General retirement planning advice says that you’ll need about 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement, but this may not be the case for everyone. Inflation, taxes, and long-term care costs are easily overlooked - but these expenses could be high. When creating your retirement budget, don’t forget to include these three expenses. Taxes: How [...]
The Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates for the first time since 2018 and has several more rate hikes planned for this year.[1] Rising interest rates can have significant effects on the economy and your finances. Between a volatile market, high inflation, and rising interest rates, know how you’ll respond. The Federal Reserve Raising [...]
Even though you're a long time away from needing long-term care, now is the time to plan. An estimated 70% of Americans currently age 65 will need long-term care at some point, and costs can be staggering.[1] If you have a 70% chance of needing long-term care, you should think about how you would like [...]
Many of today's retirees are the wealthiest retirees of all time. Rising home values, strong market returns, and a generation of dedicated workers mean that there are more millionaires than ever. But, even if you have built a substantial nest egg, you may not feel like a millionaire and may be worried about how you'll [...]
The Consumer-Price Index (CPI) rose to 4.2% in April as compared to last year.[1] We could see higher prices when it comes to travel, food, cars, and other common goods and services. High inflation can hurt retirees who are living off their savings, especially when we have near-zero interest rates. We already see bigger Social [...]
In retirement, you have to transition from saving to spending. You've worked hard to amass wealth, and now you must protect it from market downturns and make it last for the rest of your life. We have seen record highs in the stock market recently, but the state of the market at the time of [...]
In 1960, a gallon of milk cost 36 cents, and today it costs $3.35 on average.[1] Inflation is to blame, and we could see higher inflation in the coming years. It’s important to have a sense of how much you’ll need to spend in retirement, but this is difficult when future costs and tax rates [...]
A home is one of the most significant purchases you’ve made in your lifetime, so you should take your time when thinking about buying a second one. Many people have a favorite vacation spot in a scenic area, but they can’t spend a significant amount of time there until they’re retired. If you’re thinking about [...]
While $1 million is sometimes cited as the ideal number for retirement savings, this assumes a one-size-fits-all approach to retirement planning. Everyone's retirement goals are unique, and preparing for retirement might not be as simple as saving a certain amount at all. It's worth taking a more in-depth look at your finances and future needs [...]
The rule of thumb says you’ll need about 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement, but everyone is different. Many retirees want to upgrade their lifestyle in retirement or maintain their current lifestyle. In fact, a recent study shows that about one in three retirees actually spent more than they expected they would when they [...]