The Complete Retirement Planner Blog

Retirement planning can certainly be overwhelming. With daily articles offering suggestions about how much to save, how much to withdraw annually from retirement accounts, how to choose when to claim Social Security, diversifying investments, if you should pay off a mortgage before retiring, etc., it can be tough to know where to start. Since you are reading this, you're headed in the right direction. However, while gathering information is important, the real goal is to take concrete steps towards being financially well prepared. You can delay retirement itself, delay claiming Social Security, and delay re-balancing your portfolio, but don't delay the...

There are distinct advantages to continuing to work as long as you can - or at least as long as you can stand to. A dependable income is the most obvious, but the workplace can also offer a sense of self worth and a social aspect that should not be taken for granted. After decades of work, you can't help but to make a lot of personal and professional connections that become important to you. On the other hand, even if you've built a nice working life for yourself (or, especially if it all hasn't worked out just the way...

Whether you desire to be physically healthy and/or financially healthy, both require the same type of behavior. Watching what you eat (being aware of calories, serving sizes, ingredients), and exercising regularly (calories burned, steps, rotating muscle groups), requires the same type of commitment and habits as being financially sound (watching your budget, monitoring investment performance, planning for retirement). In both cases, being successful requires you to set realistic goals based on what you’re trying to accomplish, monitor your results, and then adapt as needed to stay on track. Just as you establish a regular plan to stay physically healthy, a...

The 2025 version of The Complete Retirement Planner (TCRP 2025) has just been released!As always, this update includes the most recent tax code changes, 401k/IRA and HSA contribution limits, and Medicare premiums. Several new features have also been added that will further solidify TCRP's reputation as being one of the most comprehensive retirement planning tools available (and still at an unbeatable price!). But don't let the low price fool you - it is not because TCRP is lacking in any way, we do it because we CAN, and because it makes a significant difference for households across the country. Our...

Paying off your mortgage before retirement has long been considered a smart financial move. But is it always? The long standing rule of thumb is that you want to reduce expenses as much as possible before retirement so that it takes less money to live on. In theory, this will help your savings to last as long as possible. But if your mortgage does not reach the end of its term by the time you retire you have a decision to make. Either you pay off the balance using your savings, or you continue to maintain the mortgage. Since a...