Managing Money in Retirement

There’s a particular kind of loneliness that comes from being the person everyone else relies on. You’re the one who remembers the birthdays, keeps track of the appointments, notices when something is wrong, and quietly steps in before…

Kathryn sat across from me with a legal pad full of numbers and a look I’ve seen hundreds of times. She was 63, planning to retire within the year, and totally convinced she’d have to give up everything she enjoyed. The book club dinners. The annual trip to see her sister in Seattle. Even the occasional splurge at the garden center…

I have heard many people state the basic rule of thumb for an inheritance account: if you want to keep your inheritance separate, don’t put it into a joint account. That means if you deposit an inheritance into a shared…

Here’s something nobody really prepares you for. You work for 30 or 40 years, and every two weeks, money shows up in your account. You know exactly what’s coming. You plan your life around it. Then one day you retire, and that rhythm just… stops. You’re sitting there looking at a number…

I am a fan of national theme months, of which we have many in this country, so of course I love Financial Literacy Month in April every year. But I’m also realistic enough to know that most of the themes are best practiced all year long, whether they are health related, money related, or otherwise…

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at night, running through numbers in your head, wondering if you’re doing this “right”? Maybe it’s a bill you’ve been putting off opening. A decision you’re not sure how to make. Or a quiet worry you haven’t shared with anyone. For many women, money isn’t just stressful, it’s deeply…

With the 24/7 news cycle, it’s hard to avoid breaking news headlines and checking your account balance. The truth is, I hear versions of this all the time: “I made the mistake of checking my account after listening to the news…

A woman once said to me, “I’ve spent my whole life being careful with money… and now I don’t know how to stop.” She wasn’t struggling financially. In fact, she had done everything “right” saved consistently, avoided unnecessary debt, and built a stable retirement. But when it came time to use her money, she hesitated. After decades of saving…

Starting in 2025, key provisions of the SECURE Act 2.0 officially take effect, reshaping how many Americans gain access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. One of the most impactful updates shortens the eligibility timeline for long-term…

How much you will need for health costs in retirement will depend on when and where you retire, your health, how you will pay for the costs, and how long you live. According to a study by Fidelity, a typical retired couple aged 65 in 2022 will need…