For someone who never shuts up, you may be surprised that I get frustrated at my ability to communicate. These days that really hits home when I’m trying to explain to clients why selling all their investments due to stock market volatility is a bad idea. Waiting for things to get better is a bad…
Nothing makes me more stressed than listening to Alison Janey on those Kaiser Permanente commercials encouraging preventative care so that we all “Thrive.” She’s a highly paid actress. What about the rest of us who worry about our money lasting through retirement? First, a terminology lesson. Life Expectancy, a term that’s used a…
I recently heard a comedian say that the idea of summer vacation spoils our thinking forever. It’s true – as an adult, you are always disappointed in the idea you have to work during summer, even though it was such a small part of your life when you didn’t. And then there is the…
Tens of millions of Americans have filed for unemployment since March. Everyone from optometrists to octopi at the local aquarium have seen demand drop for their services as people stay home to stay safe. If you need income while your regular industry rights itself, take heart. There are still some sectors that are hiring. …
Some people really want to retire. Umbrella drinks on the beach, unlimited time to knit, tee times during non-peak hours, and never skiing on a weekend again. Sounds great, right? Not for everyone. More and more, clients tell me they don’t really want to retire. After all, retirement is what old people do, and…
The COVID crises reminds me of 9/11 in some ways. Things we never thought we’d do before (strip to nearly naked in the security line, anyone?) became second nature quickly. If you had told me 6 months ago that I’d be waiting in line to get into Target, I’d think it’s rude for people to…
This is the second in our three Rs series about coming out of 2020 with our sanity and finances intact. Today we talk about Recovery. Personal Remember that setbacks happen to everyone. If you lost your job or had to move in with your parents or had to dip into your 401(k), it’s…
We’ve all heard the phrase “hindsight is 2020.” There are tons of memes floating around alluding to getting the year 2020 in our rearview mirror, and I have to agree. One thing you may be feeling lately is fragile. Your finances, sense of self, confidence in our social systems, routines, hobbies, and plans have…
So, how’s your 2020 been? As I write this blog, I’m getting used to yet another blow to personal freedom, the 9pm curfew. Even my parents didn’t have me home that early in my not-so-rebellious teenage years. It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves, and we should take some time to grieve. Things…
Clients sometimes ask me what they are not thinking about when it comes to retirement planning. Mostly, they’ve thought about a lot, but there are a few things that can surprise you. Unreimbursed medical expenses. Yes, retirees dread health care costs, but it seems like kind of an amorphous worry, not one that gets…