Retirement planning is becoming increasingly difficult for many pre-retirees; and it’s virtually ignored among the young – so, what else is new?  Expectations may a part, but there’s more.

One cause of the problem, of course, rests with advisors themselves.  According to Phoenix Marketing International, only one-third of all households feel that financial firms look out for their best interests. Continue reading →

Financial planning, whether for retirement or anything else, can sometimes appear a little  boring to many people.    How much do most people really know about financial matters?  You may know more than you think!

If you like soccer, you can have some fun while you test your financial literacy.  I learned about this online game in one of the industry trade magazines and tried it out.  You can play alone or with someone else. Continue reading →

TEN THOUSAND AMERICANS TURN AGE 65 EVERY DAY!

For some, making the decision to claim retirement benefits early may be right choice.  But by claiming benefits early, millions of people could be losing out on tens-of-thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us we’re living longer.  But while “65” is synonymous with retirement, in terms of claiming Social Security benefits, age 65 has little meaning for almost three-quarters of us.  The reason:  Almost 75% choose to receive Social Security retirement benenfits BEFORE their full retirement age. Continue reading →