New Blogs This Week:
Featured Blog of the Week
7 Questions You MUST Ask Yourself Before Transitioning Into Retirement
Retirement isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s one of the biggest financial and lifestyle shifts of your life.
For decades, you’ve been in accumulation mode: earning, saving, investing. Then suddenly the paycheck stops… and your nest egg becomes your new paycheck.
That shift brings a new set of risks — and too many people walk into retirement without asking the right questions.
Here are 7 questions every retiree must answer with clarity:
- How much after-tax income do you actually need?
- How much income do you want guaranteed?
- How comfortable are you with market risk once the paycheck stops?
- What’s your plan for long-term care?
- How tax-efficient is your withdrawal strategy?
- What’s your longevity plan if you live into your 90s?
- How will your plan adapt to market surprises?
The best retirement plans aren’t about chasing the highest return — they’re about clarity, confidence, and flexibility.
👉 [Read the full article]
Safety-first Income Planning Blog
The Hidden Benefit of Safety-first Retirement Planning: A Rising Growth Portfolio
For decades, the rule was simple: as you age, move money out of stocks and into bonds.
But in today’s environment, bonds aren’t nearly as “safe” as they sound. Yields hover around 3–4%, and when interest rates rise, bond values fall. That means the very asset class meant to protect you can still lose money.
👉 The better alternative? Safety-first planning.
By locking in guaranteed income (through tools like fixed indexed annuities), you solve your #1 risk in retirement: outliving your money. And here’s the hidden benefit most people miss:
- With income covered, you don’t have to sell stocks in downturns
- Your portfolio compounds longer and often grows larger over time
- By your 70s or 80s, you may naturally hold more equities — without taking on extra risk
The tradeoff is clear: bonds provide uncertain income. Safety-first planning provides guaranteed income and frees your portfolio to grow.
The result? More income. More growth. More flexibility.
👉 [Read the full article]
Social Security Blog
The Truth About Working & Claiming Social Security Early (It’s Not a Total Loss❗️)
One of the most common questions I get: “What happens if I claim Social Security before full retirement age and keep working?”
At first glance, it looks like a penalty:
- Before FRA: $1 withheld for every $2 earned above $23,400
- Year you reach FRA: $1 withheld for every $3 earned above $62,160
But here’s the truth most people don’t realize: those benefits aren’t lost — they’re withheld.
Once you hit full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit and raises your monthly check for life. In other words, you get the money back over time.
Still, many retirees delay claiming for other reasons:
- Built-in growth: Benefits increase ~7–8% annually until age 70
- Tax efficiency: Delaying helps minimize taxes and avoid IRMAA surcharges
- Income flexibility: Guaranteed income sources can bridge the gap while Social Security grows
⚠️ Don’t forget the tax trap: up to 85% of benefits may be taxable if your provisional income exceeds $32k (single) or $44k (married).
Bottom line: Claiming early while working isn’t a total loss — but the best strategy for you often involves pairing Social Security with a broader income plan.
👉 [Read the full article]