Retirement Planning

It’s difficult to plan for a future that seems far away when you’re young or middle-aged. We don’t want
to believe we’re going to be old one day. People at the start of their careers or individuals with young
families also find it difficult to save money when they’re already struggling to pay the bills. Finally, many
people are overwhelmed with the options. Should you invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or all of the
above?
We’re here to tell you that retirement planning doesn’t have to be difficult. We make it easy to help you
get started, because we want to see you pursue your financial dreams. Even if finances are tight right
now and you can’t invest as much as you want, we recommend getting a head start on planning for
retirement.

The first step in retirement planning is to analyze your current financial situation. We’ll look at your
different income sources and possibilities for savings. Next, we’ll talk about your goals and objectives.
What does a comfortable retirement look like for you? This is also a good time to think about your risk
tolerance and any other personal objectives that drive your financial goals.
After the information-gathering phase, we can create a retirement plan tailored to your needs. Maybe
you already have a 401(k) in place with your employer, and we can help you analyze and optimize its
performance. Maybe you want to invest in an IRA to maximize your retirement contributions. We can
combine different methods to set you up for success.

If you want to retire in comfort and style, you have to plan your retirement long before your last day at
work. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options, which is why we’re here to answer your
questions.

When Should I Start Planning for Retirement?
Given the magic of compound interest, you should start saving for retirement as early as possible. Most
people don’t start a retirement account with their first paycheck, and that’s just a fact of life. If you’re
reading this now, but you don’t have a plan in place, it’s time to take action. You don’t have to contribute
10 or 15% or more of your income towards retirement right away if that’s not financially possible for you.
But we highly recommend you get started right now.

How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?
There is no magic number that works for everyone as a retirement fund. It’s highly individual because it
depends on your lifestyle, current income, and future income needs. If you want to live quietly in your
home that has been paid off and enjoy walks in the park, you probably won’t need as much as someone
who wants to travel extensively. It’s a good idea to have this conversation with our financial planners to
help us evaluate your income sources and income requirements.

Is Investing Necessary to Build Wealth for Retirement?
In short, yes. While you can build a significant amount of savings by putting aside a portion of your
paycheck, those savings won’t even outpace inflation in a traditional savings account. We understand
you might be afraid to invest your money, because there is a potential for loss. But this fear also prevents
you from building true wealth, which is only possible by making wise investment decisions. We can help
you navigate the fear of loss by helping you select investments that meet your risk tolerance level.