We all have many things to be thankful for. Even when things get hard, they’re never as bad as they could be. The road to retirement can be rocky at times, and living (and aging) in retirement has its own challenges. Still, we can be thankful for family and friends, health, being part of a … Read more
According to some recent stats, more people are retiring earlier than planned due to the effects of the pandemic. Their specific reasons may differ, but part of what’s been fueling it has been rising stock and real estate markets. Quality of life is also often cited as a key reason. I’m reasonably sure that a … Read more
Most don’t think too much about income taxes in retirement. They just assume that they’ll pay less since it’s possible (likely?) that their income will be less. For many, that’s a reasonable assumption (at least as long as tax rates remain relatively low). Others believe that their Social Security retirement benefits aren’t taxable, further reducing … Read more
A Dave Ramsey (Ramsey Solutions) article on investment fees opens with this: Just like airline fees, investment fees are also a fact of life. The difference is, investment fees aren’t always as clear as an extra baggage fee. Many folks we talk to are confused or blindsided by them. And sometimes, that confusion keeps people from making … Read more
I retired three years ago this month. Frankly, it seems longer, but I’m not sure why, perhaps because the last 18 to 24 mos. have been a pretty long road for all of us. If you’ve read this blog for very long, you know that I don’t make every article about me or take you … Read more
In my last article, I discussed some things to consider as you decide about giving in retirement. I touched on leaving a legacy (inheritance) as a form of giving and discussed it (biblically) relative to spending and giving. However, I didn’t detail the mechanics of doing so, should that be your desire. As I mentioned … Read more
I was recently working at our church’s welcome desk on a Sunday morning. An elderly lady whom I would guess is well into her 70s or early 80s came up and handed me a $20 bill and asked that I please make sure it went toward our ministry to families with children with special needs … Read more
In my last article, I discussed using a “regret minimization” strategy to help with making critical retirement planning decisions. I illustrated how you might apply it to your Social Security claiming and retirement account investing choices. Deciding when to claim your Social Security benefits may be the most important decision you’ll make when you choose to … Read more
Regret. Webster defines it as “Feeling sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity).” We all have regrets. Why? Mainly because we are fallen people living in a fallen world (Rom. 5:12). Our regrets may be over something we did or did not do or … Read more
