Candid Conversations: Retirement Talk with Ryan Cravitz

As we close out the year, we wanted to take the chance to answer a bunch of financial questions that we’ve received. It’ll give us the opportunity to cover a wide range of topics that will hopefully address an area of planning you’ve also been curious about. Before we get into these great questions, we’ll share a cautionary tale about a retiree who fell victim to an investment scam, losing nearly...

Social Security is the backbone of retirement for millions of Americans, but big changes could be coming pretty soon. In fact, one Congressman asked the Congressional Budget Office to put together a report detailing the impact of changing the full retirement age from 67 to 69. This change, if implemented, would have huge implications for anyone planning their retirement. Ryan will break down some...

Are you and your spouse on the same page when it comes to what you want in your retirement? If not, it’s time to talk. Retirement planning is a significant milestone that requires careful consideration and, more importantly, collaboration.  Many couples don’t communicate enough when it comes to money, but preparing for retirement is best done with both parties understand the goals and how they’ll...

You can never ask too many questions when you’re trying to understand your finances and prepare for retirement. It’s essential that you know what you’re invested in and what you’re working towards. In this video, Ryan Cravitz will tackle some of the most fundamental yet challenging questions about retirement planning.    Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro  1:16 – How much you nee...

Social Security is a really important part of an overall retirement plan but there are five things people get wrong when planning for retirement. The things we’ll talk about in this video are misunderstandings we often hear from clients and other people. In fact, advisors don’t always get these things right.   If you’re approaching retirement or already in retirement, you’ll want to make sure you...

Today we’re going to give you three compelling reasons why you should consider retiring now or as soon as possible. If you are unsure about your retirement readiness, this episode will help you evaluate your financial security, address potential burnout and health considerations, and ensure you have a purposeful plan for your retirement days.  If any of these reasons resonate with you, it’s worth...

In this video, Ryan outlines five crucial things you need to know about RMDs, including when you need to take them, how to calculate them, and strategies to reduce them for tax efficiency. These five things will help give you a better understanding of RMDs and the role they play in building an income plan, which will also help you be more efficient in retirement.    Here’s what we discuss in this...

One of the biggest questions that we get about Social Security is when should I take my benefits? A lot of people want to claim them as soon as they can for multiple reasons, but would you be better off delaying your benefits up to age 70? Join us as we explore five compelling reasons why you might want to consider postponing your Social Security claims, from maximizing survivor benefits to enhanc...

As you approach retirement, one of the most pressing questions is how much you can withdraw from your savings without running out of money. The 4% rule, a popular guideline in retirement planning, suggests that you can withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in the first year and adjust that amount for inflation each subsequent year.  This rule, developed by William Bengen in the 1990s, was desig...

The crucial conversation when it comes to retirement is all about how much you need to have saved. The traditional $1 million benchmark doesn’t have as much staying power as it used to. In fact, a recent study found that Americans believe they need at least $1.5 million to retire comfortably.  We’ve found that most people believe they’ll need a lot more saved before they can retire or they feel li...

We hear a lot of half-truths in the financial world, not necessarily because people try to make misleading statements, but because sometimes a simple statement just doesn’t quite tell the whole story.  On this episode, we’ll discuss a few examples that seem straightforward but have nuances that can significantly impact your retirement strategy.   Here are the half-truths we’ll explain in this epis...

While you dream about the leisurely days ahead of you in retirement, it’s also important to think about some of the less glamorous items, including insurance. In this new season of life, your old policies may no longer suit your needs or may come to an end. So, what types of coverage should you be considering for your golden years? What do you need to keep in mind as you prep for the transition? ...

Are you planning for your retirement with the confidence that you're making all the right moves? With so many moving pieces in retirement, it takes detailed planning to cover all your bases, but it begins with building an income plan.  In today's episode, we'll unveil the crucial income planning mistakes that could jeopardize your retirement and show you how to craft a financial pla...

As much as any other threat, recognizing and avoiding scams has become a necessary skill for today’s retirees to develop. In today’s episode, we’ll share a story of how a scam destroyed a woman’s entire retirement savings. Then, we’ll explore some crucial steps you can take to safeguard your financial well-being against the growing tide of scams and identity theft.  Here’s some of what we discuss...

We work through all types of scenarios with clients each day and find tools that will help them reach their financial goals. To help you get a better idea of how we work through these different scenarios, we are going to run through a list of questions that we’ve been asked recently.   Each of these topics cover common financial scenarios that you have probably dealt with already or might come acr...

Whether you're nearing retirement, already retired, or just planning ahead, it's crucial to stay informed about Social Security and any changes that happen each year. Today we’re going to share some key things that you need to know and bring you up to speed on some updates that need to be aware of. Ryan will also tell you how this might impact you and the planning you’ll do this year. He...

It’s not always easy to keep up with rule changes and updates when they happen each year, but we like to stay on top of anything that might impact your retirement planning. In today’s episode, we will bring you up to date on what’s new for 2024. From tax brackets to Social Security to 529 plans, we’ll cover some key planning items that everyone will want to know about.  Here’s some of what we disc...

As we close in on the end of the year, we want to finish up by answering questions that people have asked us recently. We’ll cover key financial planning topics like retirement withdrawal rates, investing in CDs, advisor fees, Social Security and more.   Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: Is it okay to take a short-term loan to get funds for a closing while you wait for your current h...

Today we’re going to finish up our two-part conversation that will juxtapose the individuality of retirement plans with the foundational principles that remain constant regardless of who you are. These 10 total truths need to be accounted for when you build a plan for retirement, and we’ll talk about how and why they could have an impact on your financial future.    Here are the retirement truths...

Retirement is a unique journey for each of us. The thought that there's a one-size-fits-all solution is a myth, but what if we told you there are certain universal truths that can guide every retiree?  We’ll explore the realities that all of us will face in this episode so join us as we juxtapose the individuality of retirement plans with the foundational principles that remain consistent acr...

We came across an article recently that would get anyone’s attention when they’re trying to save for retirement. The headline said this person lost $400k in a Roth 401(k) and warned others about the risk as well. While this headline could very easily be characterized as clickbait, we wanted to explore it a little further and see how much truth was in these numbers. Here's some of what we’ll d...

Finding a trustworthy and competent financial advisor is essential for securing your financial future. After all, they play a vital role in helping you make informed decisions about your money, investments, and long-term financial goals.   We’ll find out in today’s episode as we explore how to identify “The Ghost”, “The Jargon Juggler”, “The Chameleon”, and several more. And what should you do if...

Don’t get us wrong. In many cases, your 401(k) can be your best investment vehicle, offering numerous benefits and tax advantages and many times a 100% return on some of your contributions (also known as an employer match). However, it's important to recognize that it might not always be the optimal choice for everyone. Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we dissect some reasons why...

In this episode, we've distilled it down to what we believe are nine big mistakes to watch out for. Avoiding these crucial missteps can have a significant impact on the success of your retirement plan. So, join us as we delve into these key issues and learn how to navigate them effectively when it's your turn to plan for retirement.   Here are some of the things you’ll learn in this epis...

Not all retirement accounts are created equal. It's crucial to understand the purpose and advantages of each type of account to make the best choice for your future. In this episode, we'll delve into the different types of retirement accounts, including 401(k)s, IRAs, Roths, and several other examples. Here are some of the topics we’ll discuss in this show:  What are the limits of Roths?...