Timing Your Retirement and Remaining Retired
Retirement means something a bit different to everyone. To some, it’s a financial finish line. To others, retirement represents a transition from paid work to volunteer work. Whatever it means to you and those close to you, retirement happens, whether by choice or by force. As a person nears ‘retirement age’, a litany of decisions arise that must be carefully …
Client Corner: Retirement is Everything We Hoped it Would Be
Toby and I retired 2 1/2 years ago after long careers with the federal government. At first, we were concerned about staying busy, but soon found ourselves taking classes at the U of U, playing pickleball, golfing, hiking, and doing volunteer taxes. Needless to say, our days are filled! We are also determined to live these “go go” years to …
Service Updates
Our Service & Experience Enhancement Project is Complete With your help, we were able to complete our service and experience enhancement project a couple of weeks ago and fully transition to our new investment management platform. During our annual Advisor’s Summit at the office in Kansas City, our advisors had the opportunity to connect with Head of Sales, Kevin Thornton, …
Who Is Really Winning At Retirement?
I’d like to share a few important discoveries that we’ve made in our business. This list is actually pretty insightful because it’s one that our clients helped us assemble. Those who invest the most in their planning reap the greatest rewards. People who regret financial decisions can usually point to not having enough information about the decision. Typically, this results from …
Back to the Basics: Retire Your Debts Before Retirement?
Before retirement, most people would like to pay off any remaining debts, so they can feel good going into that next phase of life all tidied-up. That makes a lot of sense, both financially and psychologically. In a recent meeting, we not only discussed this but put a plan together that was well received by the family, so we thought …
Briefcase Study: Pairing Retirement Needs with Retirement Assets
Years ago, I was asked a very specific question by a curious friend: “What’s one piece of advice you’d offer retirees who are concerned about planning their retirement?” It’s a fair question but admittedly difficult to answer without going into a long speech that may be more than he was bargaining for. I shared a number of thoughts, but here’s …
The Real Cost of Debt
I’ve recently been a close witness to the noble plight of a good friend choosing to rid his life of consumer debt. While many of the families we serve have managed to escape the bondage of expensive debt, many have not. Since we’re all endlessly susceptible to falling prey to master marketers of stuff and experiences bought on credit, this …
Long Term Care Discussions: Painful yet Necessary
We might as well hold these meetings in a dentist’s chair, without the anesthesia. It’s just the worst. At least when you visit the dentist, you leave with that squeaky-clean feeling and a few samples of floss (that you may or may not use). When we have a sit-down discussion about paying for long term care – nursing care – …
Ways To Maintain Or Improve Your Lifestyle In Retirement
Approaching retirement age is an exciting time for most. The opportunity to spend more time doing the things you enjoy, and may have put off, leads many aspiring retirees to dream about the future like they haven’t in years. While this new phase of life can be deeply satisfying, it can also result in new and unique fears. Retiring at …
“What Happens When My Spouse Dies?”
In a recent meeting, I was asked, “What happens, financially, when one of us dies?” It’s a topic we don’t discuss all that often, given that all of us will face the same fate. In this article, I’ll address this question from two perspectives, 1. What actions are generally required after the death of a spouse, and 2. What might …
