Tag: Income Planning

Retirement Is a Beginning

Aug 17, 2022

Start line on Train Tracks
See if you are prepared to begin your retirement by answering four key questions.

How do you know you if you are psychologically ready for retirement?

As a start, ask yourself four questions. (more…)

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3 Shrewd Maneuvers in a Down Market

Jun 29, 2022

Top Gun ManeuversIt’s natural to think “defense” during a bearish market season. But why not mix in some “offense” with your defense? Here are three moves we can discuss together that may be helpful during the current market downturn. (more…)

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Bad Money Habits to Break

Feb 2, 2022

Hammer Breaking Glass
Breaking Bad Habits

Do bad money habits constrain your financial progress? Many people fall into the same financial behavior patterns, year after year. If you sometimes succumb to these financial tendencies, now is as good a time as any to alter your behavior. (more…)

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Step-Up CD

Jan 10, 2022

clipart walking up stairs gray white background CD
They allow you to take advantage of rising interest rates.

When interest rates start to climb, will these be the CD to own?

Step-up certificates of deposit (also called  rising-rate CDs) are fixed-income investments with a bit of wiggle room. When you have CDs with a step-up provision, you have a chance to exchange the initial yield for a better one as interest rates rise. Given currently underwhelming long-term CD yields, what CD owner wouldn’t want that option in the future? (more…)

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Retire Single

Dec 6, 2021

Retired Person Sitting on Bench in Desert
If you are retiring single, income replacement and staying socially engaged should be considerations.

About 6% of Americans 65 and older have never married. That statistic comes from a 2019 Census Bureau report, which also found that 22% of Americans aged 65-74 live and retire alone. (more…)

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Mixed Signals on Inflation

Aug 25, 2021

Inflation Stock market signals
What to know as markets look forward

Are you having a tough time keeping track of mixed inflation signals? You’re not alone.

Consumer prices in July climbed at their fastest rate since August 2008. Worse, producer prices, which can be an indicator of future price changes at the consumer level, rose at the highest rate since tracking began.1 (more…)

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Inflation Can Be a Scary Word

May 21, 2021

Inflation
There are compelling reasons to adopt a wait-and-see approach

Inflation can be a scary word for people who are retired. It’s code for “prices are going up, but my income may stay the same.” (more…)

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Retirement Blind Spots

Dec 9, 2020

Blind man walking in room of light bulbs
Some life and financial factors that can sometimes be overlooked

We all have our “blue sky” visions of the way retirement should be, yet our futures may unfold in ways we do not predict. So, as you think about your “second act,” you may want to consider some life and financial factors that can suddenly arise. Nobody likes having retirement blind spots

You may end up retiring earlier than you expect. If you leave the workforce at “full” retirement age (FRA), which is 67 for those born in 1960 and later, you may be eligible to claim “full” Social Security benefits. Working until 67 may be worthwhile because it will reduce your monthly Social Security benefits if you claim them between age 62 and your FRA.1 (more…)

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A Windfall Inheritance Comes Your Way

Nov 16, 2020

lottery windfall winning dice numbers
Just because it’s a nice problem to have, doesn’t mean it’s not still a problem.

Here’s a windfall scenario for you: You pick up what appears to be a lottery ticket. You check the numbers for a laugh and discover a winning combination, offering you millions of dollars in prize money. What are the chances of that? (more…)

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Social Security Questions to ask Before Claiming

Aug 17, 2020

Social Security Card Form
A few things you may want to think about before filing for benefits

Determining when to take Social Security benefits is a complicated financial decision. Here are a few things to think about and discuss with your financial professional. (more…)

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More Insights

Jun 5, 2023

The rental car you’re driving while on vacation or a business trip is nice–you almost wish you could take it home with you. But what happens if you have an accident while you’re renting it? When you do go home, the last thing you want to take back with you is the liability associated with … Continue reading “Rental Car Insurance”

Jun 2, 2023

Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as “risk.” Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined. Generally, when financial advisors or the media talk about investment risk, their focus is on the historical price volatility of the asset or investment under discussion.

May 31, 2023

You’re beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors. Whether your concern is for your personal assets or your business, various tools exist to keep your property safe from tax collectors, accident victims, health-care providers, credit card issuers, business creditors, and creditors of others. To insulate your property … Continue reading “Asset Protection in Estate Planning”

May 26, 2023

It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed?

May 24, 2023

Vacation homes require a special type of insurance–one that protects your vacation home but doesn’t overlap with your already existing homeowners insurance coverage. Here are some things to consider when insuring your vacation home.

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