Estate Planning Checklist: A 7-Step Guide to Getting Your Affairs in Order

My Comments: Our lives inevitably come to an end at some point. The question for all of us is what happens to the stuff we owned before the end arrived. It makes sense to help make sure those we leave behind aren’t further aggravated by spending time and money getting the stuff organized and properly …

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10 Unsung Benefits of Index Funds

My Comments: I’ve long followed Dr. Dahle and remarked on his expertise with respect to investing money for retirement. His specialty is advice for fellow White Coat professionals but his ideas should resonate with anyone working to accumulate funds to finance one’s life when their work life ends. What follows here is his introduction to …

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This chart of ocean temperatures should really scare you

My Comments: As of right now, ocean temperatures has absolutely nothing to do with financing your retirement or how to best accumulate and invest your money to satisfy your future needs. However, it still might have a dramatic effect on your future, wholly dependent on how old you are now and how long you’ll live. …

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What Is The Upcoming Retirement Security Rule, and Will it Help You?

My Comments: If you’ve read my recent posts, you’ll know I’ve spoken about fiduciary standards and encouraged you to specifically ask whether the money person you’re talking with is willing to declare themselves a fiduciary. That declaration holds them responsible for acting in your best interest. Yes, there will always be the occasional con man, …

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Annuities are key to American retirement. So why are so few Americans buying them?

My Comments: There are good annuities and there are bad annuities. Most of the bad ones have been created and aggressively sold by insurance companies whose sole objective is to generate revenue for the company and their agents. The study results described below tell us why they have been successful. It’s not easy to find …

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8 Proven Investment Options to Safeguard and Grow Your Retirement Money

My Comments: For many, getting serious about retirement doesn’t happen until someone reaches their 50’s. There’s too much other stuff going on. But sooner rather than later, you have to make sure you’ll have enough money to sustain yourself for the next 30+ years. This is critical if you don’t want to find yourself climbing …

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When Should You Start Social Security Benefits? It Depends

My Comments: I’ve taught Social Security workshops over the years and both my wife and I signed up for benefits. I think I know a little about this issue but this question inevitably resurfaces. And it’s become more problematical since there’s discussion now about changing the age criteria. This is largely because so many of …

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Four Unseen Icebergs That Could Sink Your Retirement Plan

My Comments: As a financial planner for the past five decades, I’ve seen my share of success and of failure. These days, too many folks have money worries that are very uncomfortable. It’s largely because while you’re young and working, it’s hard to conceive the day will come when your income stops or dramatically slows …

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5 Commonly Held Beliefs About Retirement That Are Simply Wrong

My Comments: These words appeared some time ago but are still very relevant to those of you expecting to retire at some point. Yes, it’s difficult to think about, but if you remain alive and well, retirement will arrive and having a developed framework in place will help you enjoy your retirement. As someone who …

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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 …

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