Want a 1 Page Financial Plan?

I was at the gym today climbing some stairs (my favorite exercise) with 10 different TV channels (mostly news) all talking about the state of the world in the country. Depending on where you looked, you could get a completely different snapshot of the world, of what’s important and what’s not. The world we live in simply has a lot of noise, and it’s hard to know what to focus on and what to ignore. Sadly, it’s the same way…

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5 Expenses That Could Go Down In Retirement

So far in our series on retirement expenses, we’ve discussed the retirement smile, which researchers discovered after analyzing thousands of retired families and tracking their expenses.  We learned that on average, the typical retired family has three different stages of spending in retirement, and we also learned that retirement expenses typically go down, when adjusted for inflation, on an overall basis. Our most recent blog was on the top 5 expenses in retirement, and even some expenses that may go…

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5 Biggest Expenses In Retirement

One of the most common misconceptions about retirement people have is that they’ll be spending as much in retirement as they were before. As I detailed previously, retirement spending goes down on an inflation-adjusted basis by 1% per year. That said, how do retirees spend their money?  In today’s post, we are going to discuss the 5 biggest retiree expenses.   TRAVEL Travel expenses may quickly add up in retirement, especially in the early years (aka the go-go years). You’ll suddenly…

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How Much Will I Spend In Retirement?

Many people approach retirement planning as if they’ll spend the same amount every year for the rest of their lives. This assumption simplifies the planning process, but it is not practical. Our spending habits change from time to time, partly due to our circumstances in life. And of course, our desires in life will change because of a number of factors as well. If you can look back on your own life, it’s not hard to imagine times when you’ve…

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8 Ways To Pay For Long Term Care Needs

Let me tell you something: you don’t have to buy long-term care insurance.  Some people are adamant about it but frankly it’s not necessary for every single person.  It may be that you never need long-term care insurance.  It is estimated that around 70% of people who reach age 65 will require long-term care for at least a period.  The problem with this is that we don’t know how long you will actually need long term care.  It may be…

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5 Common Long Term Care Questions

Figuring out what to do in regards to your long term care is a really important decision, and I want to make sure that you get it right. While I don’t think it’s always necessary to buy a long term care insurance policy, I do think it’s essential to have a long term care plan.  As you analyze your options, consider (at least) these 5 questions: 1.  Do I really need long term care insurance? 2.  When should you buy…

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What Types of Long-Term Care Are There?

Not all long-term care is the same. Some types of long-term care are more hands-off whereas others are pretty intensive, providing care 24/7. And other types aren’t solely related to housing, but still offer assistance to seniors in a variety of ways. Before we get started, let’s make sure we are all clear on ‘What is Long Term Care?‘: Long Term Care helps an individual perform what is known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). There are six basic ADLs:…

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What Is Long-Term Care?

Long Term Care (which is separate from your Health Insurance) is designed to specifically cover the cost of care related to your health if you are not able to take care of yourself. This extra care could be needed as the result of a major health setback such as a heart attack or stroke, or the need for care can develop slowly as you get older, especially if you have an ongoing health condition or disability.   It could also arise…

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Consider these 5 Factors Before Retiring Overseas

Retiring abroad may seem appealing for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’ve always dreamt of living in a foreign land, or lately, the cost of living in the US made you think of looking outside the US boundaries. No matter the reason, you aren’t alone. Over 700,000 Social Security checks are sent abroad, so there are a lot of other people making this same decision.  However, before diving in yourself, consider these factors before retiring outside the United States. Look…

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Downsizing Homes in Retirement

There’s a lot to consider before you retire, which is why I wrote a book called 65 Questions to Ask and Answer Before you Retire.  In it, I go over 65 questions that you at least need to consider before you finally call it quits. Downsizing homes in retirement may be one decision you make to save on expenses, live a more nimble lifestyle, and make your retirement income go further.  Before you downsize though, consider these factors to make…

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