retirement
Stress-test your retirement plan regularly
Retirement planning is not set in stone; things change, such as inflation and changes in tax policy; however, some things don’t. Many retirees overlook the cost of healthcare and long-term care in retirement. Jonathan Ponciano, writing for Investopedia, asks if…
Americans retirement savings plans
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System stated in its 2025 report that “Sixty-seven percent of adults had assets that are specifically designated for producing income in retirement.” These findings are echoed by Fidelity’s 2026 State of Retirement…
How Social Security could change your future
It’s essential to recognize that Social Security is designed to replace approximately 40 percent of the average worker’s pre-retirement income. However, approximately 21.8 million seniors rely solely on Social Security for their income, while nearly three-quarters of seniors depend on…
What to do to maximize your benefit at 62
Age 62 is the most popular age at which to claim Social Security benefits, but claiming at age 62 also means getting a much smaller benefit for the rest of your life. In 2026, the maximum Social Security benefit at…
The Case for Lifetime Income
Although retirement savings have grown, most systems still leave individuals to manage the risk of outspending or outliving their savings on their own, according to the “The Case for Lifetime Income” research paper by the Prudential/Global Aging Institute. “Retirement security…
Shifting away from saving to spending in retirement
Retirement planning is not always about hitting a specific number, but it’s about creating certainty. “For decades, retirement planning has centered on reaching a specific account balance, but as clients near retirement, that benchmark often fails to address a more…
Is claiming Social Security 65 right for you
You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits starting at age 62, with the option to delay until age 70 to increase your monthly payments. Filing at age 62 results in a permanent reduction of your monthly benefit compared to…
Debt relief strategies may protect your Social Security
The number of seniors in debt has been on the rise, with 97 percent of Americans aged 66 to 71 carrying an average non-housing debt of over $11,349. Carrying debt into retirement can feel overwhelming for those on a fixed…
What AI can and cannot do in retirement planning
More things are being handled by AI. Is retirement planning the next frontier? Although people have been using ChatGPT to help with retirement planning, can it truly deliver? Andrew Lo, finance professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, says…
Will inflation derail your retirement?
Twenty-five percent of the study recipients in Northwestern Mutual’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study stated that they are concerned about inflation and how it will affect their retirement. And the experts agree, “They’re right to worry, pros say. “Inflation can…