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Meet Kevin and Mia Kevin (55) and Mia (48) live in Durham, North Carolina—a vibrant city known for its universities, food scene, and close-knit community. Kevin works as a mid-level executive for a manufacturing firm, and Mia is a full-time mom raising their 8-year-old daughter, Isla. Kevin enjoys his job but dreams of stepping away…
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Retirement should be a time of freedom, not financial fear. Yet, many retirees find themselves struggling—not because they didn’t save, but because they made avoidable mistakes along the way. Whether you’re five years from retirement or already there, steering clear of these common pitfalls can make all the difference. Here are five of the most…
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Meet David and Alicia David (58) and Alicia (51) live in Fort Collins, Colorado—a scenic, mid-sized city known for its outdoor lifestyle and excellent public schools. They have an 8-year-old daughter, Emma, who loves camping, piano lessons, and science kits. David had planned to work until 61, but an unexpected corporate downsizing changed everything. At…
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The surprising (and smart) questions you should be asking about your retirement strategy When most people think about retirement investing, they ask questions like “How much do I need to save?” or “Should I use a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA?” Those are important, but the smartest investors ask deeper, more nuanced questions that actually…
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Meet Sophia and Mark Sophia (52) and Mark (57) live in the beautiful red-rock desert town of Sedona, Arizona. Mark works full-time as a project manager, while Sophia runs a freelance graphic design business from home. Together, they enjoy hiking, visiting local art galleries, and dreaming about the next phase of life—retirement. Their goal is…
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Deciding when to claim Social Security benefits is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make in retirement. Get it right, and you could maximize guaranteed income for the rest of your life. Get it wrong, and you might leave tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars on the table. So, when is…
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Meet the Sandovals: Retired at 60, Raising an 8-Year-Old Michael and Laura Sandoval have just stepped into retirement, both at age 60. After decades in demanding careers—Michael as a systems engineer and Laura as a healthcare administrator—they decided it was time to enjoy a slower pace of life and more time with their 8-year-old son,…
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Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement—but only if you follow the rules. One of the most misunderstood aspects is the “5-year rule”, which plays a different role depending on your age and what kind of withdrawal you’re making (contributions, earnings, or conversions). Let’s break down how the 5-year rule works before…
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Meet James and Renee James (60) and Renee (58) live in Asheville, North Carolina—a charming mountain town known for its arts scene, outdoor beauty, and laid-back lifestyle. James recently wrapped up a 35-year career as a mechanical engineer, while Renee is planning to leave her job as a school counsellor in the next two years.…
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Annuities come with bold promises: “7% guaranteed growth!” “Lifetime income you can’t outlive!” Sounds great, right? But when you peel back the layers, many annuities—especially indexed annuities—are packed with fine print, restrictive rules, and disappointing returns. In this post, we’ll break down a real indexed annuity case study and compare it to a simple 60/40…