Keen On Retirement

When is the best time to start planning for retirement? Right now! Whether you’re new to the workforce or just starting to see retirement on the horizon, you never know what tomorrow is going to bring. Hopefully you’re able to work as long as you want, doing something that’s fulfilling until you’re ready to retire.

Many people wait until they are on the brink of retirement--or worse, already retired--to figure out their retirement plan. This is akin to flying a commercial jet without a flight plan. One mistake and the plane can go down.

Even if one spouse is the primary breadwinner and the other more of a homemaker, couples have to plan for retirement together. Your retirement planning process and your retirement period itself will be much more successful if you put the time in now to think about both parties’ needs. And if a sudden health issue should make it hard for one of you to handle the family’s finances, both people need to understand how the bills get paid and how your investments are working. These five special considerations for retiring couples are big topics at our annual checkups with married clients.

Whether you’re 30 or 60 years old, involving a financial advisor in your retirement planning is a smart move. But not all financial advisors are created equal. Some advisors are more interested in making money or meeting employer metrics. It’s important you know how to steer clear of these folks and find an advisor who truly has your best interests in mind.

When you’re working full time and raising kids, it’s hard not to get caught up in the minutiae that dominates your daily life. Just getting from Monday to Friday can feel like one frantic slog through whatever’s next on the agenda: getting the kids to school, getting yourself to work, meetings, project deadlines, picking the kids up, soccer practice, dance rehearsal, homework, and a few meals squeezed in wherever they fit.

There’s more to crafting a sensible estate plan than just deciding what assets you want to leave to your loved ones. That’s a big part of the process, of course. But your estate plan might also include establishing a trust that safeguards your assets for beneficiaries. You might set up a charitable fund that benefits a favorite cause. You’ll need to file all your important documents in one easy-to-find spot. You’ll need to make decisions about how you want to be cared for at the end of your life. And you’ll need to coordinate with attorneys and tax experts.