For Mark Roberts' Use: Most of us love surprises – the good kind, anyway! And you might think on the surface that a “surprise” retirement sounds like a great thing. It could be, if you win the lottery or otherwise receive a windfall that allowed you to retire earlier than expected. But of course, it might [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We often warn our clients that, while they might not notice the effects of inflation from one year to the next, they will certainly notice a decrease in purchasing power over several decades. With lifespans reaching into the 80s and 90s these days, some of us could be spending 20 or 30 [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: You've probably heard that the number one cause of marital discord is money. This truth has been widely recognized for years now – so why are we still making the same old mistakes? It's true that love can make you blind, so you might think those bad situations can't happen to [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: You’ve certainly heard the news by now: The cost of healthcare in the US continues to rise, outpacing inflation and cost of living increases to pensions and Social Security. In retirement, healthcare becomes an even larger concern, both due to the fact that you’re more likely to suffer health problems, and [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Income tax topics have dominated the news lately, mostly due to the major overhaul Congress just enacted upon our tax structure. So, you might be feeling concerned about how these changes could affect your income taxes in retirement. While it will take a bit longer for analysts to fully break down [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Now that the new year has begun, you might be informed that you have earned a raise. Perhaps you’re even still holding onto that year-end bonus you received last month. Or, with the economy continuing to improve, maybe you just expect to earn higher commissions this year. Whatever the reason for [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Part of retirement planning also involves planning for your spouse's (or other heirs') needs in the event that something happens to you. If you pass away sooner than you had imagined, you might leave a considerable amount of money in your retirement account. And of course, most of us have other [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When it comes to retirement planning, there are as many options as there are needs. The trick, then, is figuring out which ones match both your current and future financial objectives. For most of us, the decision to save money in a qualified retirement account is just the first step. The [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: While we all have an ideal retirement scenario in our imaginations, sometimes people do claim their Social Security benefits earlier than originally planned. Maybe you need to semi-retire a bit early, or your income from work has decreased. Perhaps you planned for an early retirement, but afterward realize that you would prefer [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: How long have you been planning for retirement? What has been your main focus, so far? For most people the primary objective, with regard to retirement planning, involves saving money. You want to know how much money you will need in retirement, and how much you should contribute to a retirement [...]