"The Humble Dollar" Articles

You want a retirement income strategy that will last your lifetime, but what’s the best method of achieving that?

One of the big questions that might impact you when you retire is your decision on when to begin collecting Social Security benefits. Here, author Patrick Brennan explores the factors that influenced his filing strategy after retiring from the Coast Guard at age 63.

Planning for retirement involves asking the big questions, such as: How do I protect and grow my savings? Or, do I have enough? Beyond this, however, you have other factors to consider, both financial and non-financial.

Comparison is the thief of joy, and as you grow older, continually doing so in various facets of your life can lead you to lose sight of what matters most.

What is your financial personality, and how does it mesh with your spouse or partner? According to author Marjorie Kondrack, there are four common money personalities, some of which can counteract one another and result in ongoing financial conflicts.

You may be eagerly awaiting the ability to go on Medicare upon turning age 65; however, as part of your Medicare plan research, it’s important to understand what won’t be covered under traditional Medicare.

Becoming “Job Optional” is an opportunity to regain control over your daily life. However, make no mistake. Without thinking through all areas of a purposeful retirement, this transition can bring significant, unexpected loss that impacts your happiness.

What areas in your financial life can you consolidate and clear out the unnecessary clutter? Less time worrying about managing accounts means more time for you to focus on what matters most.

You’ll find it’s not what happens throughout your financial life that has the most impact, but how you react to it.

As an investor, you should be aware of the asymmetric risk-reward characteristics offered by the stock market. Why? They can offer you greater investment peace of mind.

Your financial journey throughout life won’t look the same as anyone else’s. So, while it can be informative to learn from others' financial experiences, here’s a word from the wise: Never blindly mimic their strategies.

Whether you refer to it as being “Job Optional”, your “Second Act” or something else, retirement is a complete life shift, and should be planned for as such.