Is Your 401(k) Taking on Too Much Risk?
People may envision themselves sitting on a beach and sipping Mai Tais when they think of retirement. This isn’t a bad image, but it isn’t complete—unless you have a plan to fund your golden-years income. I know what you’re thinking: “Retirement? Who cares about that? It’s so far away.” The problem is that if your 401(k) isn’t reviewed often enough, your future income could be significantly less than you are expecting to live on. So, let’s explore why it’s important […]
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Date: August 29, 2022
Make Like a Banker—Stress Test Your Retirement Strategy
You’ve probably heard of stress tests for banks. These are designed to anticipate (and thereby lessen the impact of) worst-case scenarios: What if a stock market crash happens? What if rates go up? But what about your retirement money? Similarly, you should also be thinking about how you would react to adverse scenarios, such as an unexpected medical emergency or the death of your spouse. A retirement stress test can help evaluate how well prepared you are for unexpected events […]
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Date: August 15, 2022
How We Helped Janice Create a Successful Retirement Plan
Janice was a new client who came to us to set up a retirement savings financial plan. She was 55 and wanted to retire in 10 years. Her investments for retirement were primarily in a 401(k) plan through her employer. She owned a lot of company stock. She also had an account at a major brokerage house and invested in an assortment of stocks, mutual funds, and bonds. Janice was unsure how that was working for her. She was thinking […]
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Date: July 26, 2022
6 Smart Strategies for High Net Worth Retirement Planning
High net worth (HNW) families such as yours face unique challenges, and opportunities, in the years leading up to retirement. You require sophisticated planning that addresses the complexities that inevitably accompany affluence, from tax strategies to estate plans. It’s critical to partner with the right professional financial advisor, someone with the knowledge and experience to customize solutions for your unique circumstances. And a friendly, caring attitude wouldn’t hurt, either. Here are six elements of an overall strategy that map out […]
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Date: July 14, 2022
The Big Mistake Richard Made Managing His Retirement
We’ll call him Richard so as to not embarrass him. Richard is a great guy, but sometimes he can’t seem to get out of his own way. Richard’s made many mistakes over the years, including: Buying a timeshare Investing in a family member’s startup Taking Social Security benefits before age 70 Failing to diversify his stock portfolio But the biggest mistake in Richard’s personal finance strategy was to utilize the services of a broker-dealer. B/Ds tend to focus more narrowly […]
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Date: June 21, 2022
We’re Afraid of Running Out of Money During Retirement
Many Americans might not go completely broke in retirement, but the fear of running out is real, especially when financial markets fall. According to a February 2021 research report by the National Institute on Retirement Security, 56 percent of respondents said they are concerned about achieving a financially secure retirement. The good news is that the right financial professional can help ease your fears by showing you how to make your money last longer. In this article, I share some […]
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Date: June 3, 2022
How Interest Rate Changes REALLY Impact Retirement
Yes, higher interest rates are here. No, they do not signal the end of your assets or savings. Despite market volatility in the markets and drama in the news, you can still retire with confidence in CT. In fact, retirees and those planning to retire in the New Haven and Hartford areas do not need to panic. Read on and I will explain both why and how you may even be able to increase your returns. Inflation, Interest Rates, […]
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Date: May 20, 2022
Reduce Your Retirement Tax Bill With a Backdoor Roth Conversion
Capital gains and other taxes spike for higher income brackets, so reducing tax liability is crucial in high net worth investing strategies. Roth IRAs present a rare opportunity to accumulate gains and withdraw them tax-free in retirement. However, direct contributions are not allowed for higher-income individuals. If your individual Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is $144,000 in 2022 or your joint MAGI is $214,000 in 2022, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA. However, there is another long-term investing strategy […]
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Date: March 21, 2022
Inflation is Here: How to Protect Your Retirement
Working with a registered investment advisor in CT, can help alleviate a rise in blood pressure caused by the recent rise in inflation. While retirees are likely to be some of the most affected, an investment advisor can help you prepare with a retirement strategy that accounts for any crisis often resulting in inflammatory periods. Before you can make an informed plan on how to protect your retirement, you need to understand what causes inflation to rise, what you might […]
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Date: March 7, 2022
The One Mistake Jack Made that Ruined his Retirement
They say we learn from our mistakes, but when it comes to retirement, the lesson may come too late to be of any value! With that in mind, here’s an opportunity to learn from someone else’s – a cautionary tale about the importance of a second opinion and switching financial advisors. An investor, who I’ll call “Jack,” was a mid-level manager at a large Fortune 500 company. He liked his company but admitted that it didn’t offer much advice on […]
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Date: November 29, 2021
