For Mark Roberts' Use: Although most of us don’t like to think about it, estate planning is an important part of retirement preparations. You’ve planned for an income that hopefully lasts the rest of your life, and you’ve accumulated assets both in the bank and otherwise. But what happens if you don’t live as long [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Most people know that when they turn 65, they will become eligible for Medicare. For most retirees, the program is the backbone of their healthcare planning. However, many are surprised to learn, after retirement, that Medicare does not cover all of their medical expenses. In fact, it will only cover about [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Retirement planning is a complicated topic, and over the years financial planners have attempted to simplify the process by offering some basic guidelines. So, you might have heard that you should plan to replace 70 percent of your current income to provide for your needs in retirement, or that a good withdrawal [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Any day now, we will receive the news of next year’s cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries. These numbers are typically released mid-October, with the increase (if any) taking effect in January of the following year. While we wait for the official announcement, let’s take a look at predictions, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We all know that the ideal way to prepare for retirement includes early planning and saving. Hopefully, you got started in your twenties or at least by your thirties. But in most cases, we really start to think about retirement (and feel concerned) in our forties and fifties. At this point your [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: For most of us, our retirement income will be generated from at least two sources. We frequently focus on the sources that you can establish for yourself, such as utilizing a 401(k), IRA, annuities, and other options. But you will probably receive Social Security benefits as well, so let’s shift gears [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We often hear about the wage gap between men and women, but what does it really mean? Statistically, women do earn less than men, but of course we know those figures aren’t due to lack of education or skill. This situation often arises simply because women tend to take more time [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: What’s your retirement lifestyle plan? Some would say they plan to travel the world, while others hope to relocate to a relaxed community. Still others plan to stay right where they are, and dream of having more time to spend on hobbies or with family. Whatever your plan, you might be feeling [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Most of us plan to retire around age 65 to 67. This makes sense because you become eligible for Medicare at 65, and your “full retirement age” as defined by Social Security falls between 65 and 67 (depending upon when you were born). This is the age at which you can access [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As most people plan for retirement, they tend to focus on reaching a specific savings goal. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that approach. After all, it’s easier to reach a well-defined goal. On the other hand, there are other ways to look at the retirement income puzzle. Aside from accumulating [...]