Retirement Planning Library
Seeking Certainty in Uncertain World
Seeking Certainty in an Uncertain WorldWritten By: Chris Merchant, CFP® BFA® | June 2022 It’s natural for humans to want to make sense of the chaotic world in which we live. Finding certainty, real or imagined, makes us feel safe and confident. But our desire for...
What is Wealth Management?
You may have heard the term "Wealth Management" tossed around, but what does it actually mean? Check out this week's video feature with Chris Merchant, CFP® I wanted to take a moment to explain what is Wealth Management? Most of our clients might not initially call...
Budgeting for Your Retirement
Mapping the Road to Financial Security in Retirement Picture this: a retirement where your days are filled with leisure, travel, and quality time with loved ones. It's a dream many share, but achieving it requires careful planning. For retirees and those approaching...
When to take Social Security
Timing is Everything When it Comes to Social Security Deciding when to take Social Security benefits is a significant milestone in the retirement planning process. With roots tracing back to August 14, 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social...
The Risk of Living Too Long in Retirement
Living Longer Than Your Savings Lasts A Modern Retirement Challenge Retirement is often envisioned as a time filled with leisure, travel, and enjoying the fruits of one's lifelong labor. However, as life expectancies increase, so does the need for financial planning...
What You Need to Consider Before Withdrawing Retirement Savings
Before You Dip into Your Nest Egg Ask These Five Key Questions Retirement is a significant life milestone, marking the transition from decades of work to a period of relaxation and enjoyment. However, ensuring a financially secure retirement often hinges on making...
IRA Basics
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are a crucial component of many retirement plans. As the first wave of the baby boomer generation begins to enter retirement, the focus on a comprehensive retirement plan has never been more prevalent. Most financial...
Banks, Annuities and the Stock Market
Navigating the Four Paths to Retirement Income Retirement is a rewarding milestone that marks the end of decades spent in the workforce. But it can also be daunting, especially when it comes to planning your finances. For baby boomers and retirees, securing a stable...
401(k) Distribution for Retirement
How you will take your 401(k) distributions when you retire can be an important consideration in executing your post-retirement plan.We all look forward to the day when we can finally kick back, relax and collect our carefully-planned and hard-earned retirement...
Saving for Retirement Expenses
By Chris Merchant, CFP® Recently, my wife Heather and I attended a retirement planning conference in Boston. One speaker presented a compelling formula that caught my attention. He displayed a series of numbers on the screen and invited the audience to decipher their...