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Retirement

Social Security and Women: What Every Retirement Plan Should Consider

When it comes to retirement security, few programs are as important as Social Security benefits. And for women in particular, Social Security plays an outsized role in retirement income. According to data from the Social Security Administration, women make up the majority of Social Security benefici

Strategy Matters: How Stress Testing Can Improve Financial Planning Decisions

Financial planning is often mistaken for a “set it and forget it” task. In reality, effective planning is an ongoing process that evolves as markets, tax laws, and personal goals change. At Rigden Capital Strategies, our approach emphasizes proactive review and thoughtful evaluation of planning stra

Caregiving Is a Financial Event: Whether You Plan for It or Not

Caregiving is no longer a rare or short-term responsibility. Millions of Americans are balancing full-time careers while caring for children, aging parents, or other dependent family members. For many, this happens simultaneously—placing them squarely in the sandwich generation. Yet caregiving is st

What You Need to Know About Roth-Required 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions Starting in 2026

Retirement savers age 50 and older have long relied on catch-up contributions to boost savings as they approach retirement. These additional contributions provide a meaningful opportunity to save more—especially for high earners in their peak earning years. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) int

Your Medicare IRMAA Guide For Retirement and More

Retirement is supposed to be the time you stop worrying about income, but for many higher earners, Medicare throws a curveball: IRMAA.

The 4% Rule Revisited: Determining a Sustainable Withdrawal Rate

For decades, the "4% rule" has served as a widely cited guideline for retirees. This concept, developed by financial planner William Bengen in the early 1990s, suggested that an investor could successfully sustain a 30-year retirement by initially withdrawing 4% of their total invested portfolio and

Estate Tax Exemption in 2025 and Beyond: What the OBBBA Means for Families

When it comes to wealth transfer and estate planning, few numbers are as closely watched as the federal estate tax exemption. This figure determines how much wealth can pass free of federal estate tax at death (or through lifetime gifts). With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in

Understanding Social Security’s 2025 COLA Adjustment

Each year, Social Security benefits are adjusted to help retirees, survivors, and individuals with disabilities keep pace with rising costs. These adjustments—known as Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)—are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks inflation. What Is COLA? Since 1975, Soc

Why Diversification Matters More Than You Think

According to academic research, most individual stocks underperform the market over their lifetimes, and many fail to outperform even conservative investments like Treasury bills.

How (and Why) to Check Your Social Security Statement at SSA.gov

It takes just a few minutes at SSA.gov to review your earnings record, confirm your benefit estimates, and catch any errors before they affect your retirement income.