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 …

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The Rising Cost of Long-Term Care

My Comments: Few of us expect to live to be 100, much less much longer than that. What we don’t expect is to find ourselves unable to effectively look after ourselves as the end approaches. Yes, many of us are living longer and longer, but that comes with a significant cost. The projected cost numbers …

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Exorbitant Drug Prices in USA – Here is Why

My Comments: My wife and I are in our 8th and 9th decade on the planet. We have our share of health issues requiring prescription drugs. Yes, we have insurance but every now and then there’s a dramatic charge to be covered. As I followed the headline above, I realized it was published in the …

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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 …

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How a Fixed Index Annuity Can Manage Retirement Income Risks

My Comments: Like the author’s first words below, I’ve spent my career looking for ways to help clients grow and maintain their financial lives. Many  of them are living much longer than they expected to. I’ve lived far longer than my father, despite our having similar health issues, and I expect to be around for …

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In Retirement, Put Your Eggs in These Three Baskets

My Comments: Retirement can be just as stressful as working 8 to 5 or more for decades. That's because retirement brings about a shift in mindset and financial dynamics. The transition from working for money to having money work for you can be a source of significant stress for many of us. Planning and adopting …

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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 …

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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 …

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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. …

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My Thoughts About the 4% Rule

The 4% rule ~ This “rule” is used to describe the rate at which money is withdrawn from “retirement” accounts designed to help pay bills when you retire and stop working. The goal is to never run out of money. It evolved many years ago to include the assumption it would keep you from running …

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