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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. How much can hidden costs affect my retirement financial stability? How [...]
Why the Federal Reserve Works, And What It Means for Your Retirement
The Federal Reserve may seem distant or complicated, but its decisions ripple through everything from interest rates to inflation, and that may affect your retirement directly. Let’s explore why the Fed works, why its independence matters, and what that means for your financial stability in retirement. What exactly is the Federal Reserve supposed to do? The Federal Reserve has two main goals: to keep inflation in [...]
“I Think I Have Enough Saved—Why Am I Still Worried?”
You’ve worked hard and saved diligently, and now you're in retirement or on the doorstep of it. You’ve run the numbers. You might even have a sizable nest egg. So why do you still feel uneasy? That lingering anxiety is more common than you think, even among those who appear to be financially prepared for retirement. And it often comes down to one surprising truth: saving [...]
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.¹ 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 tier.² Understanding Bond Ratings Bond ratings assess the creditworthiness of debt [...]
What Retirees Should Know About Their Income Tax
Retirement is a new phase of life, and so is your tax situation. Knowing what counts as income and how it’s taxed can make a big difference in how long your money lasts. Below are some of the most common tax questions retirees ask. Can I Avoid the Income Tax in Retirement? What Would That Take? It’s tough to avoid income tax entirely, but some retirees [...]
“What Can I Do with $100K in Retirement?”
Understanding the Shift from Accumulation to Income As a financial advisor, one of the most common questions I hear—especially from clients entering retirement—is: “What should I actually do with these savings I’ve amassed for retirement?” It’s a great question. And it usually signals something deeper: the start of the distribution phase of retirement. You’ve spent years in the accumulation phase working, saving, and investing. But now, [...]