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Retirement

Does Social Security Really Use My Highest 35 Years of Earnings?

Social Security generally uses your highest 35 years of indexed earnings to calculate retirement benefits. Learn how zero years, low-earning years, continued work, and later-career earnings can affect your monthly benefit.

Buying Your Retirement Home With a Reverse Mortgage: How, When, and Why It Can Work

A HECM for Purchase can help retirees buy a primary home while preserving savings and avoiding required monthly principal and interest payments. Learn when it works, what modern safeguards protect borrowers, and why voluntary payments can slow reverse amortization and preserve home equity long-term.

How Is My Social Security Benefit Calculated?

Learn how Social Security calculates your retirement benefit using your highest 35 years of earnings, wage indexing, AIME, PIA, and claiming age and why working longer can sometimes increase your monthly benefit.

What Is Moneymaxxing and Should You Be Doing It?

Moneymaxxing is the latest personal finance trend focused on making every dollar work harder. From optimizing savings and benefits to reducing debt and improving investments, the key is knowing what to prioritize and when “maximizing” can become too much.

AI Can Build a Financial Plan. But Should It Be the One Making Financial Decisions?

AI can create a financial plan in seconds but can it truly understand your goals, values, and life's biggest trade-offs? Learn where artificial intelligence excels, where it falls short, and why combining AI with a fee-only fiduciary may lead to better financial decisions.

Rollover IRA vs. Traditional IRA: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve recently changed jobs, retired, or are trying

What Are Trump Accounts for Kids? Updated Rules, Eligibility, and What Families Should Know in 2026

In an effort to help families build long-term financial security for children, Congress introduced a new type of savings vehicle through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): Trump Accounts.

The 4 Risks That Never Retire: Part 4. Emotion

Part 4: Emotion — The Behavioral Side of Financial Decisions While markets and economic factors play a role in retirement outcomes, investor behavior can also be an important influence. Emotional responses to uncertainty, market movements, and financial stress may affect decision-making. Common Beha

National Investing Day: A Reminder of Why We Invest in the First Place

On May 1st, we recognize National Investing Day! A newer observance founded by Charles Schwab to promote financial education, long-term investing, and greater access to the markets. The date isn’t random. It traces back to May 1, 1975 often called “May Day” on Wall Street, when commission rates were

The 4 Risks That Never Retire: Part 3. Volatility

Part 3: Volatility — Navigating Market Fluctuations Market volatility refers to the natural fluctuations in the value of investments over time. While it is a normal part of investing, it can present challenges - particularly during retirement. Understanding Volatility Financial markets do not move i