What Phase Of Retirement Are You In?

Hang up the work clothes, turn off the alarm clock and forget about those “back-to-work blues.”  You made it: welcome to retirement.  While many people view retirement as an event, we like to think of it as a process that includes several different stages or “stops” along the way.  Depending on what stage you find yourself in, your feelings towards retirement may vary a great deal.  In fact, according to researcher Robert Atchley, retirement can be broken down into six distinct phases; two of which we will discuss in this post: The Honeymoon Phase and the Disenchantment Phase.

When It Comes to Retirement Planning, One Size Does Not Fit All Part 1: The Safe Withdrawal Rate

An involuntary shift is taking place with the gradual extinction of defined benefit pensions: the individual is being thrust unwittingly into the role of retirement planner. As a firm that specializes in retirement planning, we have been cautioning clients for years about the dangers this represents. Foremost among them is the lack of training and education obtained by most who now must depend on themselves to tackle topics as broad as investment management, risk assessment and management, tax planning and economics, to name but a few.

What's In Your Retirement Plan? The Four Buckets Strategy

We’ve all seen the popular Capital One credit card commercials that always end with the same question: “What’s in your wallet?”  In the same way, I like to ask an equally important question: “What’s in your retirement plan?”

When considering this question, I’m reminded of a conversation I recently had with a couple who came to our office.  They asked if they could simply retain us and pay us by the hour, as opposed to having us manage their investments.  They went on to explain that the reason they didn’t want us to manage their investments was because they wanted to maintain the ability to pull their money out at any given time. 

Do I Really Need a Will, Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney?

A visit to our office will always include the question, “Do you have your will, living will, and durable power of attorney in place?”  Some of our clients affectionately refer to this list of questions as the “nag list.”  Our intention is not to nag our clients, but rather, to emphasize the importance of having your will, living will, and durable power of attorney in good order.  Even the most comprehensive financial plan can crumble without the appropriate legal documents in place.

How Will You Spend Your Retirement Years?

Retirement.  A single word that holds significant weight and meaning for many different people.  What does retirement mean to you?  Although the term can be interpreted differently based on personal dreams and passions, author Catherine Pulsifer seems to accurately capture the universal idea: "Planning to retire? Before you do, find your hidden passion, do the thing that you have always wanted to do."  Check out the list below of some of the most common retirement hobbies; maybe you’ll find your hidden passion!