It’s a simple question with a not so simple answer. Today, as most workers approach the Retirement Red Zone (the 5 years leading up to retirement and the 5 years after), they are faced with challenges. No longer can they count on the company pension to provide a steady income for life after they stop …
What Should I Do About the Market Decline?
Sometimes I get asked by friends and clients, “What should I do about the market decline?” I often tell them that, unfortunately, by the time the markets have declined, it’s too late to do much. Imagine you just bought a new car. If you don’t have a garage and it’s sitting in your driveway when …
How Much Can I Spend in Retirement?
As people move from working to retirement, they face a number of challenges in adjusting to their new life. But most don’t expect spending money to be one of them. Many families have been saving for retirement for decades. And now that it’s time to finally spend that money, they often don’t know how to …
Do I Need a Financial Advisor?
It’s a good question. But the answer is like a lot of financial planning advice: unsatisfying. That’s because the only truthful answer is: it depends. So how do you know if you need a financial advisor? Here are some questions that may help you find your answer: Do you need help tracking your monthly finances? …
What Comes Next for the U.S. Economy?
Now that we have an updated tax code, what should you expect from the markets and the economy overall in the coming year? It’s always been true that changes to the tax code create unexpected benefits and consequences. This time will be no different. Tax code changes Prior to reform, the U.S. corporate rate was …
Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA
The Roth IRA is turning 20 this year. For some of us, it’s still a new idea while for others, it’s been a fixture of their entire investing life. Whatever your perspective, it’s a great tool and it’s been used a lot. Roth IRAs currently hold more than $660 billion in assets, according to the …