Retirement 360

Today Alan and Troy go over a list of things to be aware of getting done before 2023 ends, then take a look at legacy planning and how best to respect the wishes of those who have passed to be sure what they leave behind is passed on to those who are supposed to receive it.

Retirement account balances are up, according to recent data. But that means you have more to lose in the event of market volatility. Today Alan and Troy talk about how to plan for that scenario so that you keep more of what you have saved and earned throughout your working career.

Alan and Troy discuss the items necessary for a solid retirement plan and how much it's like planning for a special trip. They also address the local situation involving various businesses potentially buying out employee pensions and how to make the right decision for your particular situation.

September is life insurance month, and it could play an important role in your retirement plan. Alan and Troy discuss how it may fit into a plan in the fight situation, as well as upcoming seminars they will be putting on. Later in the show they revisit the idea of making marginal gains in your retirement investments, and how that is better than taking big losses.

Today Alan and Troy take a look at the unique challenges women face when putting together retirement plans, whether it is as part of a couple or for themselves as a single person.

Alan and Troy break down Social Security and its importance to anyone's retirement income plan, and also address letting a financial professional help determine when the best time to take it would be for your situation. And be listening for a special offer from Mercurio Wealth Advisors for folks to call and get started with a Retirement 360 Scorecard.

If you own a small business, retirement planning could get even more complicated than if you were just an employee. Today Alan and Troy go over options you have with your business and how you can plan for life after owning it.

Aside from the emotional aspect of a spouse passing away, the financial and legacy aspects still need to be addressed. Today Troy, whose own father died when he was three, addresses what needs to happen if a spouse passes away early, and how proper planning can help make this transition go as smoothly as it can under the circumstances.

Alan and Troy look at some current financial news and also provide updates on upcoming seminars. Later they look back at four important questions people should ask themselves before pulling the trigger on retirement.

Today's show takes a look at a recent settlement of the estate of singer Aretha Franklin, who didn't leave a formal will but a jury decided from two handwritten notes which one would act as her final wishes, pitting one of her three sons against the other two. Alan and Troy discuss why legacy planning is important, as well as getting over any trepidations about letting other family members know about your retirement financial plan.

Retiring often means getting rid of a lot of things in order to perhaps move to a smaller living space, or just to declutter because you didn't have time when you were working. Today Alan and Troy talk about downsizing and organizing all the financial statements and accounts you may have and put them together into one written financial plan that can guide you through retirement so your money can work for you however you need it to.

The go-go years, the slow-go years and the no-go years are the common nicknames for the three stages of retirement, each lasting roughly a decade. Alan and Troy look at each of these stages, how people generally hope to live in each and how their money needs to work properly for them in each as well.

The long time host of the popular TV game show Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak, recently announced he is retiring. This provides a starting point for a discussion by Alan and Troy about how to plan for a retirement which could last as long as your working career. Later in the show the guys revisit how to put together a five star retirement plan to cover all aspects of post-working life.

Protected income is money coming in outside of Social Security that is guaranteed, and more families are turning to these types of strategies according to a recent study. Alan and Troy discuss the types of financial vehicles that can produce protected income and how they may fit into any individual retirement plan.

Complacency is something many Americans practice, especially when it comes to finances. That is just one of several habits to break according to Alan and Troy, along with so-called lifestyle creep as well as not planning for future taxes. These and other things must be taken into account for anyone's retirement to be successful from a financial standpoint.

It isn't pleasant, but planning for a worst case scenario, such as a major health event or the death of a spouse, is necessary. Alan and Troy talk about how proper planning can cover some of the catastrophic costs associated with things like long term care or other major health care costs.

Alan and Troy go over the debt limit being argued in Congress an d how it could play into short term retirement planning. Later they revisit how to best make your money work for you during your post-career years.

Sometimes just small tweaks can improve a lot of things, including a retirement plan. Today Alan and Troy talk about how making marginal gains in any one area can improve your plan and how an advisor can help make that happen. They also talk plans for summer travel for the coming season.

Alan and Troy discuss issues such as letting lifestyle creep sink in, along with procrastinating and putting off getting a retirement plan put together and others that could put a major crimp into potential retirement desires. They also look back at the upcoming rush of Generation X members coming into retirement and how planning now will help their plans be that much more effective.

Alan and Troy talk about things you need to determine as you begin the planning process, including what an individual or couple want to accomplish in retirement, and then work toward applying the financial goals to help make it happen. Later in the show they look back at risks in retirement planning.