Best of Retire Financially Fit

Forty-four percent of Americans are worried they’ll never be able to retire, which is an all-time high. That’s from the latest SimplyWise Retirement Confidence Index. There are some simple steps you can take to gauge your preparedness for retirement … it’s as easy as checking off the boxes on our retirement checklist.

It’s a tale as old as time. Governments have debt, and leaders who have different ideas about how to address it. Nothing new there. But you might be surprised to learn just how fast our nation’s debt grew right from the start of the Revolutionary War. Not only do we have a history lesson for you today, but Barb will also cover what you should be ready for in the future in terms of government spend...

Our national debt is on a non-stop upward trajectory. And as the debt keeps piling up, government leaders and members of Congress continue their debate on what to do about spending and the debt ceiling. What does it all mean for you? Barbara Swiatek has some thoughts on that.

What are some of the main things anyone approaching retirement should know? We have a solid list to walk you through.

The daily grind … the commute … the weekday schedule … all of those things go away when you finally get to retirement. But when your free time begins you know what else goes away? Your paycheck. And you know what doesn’t? Your income taxes.

We all remember the fairy tale about the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. The wolf would huff and puff, and blow every house down except for the last one, because it was built strong. The financial house you build for your retirement should be just as strong.

We’ve seen some major turbulence in the financial world recently with news of failing banks, volatility, pension buyout offers, and higher taxes down the road. So what steps have you taken to help navigate all this uncertainty?

Any time is a good time to break a bad habit. Whether you want to make improvements in your routine at home, your job performance at work, with your physical health or your financial health, the time to make a positive change for your future … is right now.

You might have your home paid off (or nearly paid off) when you get to retirement, but are there any other housing costs that you might need to prepare for? This is especially important if you’d rather spend as many years as possible in your home rather than moving to a retirement community or assisted living facility.

Most people who are near retirement haven’t met with a financial advisor. And that could be a costly mistake. Today Barbara Swiatek is here to tell you about some of the questions to ask to help you find the right financial professional.

With everything going on in the world right now, your finances need to be able to weather any financial storm. We’ll outline some of the major financial risks on the horizon today and talk about some “all-weather” strategies to help you protect your savings, no matter what kind of storms are unfolding in the financial world.

The clock is ticking on our current tax rates. What moves should you think about making to help take advantage of low tax rates before they’re gone? Find out today on The Best of Retire Financially Fit with Barbara Swiatek.

Are you prepared to handle the top concerns for today’s retirees? Find out today on the Best of Retire Financially Fit with Barbara Swiatek.

What are some signs that you’re ready to retire in 2023? And once you retire, do you know all your options for what to do with your retirement savings? All that and more is coming up.

Last year was a year for the financial record books … but for all the wrong reasons. And what’s the latest on our national debt situation? More importantly, how could these things impact YOUR retirement? All that, and more, is coming up.

Retiring is challenging enough already but if you’re about retire, now you face the possibility of trying to do so during a global economic meltdown. Sound intimidating? Barbara Swiatek is here today to walk you through it. This episode includes AI-generated content.

The year 2023 will bring some significant changes to our retirement system in the U.S., with the passage of Secure Act 2.0. Barbara Swiatek is here to break it all down for us.