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
Subscribe To The Podcast:
Apple Podcasts - Google Podcasts - Spotify - Stitcher - iHeartRadio - TuneIn
Check out some other recent episodes
Retirement Planning Statistics
Retirement is closer than you think, but are you ready? With a staggering number of people lacking confidence in their retirement savings, Eric shares the misconceptions people have and what mistakes can derail someone’s financial future. Many people feel inadequate when it comes to what they have saved in their nest egg, uninformed about the pitfalls of target date funds, and unprepared about the reality of leaving the workforce earlier than expected.
Read More
Mailbag: Should I Fire My Broker?
Navigating life’s financial crossroads can be tricky, especially when it involves your financial future. In this episode of Retirement Ready, Eric addresses these complex issues head-on. How do you best evaluate your broker and your investment performance against the S&P 500? Eric says a lot of that comes down to setting expectations and understanding the risks. Then, Holly wants to know what to consider before making a midlife career change.
Read More
Putting It Off
We are all guilty of procrastinating from time to time. Financially speaking, though, this can get you into a lot of trouble. Let’s talk about the areas where it might feel better to kick the can down the road.
Read More
Common Scams to Avoid
Americans over 60 have lost more than $3.1 billion in various forms of fraud and scams in the last 12 months! Today we talk through some of the common scams people unfortunately fall for and how you can stay vigilant against it.
Read More
Financial Strategies: Agree or Disagree?
There are a number of financial ideas that people have differing opinions on. Eric shares today which of these he agrees with or disagrees and why.
Read More
Divorce Mistakes
Unfortunately, divorce happens. When it does, no one wants to make costly financial mistakes amidst an already stressful time. Today, we talk about the mistakes that can happen and how to avoid them when it comes to dividing up your assets with a spouse.
Read More
Villains of the Financial World
Just like some of these cinematic villains, some of these financial elements may have a bit of nuance and history that can make it hard to label them all good or all bad.
Read More
Uses for Life Insurance
When you’re younger, life insurance is often thought of as an income replacement as needed. But as you get older and into retirement, you might find other uses for life insurance. When thinking ahead for your estate and how it passes to beneficiaries, life insurance can prove to be a useful tool. Currently, the proceeds from life insurance are tax-free. How does that change how you include it in your financial plan? Eric outlines some of the options and benefits life insurance can provide.
Read More
Understanding Financial Risk
What kind of risks do you take in your financial life? As you get less comfortable with things like climbing up ladders and riding on skateboards, you might also become less financially risky. When you enter retirement, how you view your money in the market changes significantly from your working years. It’s important to look at your portfolio to ensure your investments match your risk tolerance.
Read More
Mailbag: What Financial Advice Should I Share with My Grandchild?
Why is retirement planning different than the “good old days” that our parents and grandparents experienced? Things like pensions, Social Security, and even RMD age have changed. Is your financial plan set up accordingly or is it in need of some changes to match?
Read More