“When should I claim Social Security benefits?” Our clients ask this question often. Of course, as dutiful advisors, this is a planning element we begin to evaluate proactively as soon as our clients are nearing the age that this decision needs to be made. Unfortunately, as with many things in life, things are more complicated than they appear. It also doesn't help that there are a myriad of articles and opinions that don't evaluate the question from the same perspective, much less draw the same conclusion.  

There are many things to look forward to as you contemplate the next chapter of your life, the chapter after full-time work: travel, family, leisure, more purposeful work. However, in all of my years offering advice and guidance, I have never heard of planning for Medicare as one of them. But with proper planning, you can avoid unnecessary surprises, and hopefully save money on Medicare B premiums.  

Very early in the morning on a recent day, a client in another part of the country called. As I picked up she quickly said “I could not wake him up this morning. The ambulance just left for the hospital. Wanted you to know. Gotta go!”

One of the benefits of being in this profession for over thirty years is that we have seen broadly held industry assumptions about investments, rates of return, and strategies change dramatically over time. Our conservative assumptions about long term rates of return are built on our team expecting that the zeitgeist is probably wrong and the actual results are likely to be very different several decades into the future.

“Tell me I am a good man”, the elderly James Ryan says   “What?”, replies his beloved wife   “Tell me I have led a good life.”   These are the last few lines of dialog from the film Saving Private Ryan. The elderly James Ryan is kneeling over a memorial grave stone in Normandy, France. He has returned to pay respects to the Captain who gave his life to save Ryan’s in 1944. James Ryan, like many people, has a deep visceral desire to leave a legacy. Do you? Do you want to know how?