Understanding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): What Retirees Need to Know
If you’re approaching or already enjoying retirement, you’ve likely heard the term “Required Minimum Distribution” or RMD. But what exactly does it mean, and how should it factor into your financial planning? What Are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)? RMDs are the minimum amounts that retirees must withdraw annually from certain retirement accounts, starting at a…
Tax Diversification: Why It’s Essential for Your Financial Future
What Is Tax Diversification? Tax diversification means spreading your investments across accounts with different tax treatments—rather than putting all your money into one type of account. Just like investment diversification helps manage risk, tax diversification prepares you to face different tax scenarios and makes your withdrawals more flexible in the future. The Three Main Tax…
Understanding Fees and Risk in Your Investment Portfolio
When it comes to investing, two topics often spark the most questions — fees and risk. Both play a major role in determining your long-term returns, yet many investors don’t fully understand how they interact or how to evaluate them. Let’s break down what you’re really paying for, how to identify the right level of…
How Do I Retire at 62 With $1,500,000 Saved?
Reaching $1.5 million in savings by age 62 is a major accomplishment — and for many, it’s enough to retire confidently. But whether it truly supports the retirement lifestyle you want depends on how you invest, withdraw, and plan around taxes, inflation, and longevity. Let’s walk through how to turn that $1.5 million nest egg…
How Much Do You Really Need for Retirement?
A Practical Guide for Pre-Retirees If you’re approaching retirement, one question tends to rise above all others:“How much do I actually need to retire comfortably?” It’s a question that can feel overwhelming — especially with rising costs, market volatility, and longer life expectancies. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a clear…
How Earnings Drive Stock Prices — and What Your Portfolio Should Keep in Mind
When investors talk about “earnings season,” they’re really talking about one of the most important forces behind stock prices: corporate profits. The chart above highlights how Earnings Per Share (EPS) has trended over the past year across small-, mid-, and large-cap companies — and understanding why those lines move the way they do can help…
Your End-of-Year Financial Review Checklist
As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause and review your financial plan. An end-of-year financial check-in helps you make sure you’re on track, identify opportunities for improvement, and start the new year with clarity and confidence. Here’s a simple checklist: 1. Portfolio Performance Ask yourself: How did my investments…
Roth Conversions: How They Work
What Is a Roth Conversion? A Roth conversion is when you take funds from a Traditional IRA, 401(k), or other tax-deferred retirement account and transfer them into a Roth IRA. When you convert, the amount moved is treated as taxable income in the year of the conversion. Once inside the Roth IRA, the money grows…
What Should a Retirement Income Plan Include?
Retirement isn’t just about stopping work — it’s about creating a plan that allows you to confidently replace your paycheck with income from the savings and investments you’ve built over time. That’s why a strong retirement income plan is essential. Here’s what it should consist of: 1. A Clear Picture of Spending Needs A realistic…
S&P 500 Performance Following Rate Cuts: What Investors Should Know
When the Federal Reserve announces an interest rate cut, it often makes headlines and sparks conversations across the financial world. But what does it really mean for investors, especially those nearing or in retirement? While each cycle is different, history gives us some perspective on how the stock market has behaved in the months following…