It’s Time to Spring-Clean Your Financial Plan

It’s Time to Spring-Clean Your Financial Plan

Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, as the world awakens from its winter slumber and new life begins to bloom. As the saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers", and this sentiment can also apply to your financial life.

Just as the rain nourishes the soil and helps plants grow, taking the time to "spring-clean" your financial plan can help you grow and thrive in the months and years ahead.

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Manage Your Time Wisely in Retirement

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Manage Your Time Wisely in Retirement

When you're a new retiree, staring at that blank page where your work schedule used to be, time might seem so abundant that you forget just how valuable it really is. But if you treat retirement like an endless weekend, you might be surprised to look up in a month, a year, or a couple years, and realize you don't feel as fulfilled as you thought you'd be. All those hours puttering around the house might suddenly feel like a precious resource you've wasted.

Being a good steward of your time is a skill that will only become more important as you progress in retirement. Here are some ideas to help you manage your days with a sense of purpose and contentment that will improve your Return on Life.

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Retirees, What’s Your Withdrawal Strategy?

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Retirees, What’s Your Withdrawal Strategy?

Retirement planning often focuses on the accumulation phase: saving diligently and investing wisely. We spend 40 or more years of our lives focused on building the proverbial “nest egg,” but after retirement things change and so should our financial focus.

There are a variety of questions that must be answered. How much should you be withdrawing annually? Should you go with your IRA first or your brokerage account? Should you withdraw a fixed percentage or fixed amount? How much will you leave behind? 

Having a well planned withdrawal strategy is important:

5 Easy Ways to Protect Retirees from Financial Abuse

5 Easy Ways to Protect Retirees from Financial Abuse

Technology has helped to streamline the way we manage our money, allowing us to perform transactions and monitor our accounts online, instead of needing to do everything in-person. These tools are simple to use, getting better every year, and don’t cost any more than the traditional methods.

But there are risks involved, especially for our seniors. This vulnerable population is more likely to fall victim to the fraud and abuse that has come along with this digital revolution. Whether it’s phishing attempts, fraudulent lotteries, or exploitation by deceitful caregivers, these threats are becoming more common and more sophisticated.

There are ways to mitigate these risks. Here are five essential strategies that should help: