It’s always what you don’t know that can trip you up when planning for retirement. And there’s a lot about Social Security you probably don’t know – but should. Or at least you should if you want the largest possible benefit for you and your household. So, what then, are some the quirkiest rules to know? Spouses and delayed benefits: Married couples are told by Social Security to plan for two lives. [...]

The Secure Act became law on Jan. 1, and some provisions are becoming clearer. This law was passed because of the widely known lack of retirement planning by many Americans. Baby boomers are the first generation for which many workers are responsible for their own retirement. Many will not receive a pension. While some have done a great job saving in 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts, many have not saved [...]

THE NEW YEAR IS THE perfect time to start getting your finances on track, and that doesn't necessarily mean cutting back on the things you enjoy. But sometimes getting a handle on your finances can mean a little sacrifice now that will pay off in the future. Here are five things you can do to improve your retirement finances in 2020: Convert tax-deferred retirement accounts to Roth accounts. Be aware of [...]

MANSFIELD -- Suzanne Meister has seen it all during her 31 years as a 911 dispatcher working with Mansfield police and fire departments. "We've been through it," said Lisa Abrams a fellow dispatcher. "We've done bank robberies, shootings, pursuits ... Suzanne has taught me a lot of things being a dispatcher. "She taught me it's not just about dispatching calls. It's about knowing your people and their families. Knowing their [...]

As planners and advisors, one of the most common opening questions we get when sitting down with a client is the age-old question of ‘how much do we need to retire’, coupled with ‘will we be able to retire’. Somewhat surprisingly, these questions come more frequently from those who have done a more than admirable job of saving and investing in order to help properly prepare for their golden years. [...]

Spend today, plan for retirement tomorrow is an attitude shared by Americans of all generations, but to a lesser degree by older baby boomers. Going into 2020, more than one-third of baby boomers near retirement age have not done any financial planning within the past two years, according to a survey sponsored by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), and more than half (59%) of millennials haven’t considered [...]