Latest Posts
-
The Medicare 2026 landscape: Big Changes are Coming
I always like to start with the broad strokes before we dig into the weeds. Here’s the overview of major changes coming to Medicare in 2026 (and yes, weeds are coming, so bring your magnifying glass): Let’s take them one by one, and then I’ll give you my best strategies for navigating them without losing
-
How to Build Retirement Income Buckets That Survive Market Crashes
When I first heard about the “bucket approach” to retirement income planning, I pictured myself sitting at the beach, a cold drink in one hand and a bright plastic bucket in the other. It sounded like something kids used to build sandcastles, not something to help me survive 30 years of retirement without going broke.
-
Avoiding the Biggest Retirement Regrets: A Candid Look at Life After Work
When I first retired, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. No more Monday alarms, no more meetings that could’ve been emails, and no more pretending to care about office birthday cake. I could finally do what I wanted, when I wanted. But as the weeks turned into months, I began to notice something odd. Every
-
DIY Investing in Retirement: The Pros, Cons, and Real Truths You Need to Know
I’ve always believed that retirement should be about freedom—the freedom to sleep past sunrise, wear socks that don’t match, and, for many of us, finally take charge of our money without someone in a suit telling us what to do. That’s where DIY investing comes in. On paper, it sounds empowering. “Do it yourself,” the
-
How to Make New Friends in Retirement
When I first retired, I’ll admit, I had this funny idea that my calendar would suddenly be filled with events, neighborhood barbecues, and long conversations at coffee shops with new friends. The reality, though, was different. After a few months of enjoying the freedom, I found myself wondering, “Where did everybody go?” It turns out
-
Boosting Brain Health in Retirement: Tips for Memory, Focus, and Joy
When most of us first think about retirement, our minds go straight to financial spreadsheets, travel plans, and maybe a little extra time on the golf course. Most of us don’t think nearly enough about our brain. Funny how we assume our minds will just keep chugging along like an old reliable pickup truck, even
-
529 Plan to Roth IRA: What Parents Need to Know in 2025
I learned something recently that really made me want to tell everybody I know, the fact that the government now allows people with a 529 plan for their child to transfer the money into a Roth IRA account for their beneficiary! Of course, there are some caveats… If you haven’t come across it before, a
-
The Emotional Side of Money: Coping with Financial Stress
When I was working, money stress usually came in the form of “Do I have enough to cover the mortgage, the kids’ college, and maybe a decent vacation without selling a kidney?” Retirement, however, brings a new flavor of financial stress. Suddenly, the paycheck stops, and the pot of money you worked so hard to
-
Amazing Accomplishments in Retirement: Inspiring Stories That Prove It’s Never Too Late
When I first retired, I thought the highlight of my day might be putting together an Ikea bookshelf, or maybe figuring out how to configure my new router. But the more I looked around, the more I realized something important: retirement isn’t just the end of the road, it’s often the start of some of
-
Seven Smart Steps to Take Now to Prepare for the Next Market Downturn
Every time the headlines start yelling about “the worst day since…” I picture two versions of retired me. One version panics, refreshes the portfolio app, and wonders if I should sell everything and hide under the bed with a jar of peanut butter. The other version sips coffee, nods, and goes for a walk because