Three Retirement Fundamentals

I can suggest dozens of questions that when answered, will define your retirement. And I can suggest more questions that when answered, will re-define your retirement. While money and having enough is important, there are other things to consider if you want your retired years to end with few regrets. For example, how will you …

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Investing for Retirement: What Price Are You Willing to Pay for Guarantees?

Life can be scary sometimes. It can be doubly scary when we realize personal financial decisions are inherently emotional decisions. Who among us has not made a bad choice along the way where money was involved? Conceptually, retirement is inherently personal. And the elephant in the room at first glance is almost exclusively a matter …

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Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Retirement

In days past, if you were fortunate, your full time job included what is known as a defined benefit pension plan. Your ‘benefit’ was determined, or defined, by how long you worked for that employer, your age when you retired, and how much you were making when you retired. That last element might have been …

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6 More Regrets to Avoid in Retirement

Yesterday I asked if you were feeling lucky. The idea being that if things work out for you, your journey end will arrive with few regrets. Before you conclude I’m trying too hard to deny you years of fun and games, I’m really focused on helping you enjoy a worry free and financially secure retirement. …

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6 Regrets to Avoid in Retirement

Are you feeling lucky? As you reach the end of the road, worrying about what might have been has little purpose. Before you get there, you’ll likely pass through three phases. I refer to them as the the GO-GO years, the SLO-GO years, followed by the NO-GO years. When the average life expectancy for a …

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Focus on Retirement Goals or Investments?

Have you got enough money? Is there a point in time when making new guesses about your retirement funds become an exercise in futility? Sure, you could probably work a few more years and have a few more bucks in the bank, but at what price? I’m reminded of the Social Security dictum that everything …

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Capitalism vs Something Else?

Disney is a name that resonates with people of my generation. We grew up with Mickey Mouse and as our kids grew up, Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida became vacation destinations for millions of us. My grandchildren today know the park in Orlando like the back of their hands. Abigail Disney is …

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Climate Change and Retirement

Retirement for many is a 30 year trek into the future. And climate change is going to influence how we live those years. Here in Florida, we have 8,436 miles of shoreline. By 2050, experts tell us to expect 3 – 4 feet higher sea levels along the southeast coast. What will happen to the …

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Asset Allocation Explained

Most of us attempt to save money. We know there will come a time when what we save today will be needed to pay for things tomorrow. Our choices about how to do this are varied, mysterious, and confusing. Too often we take the easiest path and hope for the best. We congratulate ourselves for …

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Confused? 10 Social Security Terms You Need to Understand

Just 10? Nah, there’s lots more but let's start with these. If you’ve been paying FICA taxes ( see #3 below ), and have done so for at least 40 quarters, then you can expect to qualify for retirement benefits at some point. None of these 10 tell you when to claim benefits, or what …

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