, but they offer a surprising lens on our lives, priorities, and the legacies we’re building. I’ll admit: I don’t frequent estate sales myself, and I confess I’m often troubled by their bittersweet undertone. They can feel like a window into our relationship with possessions, time, and that which outlasts us. For …
Pain and Retirement Planning
Should Investing Hurt? Ask the “Queen of Pain” Amelia Boone earned global recognition as a premier competitor in obstacle racing. Known in events like the World’s Toughest Mudder and the Spartan Race as the “Queen of Pain,” she thrives in settings that test endurance for 24 hours or more, with mud, walls, barbed wire, and even electrical challenges. When asked …
Back to the Basics: Converting Retirement Savings into Reliable Retirement Income
Retirement planning isn’t about betting on a single investment or hoping a market rally will carry you through. It’s about designing a durable plan that converts your savings into steady, dependable income so you can live your best years with confidence. Here’s a practical framework to achieve that without guessing. 1. Start with a clear income target Begin by translating …
Briefcase Study: Puzzle Pieces
“Barb hates this stuff.” Roger has been the “long-term investments manager” in their marriage for many years, decades in fact. While his wife, Barb, has been masterfully managing the checkbook, credit cards, and other day-to-day financial matters for the duration of their marriage, she has never enjoyed sitting down to talk investments. As a result, getting on the same page …
