Today’s Prep:
Why should you have a customized financial plan? What do you need to consider and what goals help you build an outline for your plan? Join us as we talk about what goes into the process of setting someone up for a secure future.
Equipping Points:
If you don’t like a cookie cutter house or a one-size-fits all shirt, you probably don’t want a financial plan that’s the same for everyone. Customizing your financial plan allows you to find the scenarios that work best for you. So, what questions do you need to consider?
Is 65 the retirement age? Instead of asking when most people retire, ask, when do you want to retire? Choose a date that you want and then see how your plan works.
What does your retirement lifestyle look like? Are you all about travel? Want to eat out more? What does it cost to maintain your standard of living? It’s important to plan for more than just covering your utility bills, but considering what you want retirement to consist of.
How much risk should you have in your portfolio? It really comes down to your risk tolerance. While there are suggested amounts of risk compared to your age, that ultimately differs from person to person. Stress test your plan and know your risk score. Are you a conservative or moderate or aggressive investor?
Without knowing for sure how long you’ll live, what kind of longevity do you plan for? Not only that, but do you hope to leave a legacy? Would you rather give some of your money to heirs now? It’s important to consider what you want as a part of your customized plan.
Have you met with an advisor to create your customized retirement plan?
Listen to the entire episode or click on the timestamps below to skip to a particular part of the planning process.
1:20 – What is the planned retirement age?
3:47 – What is your lifestyle and income needs?
5:21 – What is your risk tolerance?
7:21 – Does health history factor in?
9:22 – Will you leave a legacy?
Today’s Takeaway:
“Retirement is about what you want, not about someone else tells you that you have to have.“
-Eric Peterson
Related Resources:
Uncommon Sense in Financial Planning
More From Eric:
The host: Eric Peterson - Contact - Call: (515) 226-1500
Subscribe To The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts - Google Podcasts - Spotify - Stitcher - iHeartRadio - TuneIn
Check out some other recent episodes
Mailbag: Moving To A State With Income Tax And More
In this episode, Eric is answering your questions! We’ll cover a range of topics today, including key considerations for income taxes when moving to a new state, how to initiate financial conversations with parents or grandparents, and whether using a life insurance policy to save for a college fund is a wise choice.
Read MoreWhat Is Lazy Money?
What is lazy money and why do you want to not have too much of it in your retirement portfolio? Simply put, lazy money is money that isn’t growing as much as it could be. Having your money grow and work for you is a key part of building a solid portfolio, so Eric breaks down some strategies to help get the most out of your money in this episode.
Read MoreRetirement Real Estate Decisions: Downsizing, Snowbirding, and More
One of the key discussions you may have in retirement is what to do about the house. Should you downsize your home? Pay it off early? Buy a vacation home and become a snow bird? Eric emphasizes the importance of considering not just the financial implications but also the lifestyle changes each of these decisions entail. Weighing out the pros and cons of each decision can highlight what is right for you (which isn’t always the same as what your neighbor is doing).
Read MoreWater Wheels and Retirement Planning
Have you ever wondered how a water wheel can relate to your retirement planning? It might seem like an odd comparison, but in today’s podcast, Eric breaks down this fascinating analogy and its significance in maintaining a stable financial future.
Read More