Latest Posts
The Hidden Cost of an Early IRA or 401(k) Withdrawal
Sometimes the Most Expensive Money Is the Money You Spend Too Soon I understand the temptation. You look at your IRA or 401(k), see a healthy balance sitting there, and think, “It’s my money. Why shouldn’t I use it?” After all, maybe your roof needs replacing. Perhaps your daughter is getting married. Maybe you’ve been…
How Retirement Spending Changes Over Time: The Three Phases
One of the biggest surprises I discovered while studying retirement planning is that most retirees do not spend their money in a straight line. Before I retired, I assumed my expenses would remain fairly constant from year to year. I imagined creating a budget once, adjusting it occasionally for inflation, and following it for the…
Affordable Surgery Abroad: What Every Retiree Needs to Know About Medical Tourism
Retirement gives me something that many working people never have enough of, time. Time to travel, time to explore new cultures, and time to take care of my health. That combination has led many retirees to ask an interesting question. What if I could schedule a vacation and have a medical procedure while I was…
The Hidden Retirement Crisis Facing Millions of Women Caregivers
If someone asked me to name the biggest threat to a comfortable retirement, they might expect me to mention inflation, stock market crashes, rising healthcare costs, or taxes. Those are all worthy answers. Yet one of the most expensive retirement crisis often goes unnoticed until the damage has already been done. That risk is caregiving.…
Grey Divorce and Retirement: The Hidden Financial Risks of Divorce
Retirement is supposed to be the season of life when I finally get to enjoy the fruits of decades of hard work. The mortgage is hopefully under control, the children have launched their own lives, and the daily grind of commuting and office politics is fading into the rearview mirror. Many of us imagine retirement…
Why Emotional Intimacy Matters More Than Ever After Retirement
Retirement changes almost everything. My schedule changes.Yet one thing becomes more important than ever: the quality of my relationship with the person sitting across the breakfast table every morning. Many people spend decades preparing financially for retirement. They save diligently, invest wisely, and carefully calculate how much money they will need. Surprisingly, far fewer prepare…
Retirement Mindset Secrets: What Can Retirees Learn About The 48 Laws of Power
Most people think power is something that belongs to politicians, CEOs, and billionaires. Retirement seems far removed from the political intrigue and strategic maneuvering described in Robert Greene’s bestselling book, The 48 Laws of Power. At first glance, the connection appears weak. What could a retiree possibly learn from kings, generals, and power brokers? Quite…
Our Trip to Italy – What Went Right and What Didn’t
I have been writing on this blog for over two years now, and most of the things I’ve written about are regarding the financial and psychological side of retirement. This is what “new” retirees want to discuss, am I right? Or maybe a trip to Italy. Well, the one thing I haven’t spoken about is…
The Retirement Readiness Gap: Why Money Alone Won’t Make You Happy
Many people spend decades preparing financially for retirement. They contribute to retirement accounts, pay off mortgages, build investment portfolios, and carefully calculate how much money they will need. Then retirement finally arrives, and something unexpected happens. They feel lost. At first glance, it makes no sense. The spreadsheets look good. The pension is arriving. Social…
Will Social Security Benefits Be Reduced?
If there is one retirement topic guaranteed to spark anxiety, heated debates, and endless speculation, it is Social Security. The largest program in the US budget, and something nearly 80% of seniors rely on for their basic needs. Every few months, a new headline appears warning that Social Security is “running out of money.” Television…