Retirement Planning Library
Who We Help
Hi, I'm Chris Merchant, CFP® from Hunt Country Wealth Management. I want to share two key points about our firm: >> Who We Are >> Who We Help. So who are we? Well, our firm name is called Hunt Country Wealth Management, because we have roots in the hunt...
The Overconfidence Trap: Navigating Market Expectations in Retirement
The Overconfidence Trap: Navigating Market Expectations in Retirement By: Chris Merchant, CFP® BFA® Introduction In recent conversations with prospective clients, I've noticed a troubling trend: retirees are becoming overly optimistic about stock market returns. Many...
Important Birthdays After 50
Important Birthdays Over 50Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older, “and-a-half” birthdays start making a comeback. >> In...
Retirement Planning for Life’s Unexpected Moments
Boxer Mike Tyson famously quipped that “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Like a boxing match, sometimes life tries to throw some haymakers. The best financial plan isn’t optimized to the cent; instead, it’s flexible enough to allow for those...
Three Reasons Retirees May Run Out of Money in Retirement
Three Reasons Retirees May Run Out of Money in Retirement...Some words of encouragement... It's totally natural to feel worried about outliving your retirement savings, but it's important to remember that there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening....
Retirement During a Recession? Time Segmentation Can Help.
Can you retire in a recession? The Time Segmentation for structuring retirement income can help. If you're looking to retire during a recession, the Time Segmentation Method for Retirement Income can give you the financial confidence and strategies you need to...
Puzzles vs. Mysteries: Making Decisions In Today’s Modern World
Puzzles vs. Mysteries: Making Decisions in Today's Modern World By: Chris Merchant, CFP® BFA® Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of information in your life? Malcolm Gladwell says we are now living in a world of mysteries, where the traditional approach of...
Time Segmentation Strategy for Retirement Income
What is the time segmentation strategy for structuring retirement income?Are you nearing retirement and feeling a little lost when it comes to how to best structure your income? You're not alone. One of the best-kept secrets for structuring retirement income is a...
Recession 101: What is a Recession and Are We in One?
Recession 101: What is a Recession and Are We in One? By: Chris Merchant, CFP® BFA®, Written December 2022You may have heard the term recession thrown around a lot lately, but what does it actually mean? Referencing my college Economics 101 class… A recession is...
Online Retirement Calculator
Have you heard of the term know your retirement number? Many firms and financial companies offer free online calculators which help you identify the amount of money you need to retire. It’s a simple way to know if your retirement savings are on track, but when it’s...
Behavioral Biases That Can Affect Your Retirement
Are you worried about making the right decisions for your retirement? You're not alone. Many people are affected by common biases such as herd mentality, confirmation bias, and loss aversion. That's why it's important to work with a certified Behavioral Financial...
How To Find a Retirement Advisor
Where can you get a plan for retirement? You want to retire, but don't know where to go for help. When you're looking for someone to guide you through the process of retiring, it’s important to have high standards for whom you choose to work with. When you begin your...
What Should Be Included in a Plan for Retirement?
What to Include in Your Plan for Retirement Are you starting to plan for your retirement? Ever wonder what goes into creating a good financial plan for retirement? The key question your plan must answer is: “How much income can your resources sustainably produce for...
When You Should Start Your Plan for Retirement
What to do 5 years before you retire... EXTENDED ARTICLE ↓ The truth is, the earlier you start preparing for your retirement, the smoother and more successful your transition is likely to be. As a rule of thumb, we suggest starting your planning within five years of...
Review of Here’s What A $2 Million Retirement Looks Like In America as featured in the Wall Street Journal.
Retirement Advisor’s Review of Here’s What A $2 Million Retirement Looks Like In America as featured in the Wall Street Journal.By: Chris Merchant, CFP® BFA® I recently came across an article in The Wall Street Journal titled, “Here’s What A $2 Million Retirement...