Planning Retirement

Most of us count down the days, months and even years in anticipation of starting Social Security. In fact, besides qualifying for Medicare, perhaps the retirement event we most look forward to is the day we can start receiving these benefits — after sleeping in of course. Carly Simon’s lyrics …

Bonds can be a core low risk component of retirement portfolios, but they do come with one significant risk factor: if interest rates go up, the bonds you already own will plummet in value.  A bond ladder strategy can be a way to reduce that particular risk. First things first, …

You might be nervous about your future but research suggests that you should run — not walk — toward retirement.  Get ready to retire because the best times of your life await you. Most People Find that Retirement is the Happiest Period of Life Research from Age Wave and Merrill …

Last week it was broadly reported that the credit reporting agency Equifax suffered a major cybersecurity breach that put us all at a greater risk of financial fraud. Experts estimate that hackers stole the data — Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver’s license numbers, credit card information and more …

If you are in your 50s or 60s, you are probably hoping to find the fountain of youth. However, when you plan your golden years it is best to retire like an adult.Retiring like an adult gives you the financial freedom to pursue the life you want — even if …

It is back to school time.  While you are probably past the phase when you report to your children’s elementary, middle school or high school classrooms, these evenings can have some really valuable insights that you can apply to retirement planning. Here are a few ideas that teachers are talking …

Read on to find out “How do you qualify for a reverse mortgage?” Qualifying for a Reverse Mortgage is relatively straightforward. The requirements are clearly specified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reverse Mortgages are an increasingly popular loan type for older adults. The loan enables the …

Reverse Mortgage Definition:  A reverse mortgage is a type of home equity loan for homeowners over 62 years old. With no monthly loan payments, you accrue interest instead of paying it down. When you get a reverse mortgage, you are borrowing your own home equity. (Home equity is the difference …

Most of us are pretty stressed by the need to give our savings a big boost as we approach retirement.  Guess what? There is actually a relatively little known retirement savings strategy that can really help: Catch up contributions. Catch up contributions are the IRS’s way of making it easier …

Financial advisor fees can be confusing. Different financial advisors have various ways of charging for their services, including: Commissions Flat or Hourly Fees Assets Under Management (AUM) Fee Based (Combination of fees and commissions) All of these payment methods are used by legitimate and reputable retirement financial planners. And, each …