Imagine two people decide they are going to get healthy. The first one goes all in. He finds the newest diet. Buys the supplements. Downloads an app. Watches videos about the perfect workout routine. A month later, he reads something convincing him that carbohydrates are the problem, so he changes diets. Then a friend starts […]
Good Financial Planning Is Boring Read More »
I think one of the more interesting things about retirement is that two people can retire with roughly the same amount of money, in roughly the same health, at roughly the same age, and end up with completely different retirements. For the sake of making this a little more fun, let’s call them George Jetson
The Retirement Prison No One Plans For Read More »
A friend recently shared the parable of the businessman and the fisherman with me. If you’ve never heard it, the story goes something like this: A wealthy businessman comes across a fisherman relaxing after the day’s catch. The businessman asks why he isn’t out catching more fish. The fisherman explains that he has already caught
The Wealth Of “Enough” Read More »
I recently had the opportunity to give a retirement seminar to a group of hospital employees here locally. We spent time talking through what I believe are the five most important things people should focus on in the five years before retirement. One thing I mentioned during the talk is that some people spend more
The 5 Things You Must Do in the 5 Years Before You Retire Read More »
Perhaps my favorite book of all time is Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. It’s one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. So much so that I read through it and discussed it with my older kids when they were 10, 8, and 6.
What Jocko Has to Say About Retirement Read More »
Breaking News! I’ve actually discovered the two best ways to avoid taxes entirely! First option: make no money. None. Zero. Retire to a cabin, grow your own food, and transact exclusively in bartered zucchini. The IRS tends to lose interest when there’s nothing to report. Second option: just don’t pay them and see what happens.
The Simplest Way to Avoid Taxes Read More »
There’s a part of retirement planning that no spreadsheet can fix, and it’s probably the biggest challenge people face. It isn’t investment strategy or tax planning or market volatility. The real hurdle is simple. You’ve spent forty years saving. Now you’re supposed to turn around and start spending. The Challenge of Uncomfortable Emotions People picture
The Biggest Challenge in Retirement: When Saving Becomes the Problem Read More »
Like many of you, I have been a victim of procrastination…ok, obviously victim is not the right word. Though typically my procrastination is not financial procrastination, on occasion that type sneaks into my personal life too. There have been times where I have struggled to prioritize my time appropriately. I have been guilty of putting
Financial Procrastination: Tips to Help You Break Free Read More »
Even the thought of retirement can be exhilarating. Knowing you’ll soon have the time freedom to do what you want, when you want, is enough to get even the most unimaginative person dreaming about the adventures, hobbies, and moments they’ve long put off. But along with the excitement comes some uncertainty. It’s hard to predict
What I Wish Every New Retiree Knew (Before they retired) Read More »
Just how “big” and “beautiful” are these BBB changes for retirees? When Congress names a bill the “Big Beautiful Bill,” you know two things right off the bat: As a financial planner, I’ve had a steady stream of people asking, “So is this actually good news for retirees, or just political fireworks with a fancy
BBB & You: Big Beautiful Bill and What it means Read More »