Retirement Planning
Bob Carlson shares miscellaneous advice on retirement and related topics
Found 81 Articles.
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The Family Bank Life Insurance Strategy: Your Own Personal Retirement Bank
In last week’s edition of Retirement Watch Weekly, I introduced readers to the Family Bank Strategy. Today, we’ll answer some commonly asked questions about it, starting with… Who should consider the Family Bank Strategy? One good candidate is someone who is keeping money in conservative investments as a safety net or in case someone in […]
How to Create Your Own Personal Retirement Bank with Life Insurance
Have you heard of the “Secret 770 Account” and “The President’s Account?” Or maybe you’ve seen these: Banking on Yourself® or “Infinite Banking?” Or perhaps even these: “Becoming Your Own Banker,” “The Personal Bank,” or “The Retirement Miracle?” If you read financial publications, especially online, you almost certainly have come across some of these. You’ve […]
The First Retirement Planning Question
It always is nice when the rest of the financial world begins to catch on to what I’ve been teaching my Retirement Watch readers. Many years ago, I began telling people that the first issue in retirement planning is deciding how you want to live in retirement. You can’t determine a realistic spending plan until […]
Your Retirement Blueprint: 7 Key Questions for Ages 50 and Older
Successful retirement has a blueprint. Whether you are already retired or retirement is years away, you can follow the blueprint to enhance your financial independence. For starters, you should always have a written retirement plan. (Surveys of retirees demonstrate that those who have written plans are more satisfied.) Developing a plan requires you to carefully […]
The 2018 Year-End Checklist for Retirees and Near-Retirees
Year-end financial planning is much more than tax planning, and it is very different this year. Making the right financial moves before Dec. 31 each year can extend the life of your nest egg. It is especially important to make shrewd moves as the year closes. You have to incorporate changes made by the Tax […]
How Working Longer Is Changing Retirement Strategies
More and more Americans remain in the work force after age 65. Some people need the money and don’t want to walk away from the salaries they’re making. Others aren’t ready to leave the structure and activity of the work place. Many people haven’t found other activities that will give meaning and purpose to their […]
5 Ideas to Simplify Your Financial Life
Most people find the financial part of their lives too complicated. Over and again, I’ve found that complicated finances lead to procrastination and stress. Too much time is spent simply organizing papers and data to figure out where things stand. By then, you’re too exhausted to make decisions or implement changes. If that sounds like […]
Defeating the Greatest Retirement Fear
Even affluent Americans are concerned that soaring medical bills will reduce their Retirement standards of living and diminish their estates. This is the time of year when you can do something about it. Medicare Open Enrollment season runs from Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 each year. Sign up during this period for coverage that begins […]