Is Retirement an Anachronism During the Era of Covid-19?
Is retirement an antiquated idea? Should it go away like the horse and buggy did a century ago? If not, what new experiences and possibilities should professionals think about as they enter the latter years of their working careers? I think about these questions frequently, because the primary focus of [...]
Mid Life Career Transition or Job Loss During Covid-19: Assessing Your Journey Forward
Career transition or job loss is always an important life event but can have especially significant implications when it occurs in mid-life. And when you find yourself facing mid life job change during a global pandemic, there really are many important topics to think about! The time when you are [...]
Mid Year Review: The Truth Is Stranger than Fiction
Having just passed the midpoint for the year 2020, I have been reflecting about these unusual times of the Coronavirus. My mind keeps returning to the often used quote “The truth is stranger than fiction”. This old saying, which some think was first written 200 years ago by Lord Byron [...]
Navigating A Mid Life Pivot in the New Year: Back to “Normal” or Moving Toward a New Future?
Welcome to 2021! For most people, the turning of the calendar is a very familiar ritual with New Year’s eve parties, resolutions to do better in the year ahead and more! But the transition into this new year is obviously very different. There were likely no parties, unless you were [...]
Managing Finances If You Work in the Gig Economy
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16.5 million people rely on contingent or alternative work arrangements for their income (See Note 1 Below). Often referred to as the "gig economy," these nontraditional or contingent work arrangements include independent contractors, on-call and temp agency workers, and those who sign up [...]
Market Volatility Continues In Spite of Economic Confidence
Another year is drawing to a close, but so far neither market volatility nor market-moving headlines have shown any signs of winding down. As we reflect on a challenging 2018 and look for bright spots in 2019, confidence in continued steady growth in the U.S. economy remains. The list of [...]
Strategies for Retiring in Volatile Markets
In an ideal world, your retirement would be timed perfectly. You would be ready to leave the workforce, your debt would be paid off, and your nest egg would be large enough to provide a comfortable retirement--with some left over to leave a legacy for your heirs. Unfortunately, this is [...]
Beyond Politics: What Does the Election Mean for Your Investments?
As the recent Democratic and Republican political conventions are in the rear view mirror, the presidential election season will now move into high gear! The "hype" on everyone's minds right now is, of course, whether Donald or Hillary should win the election, and that cannot be ignored. If this post [...]
Comparing Health Insurance Options during Open Enrollment
The decisions you make during open enrollment season regarding health insurance are especially important, since you generally must stick with the options you choose until the next open enrollment season, unless you experience a "qualifying" event such as marriage or the birth of a child. As a result, you should [...]
Taxes, Retirement, and Timing Social Security
The advantages of tax deferral are often emphasized when it comes to saving for retirement. So it might seem like a good idea to hold off on taking taxable distributions from retirement plans for as long as possible. (Note: Required minimum distributions from non-Roth IRAs and qualified retirement plans must [...]