Financial Planning

Hidden Retirement Costs—What You Don’t Plan for Can Impact Your Finances

What exactly are “hidden costs” in retirement? Hidden costs are the expenses that don’t make it into your retirement spreadsheet—but still show up in real life. They include things like rising healthcare bills, inflation, home repairs, and financial support for family. While not necessarily “surprise” expenses, they’re often underestimated or completely forgotten in retirement planning. [...]

By |2025-09-29T10:12:32-04:00September 29th, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning|

Follow the Bond Market to Better Understand Your Finances

On May 16, 2025, Moody's downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, citing concerns over the nation's rising debt and interest payment burdens. This move follows similar downgrades by S&P in 2011 and Fitch in 2023, marking the first time all three major credit agencies have rated U.S. debt below their top [...]

By |2025-09-08T09:59:01-04:00September 8th, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Stock Market|

What Retirees Need to Know About the New “One Big Beautiful Bill”

President Trump’s newly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) is making headlines, and retirees might want to pay close attention. Aimed at expanding the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), this sweeping legislation includes a mix of tax breaks and potential pitfalls that could impact seniors for years to come. Potential Benefits of the [...]

By |2025-07-21T08:11:02-04:00July 21st, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Government|

Claiming Social Security at the Right Time Could Change Your Retirement

For many retirees, Social Security isn’t just a monthly deposit—it’s the foundation of their entire retirement income. But choosing when to claim it isn’t as simple as picking a birthday and signing paperwork. It’s a decision with lifelong consequences. Claim too early, and you could lock in thousands less per year. Wait too long without [...]

By |2025-07-07T09:06:25-04:00July 7th, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Social Security|

Why It’s Crucial to Boost Savings Before Retirement

For those nearing retirement, there’s one truth that becomes increasingly clear: the window to build wealth narrows with each passing year. While starting early is always ideal, it’s not too late for pre-retirees in their 50s or early 60s to make meaningful progress toward financial security. In fact, now is the time to double down [...]

By |2025-06-30T08:58:57-04:00June 30th, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Retirement Income Planning|

4 Key Birthday Milestones in Retirement—and What They Mean for Your Financial Strategy

Birthdays in retirement aren’t just a reason to celebrate—they’re also checkpoints that can unlock new financial opportunities (or trigger important deadlines). From Social Security eligibility to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), several key ages mark turning points in your retirement journey. Here are four birthday milestones every retiree should know—and what they mean for your financial [...]

Protecting Your Legacy: How to Navigate Wealth Transfer Taxes Amid Uncertainty

Careful planning is essential to help ensure your wealth passes efficiently to your loved ones. With significant changes potentially on the horizon, estate and tax planning remains crucial. The federal estate tax exemption stands at $13.99 million per individual and $27.98 million for married couples in 2025. However, there’s growing uncertainty about whether these historically [...]

By |2025-06-09T11:46:41-04:00June 9th, 2025|Blog, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Tax Planning|

Post-Tax Season Tips for Pre-Retirees

Tax season is behind us, but for pre-retirees—those within 10-15 years of retirement—this is the perfect time to reassess financial strategies. The decisions you make now can significantly impact your retirement lifestyle, taxes, and financial security. Here are five key post-tax season moves to keep you on track. Tax-Advantaged Retirement Contributions If you’re still working, [...]

By |2025-05-19T10:56:54-04:00May 19th, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Tax Planning, Taxes|

Is It Time to Refresh Your Annuity? Here’s Why You Might Consider It

Annuities have long been a cornerstone for those seeking a steady income stream in retirement. However, the financial landscape is ever-evolving, and what worked a few years ago might not be the best fit today. With rising interest rates, inflation concerns, and innovative annuity products entering the market, now might be a great time to [...]

By |2025-04-21T13:23:34-04:00April 21st, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Retirement Planning|

6 Tips for Building a Retirement Budget

Building a retirement budget is critical to working toward an independent and relaxing life after leaving the workforce. Creating this budget can positively impact one's lifestyle, provide confidence and control over one's money, and safeguard against potential financial pitfalls. Here are the foundational steps to establishing a retirement budget. Step #1 Identify retirement income sources. [...]

By |2025-04-06T22:02:44-04:00April 6th, 2025|Blog, Financial Planning, Retirement Income Planning|
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