“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 …
Client Corner: Time to See The World
During my lifetime, I’ve nurtured a desire to travel, and as a result have been fortunate to visit all 50 States – with amazing sites and experiences too numerous to mention within our beautiful country! I’m grateful that retirement has continued to afford me the opportunity to further this passion on a global scale. As a widower, my traveling companions …
Service and Experience Updates
As we announced a few weeks ago, we are in the process of making some service and experience updates to our investment management platform. These are being done to enhance your overall investment journey while preserving the elements that have been fundamental to our relationship with you. Because the changes require you to complete some forms, we wanted to provide …
The Connection Between Financial and Physical Health
As the seasons change, or another birthday or wedding anniversary rolls around, you may be taking inventory of your life. You may be asking yourself questions about where you’re headed, what’s most important to you, and how you got to where you are. It’s as if something is hard-wired into all of us that makes these milestones a perfect time …
How Your 401(k) Deceives You
So much has changed in the past three or four decades when it comes to retirement. For one, there was a time when you worked at one company your entire career, then retired with a gold watch and a lifetime pension. While many of our clients still have a company pension, “they ain’t what they used to be,” as the …
Prepare For a Loved One’s Long Term Care by Preparing Yourself First
My, how times have changed. There once was a time when nursing homes were not what they are today. When dad or grandma could no longer live alone and care for him or herself, moving them into a nursing home wasn’t really an option. Instead, you would have moved them into your home. They would live out their final days …
Back to the Basics: Tax Planning Opportunities for Retirees
Most people probably don’t consider this, but the single largest expense every year for a successful retiree isn’t putting fuel in the RV or even medical costs; it’s taxes. Between property, sales, and income taxes, the numbers can get pretty big pretty fast. Given this sneaky financial reality, tax planning has become an essential part of retirement planning because it …
Briefcase Study: A Hybrid Retirement
When shopping for a new car, buyers are now faced with many more choices than whether to get the blue one or the silver one. Choosing among powertrain options has made the process much more intellectual and even political. While some may choose a traditional gas-powered engine, others opt for the chance to go all electric. But for some, the …
Opposites Attract: Marriage and Retirement Planning
A wonderful blessing and a curse of marriage is the joining together of two very different people. While their values are likely the same, the challenges of living life together have caused many a couple to struggle with financial decision-making. One spouse may obsess over every penny, while the other spouse is a never-ending party, spending money feely, because “Hey, …
What’s Your Plan for Rising Taxes?
Much has been written and said about taxes. Nobody likes paying them, but pay them we must. Few people would volunteer to have a detailed discussion about taxes, but here we are, deciding whether to keep reading or just hit delete and hope everything just turns out okay. In light of the un-exciting nature of tax talk, I’ll start with …
