On this blog, I provide a checklist of things you can do during different stages of life to “retire with dignity.” In this article – the first in a series of four with each focused on a different stage of life – I will discuss the most important thing you can do when you’re in … Read more
This article is part of the Retirement Financial Life Equation (RFLE) series. It was initially published on July 24, 2019, and updated in January 2026 In my last article, I looked at immediate fixed-income annuities and discussed whether I might want to include them as a part of my overall retirement income plan. Guaranteed payments … Read more
As a financial coach, I often work with folks who are in the accumulation/growth phase of planning for retirement (i.e., 5 to 10 years or more away). Sometimes I come across someone who has either: 1) received a recommendation from their stock broker or insurance salesperson to purchase a fixed-rate, indexed, or variable annuity product … Read more
This is the third and final article in a three-part series about the most important financial decisions that affect retirement stewardship. Our saving and investing decisions, especially early on, dramatically affect what we will have when we retire. In fact, when you save (timing) may actually be more important than how much you save (amount) or … Read more
Whether you’re just starting out in your 20s or 30s or are getting close to retirement, Dave Ramsey has a lot to say to you about saving and investing for retirement. In fact, my involvement with Dave and Financial Peace University (FPU) and also his Financial Coach training program were some of the main inspirations behind my … Read more
In this article I assume that you either use a financial professional or firm to get help with your investments, or you are thinking about it. If you manage them yourself, which is a very good option if you are up to the task, then this article won’t be very relevant to you – your … Read more
One day stocks are up, another day they are down. And sometimes they’re more down than others. As I write this, the S&P 500, a popular measure of stock market performance, is down almost 6 percent year-to-date. At one point in early February, it was down over 10 percent. As you can see from the 1 … Read more
If you’re in your 20s and perhaps just out of college or in your first “real” job, you may be thinking, “So, what exactly does all this stuff about retirement stewardship have to do with me? Isn’t this really only important for older people who are getting close to retirement?” Well, the short answer is a big … Read more
