A couple I know is downsizing. Though this new house has “good bones,” it needs some renovating and a great deal of updating.  The wife wants a to-the-penny budget in advance. The husband maintains that since they can’t predict everything they might need or want to do until they get into the project, any budget […]

Every now and then, I meet someone who tells me, “I love my work. And because of that, I’m not wild about the idea of ‘retirement.’ To me, that sounds like punishment, not paradise. Yet every time I go see my financial planner, retirement is all he talks about! Tell me: If I’m NOT planning […]

Your spouse found a renovated lake house. The property’s beautiful, and the price is nice. But when you mention current interest rates and the risk of taking on more debt, you hear, “Babe, c’mon! Life is short. This is our chance to build some memories with the kids. Besides, if we don’t pull the trigger—and […]

Someone once told me: “I went to see my financial guy about retiring and all we talked about was my mutual fund’s performance! I know that’s important, but don’t I also need to be talking to an attorney about revising my will? And what about long-term care?” Not to wax nostalgic, but things used to […]

You’re in your 50s, and you plan to retire within the next ten to fifteen years. What should you expect with regard to future healthcare costs? Expect to pay more. In 2022, overall health spending in the U.S. was $13,493 per capita, or a staggering $4.5 trillion (that’s “trillion” with a T). And healthcare costs—as […]

Here’s a question I got a while back… “My parents have asked me to oversee the estate planning process for our family. It could be a little tricky. You see, I have four siblings. Most of us have kids, but not all. We’ve always gotten along as a family, but I’m a little worried that […]