Are You Settling, and What Is It Costing You?
In discussion with retirement planning clients, I’m often reminded that the best outcomes to challenges and opportunities are generally realized after asking the right questions. And since we all only have one shot at living a great life, there’s a fair amount of responsibility I feel in learning how to ask great questions, which hopefully lead to better outcomes. With …
How Do You Know When It’s Time to Retire?
Retirement means something a bit different to everyone. To some, it’s a financial finish line. To others, retirement represents a transition from paid work to volunteer work. Whatever it means to you and those close to you, retirement happens, whether by choice or by force. As a person nears ‘retirement age’, a litany of decisions arise that must be carefully …
Can There Be a Retirement Planning Formula?
For years, I’ve been on a quest to determine the optimum set of inputs to design the ideal retirement plan. And while the topic of formulas may not appeal to you, I hope you’re somewhat comforted that it does hold some appeal for me, a retirement planning guy. I’ve thought much about the ideal blend of guaranteed income sources, risk-based …
Our ‘Rise Against Hunger’ Event Is Coming Back!
Save the Date and Join Us As many of you know, the team here is quite passionate about doing what we can to give back. Whether that’s through our partnership with the Utah Food Bank, where we’ve been able to pack over 8,000 pounds of food for a local elementary school, or by participating in The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Walk …
Selling Discontent
I’m susceptible and I’ll bet you are too. It’s deafening when you begin to hear it; its influence is almost overwhelming once you begin to feel it. What is this force that’s being used to keep you perpetually off-balance? Allow me to offer a few examples: if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind. If you’re eating that, you’re getting …
Reduce Stress Through Rehearsed Financial Austerity
Money can be stressful. This is a statement so obvious that it seems silly to write it out, but there it is. It can stress me out, and I’ll bet you feel it from time-to-time as well. While I won’t suggest that money’s emotional and intellectual burdens can be tamed fully, there is an exercise that I’ve found to be …
Old Music Is Better Than New Music – Why Investing Is Different For Retirees
Everybody knows that old music is far better than new music. In fact, can you even call this new stuff music at all? It’s just noise. Said every generation ever. Elvis was practically criminal when he came on the scene, The Beatles were credited with destroying a generation of kids, and Madonna turned daughters against parents all over the world. …
Back to the Basics: Why A Successful Retirement Starts with Income Planning
There are several questions that hopeful retirees are consistently asking as they seek to build a successful retirement. Some of these questions are: When can I retire? How much do we need? Will I have enough? What if there’s a major healthcare, stock market, or inflationary event that threatens what we’ve saved? While all of these questions are certainly different …
Briefcase Study: Team of Three: Who’s in Your Financial Planning Trio?
There’s such power in the number three. Whether in literature, joke telling, the meats of a club sandwich, or nature itself, three represents completeness, rhythm, and strength. In fact, the triangle is the strongest geometric shape; you see the triangle in roof trusses and bridges. There’s just an elegance and magic to it that is so easily overlooked. We see …
A Single Pill for a Successful Retirement?
We often talk about building a retirement plan that allows you to sleep well at night, free from the worry of the markets, economy, and scary headlines. And while this will continue to be our goal as retirement planning professionals, what about actual sleep habits? If you’ve ever been to leadership training, you know that’s where you’ll find some of …
