The Five Stages of Retirement (and How to Skip Three of Them)

My Comments: I’m well into my so called “retirement” and believe I’m in Stage 2 given my age and circumstances. Life could probably be better, but it is what it is and I’m OK with that. I’ve spent many years trying to help other reach what this author describes as Stage 2. Sometimes I’ve been …

Continue reading The Five Stages of Retirement (and How to Skip Three of Them)

6 Key Signs You Will Be Able To Enjoy a Middle-Class Retirement

My Comments: Some of this seems counter intuitive but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked with people who have retired and seem unable to enjoy their lives. The six signs described below need to be focal points for most people when reaching age 60. By that time you probably know that at …

Continue reading 6 Key Signs You Will Be Able To Enjoy a Middle-Class Retirement

35 Retirement Planning Mistakes You’re Wasting Money On

My Comments: First, 35 mistakes is more than anyone is likely to make. Second, despite by having been a professional financial planner for almost 50 years, I can tell you that despite my presumed skills, I made some serious mistakes along the way. Third, there’s a lot here to absorb, but I hope you make …

Continue reading 35 Retirement Planning Mistakes You’re Wasting Money On

Navigating the Three Economic Phases of Retirement

My Comments: I became a follower of Don Graves, the author of the following article, a number of years ago. His ideas about paying for retirement are very similar to what I’ve attempted to tell clients for almost four decades. As he says below, we pass through different psychological phases during our lives, and especially …

Continue reading Navigating the Three Economic Phases of Retirement

The Most Important Retirement Table You’ll Ever See

My Comments: This comes from a publication called The Motley Fool that I follow. This article describes averages that may or may not apply to you. But the framework is real and if retirement is in your future, there may be thoughts here that resonate with you, especially if you are 20-25 years away from …

Continue reading The Most Important Retirement Table You’ll Ever See

Life Expectancy After Retirement–Here’s What To Expect

My Comments: Life expectancy is an elusive category of thought. If you follow news sources, be they paper or digital, too often the person who died is younger than you are. At least to someone my age. That being said, it’s something I’ve dealt with professionally for years. Mindful that none of us has a …

Continue reading Life Expectancy After Retirement–Here’s What To Expect

Millions in life insurance goes unclaimed every year — here’s how to see if you’re owed money

My Comments: As someone licensed to sell life insurance policies for over 4 decades, I know for a fact that many of them go missing. People move, people die, there are no records for family members, sometimes a house burns down. These and for probably dozens of other reasons, a life insurance company is never …

Continue reading Millions in life insurance goes unclaimed every year — here’s how to see if you’re owed money

11 Signs You Will Be Able To Live Off Your Retirement Nest Egg

My Comments: We’re living longer, too many of us have limited financial skills, the level of pervasive uncertainty about the survival of our democracy and what it will look like in a few years, all add up to stress which is not a healthy outcome for any of us. Whether you have enough money to …

Continue reading 11 Signs You Will Be Able To Live Off Your Retirement Nest Egg

The Complex Truth About Reverse Mortgages

My Comments: Some of my retired clients worry almost daily about being able to pay their bills in future years. They own their home, have no debt to speak of, yet convey their concerns about running out of money every time we speak. I suggest the potential of a reverse mortgage and they look at …

Continue reading The Complex Truth About Reverse Mortgages

Are Bigger Social Security Checks at 70 Worth Waiting For?

My Comments: Social Security is a hot topic these days, partly because the last substantive real update solution to the underlying problem happened 40 years ago. We’re long overdue for bringing it up to date. When I signed up at 65, it was the only age available. Today there are 97 months to choose from. …

Continue reading Are Bigger Social Security Checks at 70 Worth Waiting For?