Sure, we all know December 31st is the deadline to make certain tax moves. But you can’t just wander into your bank or brokerage branch at 1 pm on New Year’s Eve and expect money to move by midnight. Your Year-End Checklist What are some realistic deadlines to get things actually completed by year-end? How…
To quote the Beatles, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Thanks to my financial planner buddies, I was recently reminded of the power of the in-service Rollover. Before I explain, let me say that this technique is NOT for everyone. As with everything in this blog, ask your financial planner, CPA,…
Many of my clients are lifelong excellent savers and rule-followers. They do what’s suggested and keep doing it. For that reason, many of my clients have a LOT of tax-deferred money set aside that can’t be touched until age 59.5 (there are exceptions, but they are a hassle). This is a bummer: because they have…
Here is a short list of fraught, nearly unanswerable questions a financial advisor gets at a dinner party: Is $ 1 million enough for me to retire? Will Social Security be there for me? How much will I spend on health care in retirement? How does anyone afford long-term care costs? Is it a good…
Retirement often begins with a question many people have quietly postponed for years: “If we can live anywhere… where should we go?” For retirees, relocating is often part financial strategy, part lifestyle upgrade, and part realization that shoveling snow at age 72 has officially lost its charm. One of the biggest reasons retirees move is…
The Mega-Back-Door Roth 401 (k). Oh, how the government likes to look like they are helping us create our own financial security in the face of a very small social safety net for our country’s ill and elderly. And you know who else loves it? That’s right, the financial news industry! Every time the government…
If you’re age 50 or older, you’ve probably heard of “catch-up contributions.” It’s the IRS saying, “You are making more money, maybe those expensive kids are launched, go ahead and pile on the retirement savings. We’ll let ya.” Up until this year, you could also protect those extra contributions from current income taxes. But, as…
What is the trickiest part of being a financial planner? Is it outsmarting the markets? Knowing the “best” investments to recommend to clients? Figuring out someone’s lost crypto-wallet password? None of the above! At least not for me. The hardest part of financial planning is helping people determine that just-right amount of retirement spending. That…
After a strong year for international stocks in 2025, I’m getting more client questions about increasing the percentage of International in their portfolios. Many foreign stock funds saw double-digit returns, and the financial media (who are paid to get you riled up, not be a better investor!) is abuzz about “the comeback of international investing.”…
One of the biggest hurdles I face as a planner is convincing clients whose numbers support retiring that they can take the leap. That’s because one of the biggest fears new retirees have is their investments suddenly dropping just as they stop earning a paycheck. It’s a scary thought. Imagine you’re climbing down a mountain…
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