Retirement Planning

The straight answer: An annuity rider is an optional feature you can add to an annuity contract to provide specific benefits, like guaranteed lifetime income or long-term care coverage, in exchange for an annual fee. While these riders can be a powerful tool for securing your retirement, they come with...

Deciding when to start collecting your Social Security retirement benefits is one of the most consequential financial choices you will ever make. After guiding hundreds of clients through this labyrinth, I've seen how the right decision can add tens of thousands of dollars to your lifetime income, while a...

"What is a good monthly retirement income" or "How much do I need to retire?" – these are questions, often clouded with uncertainty, that loom large in the minds of many pre-retirees and recent retirees. You've likely arrived here seeking a precise figure, a definitive dollar amount for...

As a financial planner for nearly 3 decades, I’ve seen how crucial a Social Security check is to a retiree's budget. Knowing exactly when that payment will arrive isn't just a convenience. It's the key to financial stability. The official Social Security payment schedule can be confusing, but my goal is to...

Retirement accounts: a world of choices, confusion, and financial uncertainty. We've all been there, overwhelmed by the maze of options, unsure which path to take. But fear not, because today we're diving headfirst into the ultimate clash: Roth IRA vs 401(k). Picture this: a battle between two heavyweight contenders, both...

Are you ready to unlock the secrets to financial independence? For nearly three decades as a financial planner, I’ve seen people get paralyzed by the alphabet soup of retirement plans. You're handed a benefits packet and told to choose: 401(k) or 403(b)? It feels like defusing a bomb with...

That 3 AM wake-up call. The one where you ask yourself, "Am I saving enough for retirement?" In my near 30 years as a financial planner, I've seen that anxiety on the faces of countless clients. You know the old retirement panning playbook, right? Save 10%, hope for 8%...

Just this past March 2025, a new client, a freelance marketing consultant, slid a tax projection across my desk showing she owed nearly $40,000 to the IRS. She thought her only option was to write the check. She was wrong. My take? A SEP IRA isn't a retirement account you...

Let’s be real: staring down the Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) decision feels like defusing a bomb with two wires, both labeled "TAXES." I've had clients walk into my office with a mix of hope and sheer terror about a Roth conversion, terrified of the upfront tax bill. For over...

You're facing a $50,000+ decision that most people get wrong: Should your retirement savings go into a Roth or Traditional IRA? Here's the reality: In 2026, choosing the right account type could save you $50,000+ in taxes over 30 years. The wrong choice? It costs you. This guide cuts through the...