This post was last updated on January 19, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
You may have spent your whole life working towards retirement. However, as you get closer to retirement, there are so many feelings and doubts that can creep in and cause you stress. There’s no need to worry – as long as you have a plan.
This post was last updated on January 19, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Proper planning is crucial to ensure a smooth transition into a fulfilling retirement lifestyle. However, it can be really intimidating when you first get started. You aren’t the first person to retire, so you can draw on the experience of others who’ve walked this path.
This post was last updated on January 19, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
For some people, the “traditional” idea of retirement just doesn’t fit their lifestyle. The idea of never working again, going to the golf course every day, or just lounging around doesn’t sound very appealing. Luckily, you can craft what your own retirement will look like – even if you don’t really retire.
This post was last updated on January 19, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Retirees who work with a financial advisor are happier and more confident in their finances and in life. Many of us have concerns about money. So, it makes sense that getting expert help would increase happiness by reducing financial stress.
The right financial planner does so much more than just help you with a 401k rollover. A true expert takes the time to get to know you and craft a detailed, thought-out plan around your hopes and dreams. The process should center around you, not your money.
Is an annuity you purchased 5, 10, or 15 years ago worth keeping? Many retirees enter retirement with more savings than they need. If you’re not sure you need your old annuity or whole life policy, you’re not alone.
It’s important to evaluate whether your old annuity contract still serves a purpose in your portfolio or if it's dragging down your retirement plan. We want to move beyond the "annuities are good or bad" debate and discover what’s best for your specific situation.
This post was last updated on December 23, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Roth conversions are among the most powerful long-term tax-saving strategies. If a Roth conversion might benefit you, the next question is how much you should convert. The right amount will vary based on your situation.
Looking for financial advice can be confusing and overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. The financial industry uses ambiguous and overlapping terms, but what do they really mean?
If you’re like most people, you just need an honest answer to tough financial questions. Yet, when you start looking for help, you’re met with a variety of terms like adviser, advicer, manager, and planner – all with the words financial, wealth, fiduciary, and investment added to spice things up.
This post was last updated on December 01, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Taking a pension lump sum takes careful consideration. And if you decide to take a lump sum, you’ll have to decide whether to transfer your lump sum pension payout into your 401(k) or your IRA. The decision to take a lump sum can’t be reversed, so take it seriously.
This post was last updated on November 30, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Deciding when to draw Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make as a retiree. You must carefully consider your specific situation and goals. Don’t wait until you’re eligible to make these important decisions.
This post was last updated on November 22, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 significantly changed our tax landscape. Most changes were temporary and set to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2025. However, this didn’t exactly happen.
Before 2025 ends, retirees need to make sure they’ve covered all their bases for taxes, charitable giving, RMDs, and more. With recent changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, there’s even more to consider for your retirement checklist. Whether you’re thinking about retirement, currently transitioning into retirement, or are already fully retired, there are many items on the to-do list.
You don’t want to wait until the last minute either. In many cases, you’ll need assistance from your accountant or financial planner to check everything off your list. In many cases, failing to act now could trigger penalties, which is a bad way to start the new year. Once January 1st rolls around, the tax year for 2025 is closed, and there’s no turning back!
Social Security changes from the 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill' could have the longest-lasting impacts on your retirement. Healthcare and tax reforms have dominated headlines, but they also have numerous secondary effects.
The impact largely depends on how effectively you utilize temporary rules and tax reductions. We’ll explore short-term and long-term effects, who’s most affected, and what you can do now to stay prepared.
This post was last updated on June 30, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Although defined benefit plans (pensions) are less common today, many people still rely on them for retirement income. There are specific rules governing the calculation of pension plan payouts, whether in the form of monthly payments or as a lump sum.
If you’re going to be eligible for a pension, then you need to be familiar with the role the Federal General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) rate plays in your benefits. This is particularly important when deciding whether to take a lump sum payout.
The One Big Beautiful Bill affects retirees in many ways. But how will it change Medicare? Although it’s too early to tell, there will be some immediate changes and several potential long-term impacts you need to be aware of.
We provided a broader overview in our article, "How the One Big Beautiful Bill Affects Retirees." Now we’re going to discuss how this new law impacts Medicare and what you can do to prepare.
As you begin estate planning, you will face difficult choices, further complicated by the current pandemic. However, it’s essential that you have a plan in place to protect your loved ones financially. There are many different ways you can do so.
Today, we’re going to discuss two of them. Wills and trusts are both estate planning tools, meaning they help you control who inherits your assets after you pass away. The similarities between the two end there, though.
There’s a ton of noise out there regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill. But how does it affect retirees? For many retirees, there won’t be any major game changers, but there are some key changes you need to know.
Fortunately, there are no significant changes to tax bracket structures. However, there were several changes to standard and itemized deductions, as well as increased gift and estate tax exemptions. We also get some new deductions, lose others, and see many modified credits, deductions, and phase-outs.
If you’re nearing retirement, you might have life insurance or an annuity you no longer need. If so, you should be aware of what’s called a 1035 exchange.
A 1035 exchange can help you if you’re unsure about what to do with an old life insurance policy or an annuity.
This post was last updated on June 29, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Investing in yourself is one of the most important things you can pursue. It’s more than setting up a retirement account or buying a home. Self-investment comes in many forms, including:
Annuities can be incredibly confusing, but they don’t have to be. Once you understand the most common annuity acronyms, it’s a lot less scary. Each annuity contract will be unique to your needs, the insurance company, and the optional riders available.
When buying an annuity, it’s best to zoom out and look at your entire financial picture first, and then decide if an annuity is right for you. We don’t want you to get excited about one particular type of annuity first, and then figure out how to make it fit your goals. Your life and retirement goals should drive all your retirement decisions.
If we're not careful, we can easily fall victim to pushy sales tactics to buy expensive annuities. Annuities and other life insurance products are often sold using your fears against you. There is a tendency for annuities to be oversold because of the handsome commissions paid to sell them.
To be clear, there are times when an annuity might make sense, but many retirees have other guaranteed income sources like Social Security. There are various annuities (fixed, single premium, deferred, etc.), so it can get confusing.
