Showing 50 results of 121
My parents usually have their budget meeting at the kitchen table on a Sunday afternoon for a few hours. Here's what they've taught me. The post What I’ve Learned as a Teen While Watching My Parents i...
What tools or methods do you use to keep track of your monthly spending? I prefer organizing my expenses into categories so they align with my overall budget totals each month, which helps me stay on ...
Households often have assets they expect to use during retirement that are not level streams of income, as well as expenses that are not expected to recur every year. These items need special handling...
This July 4th is America’s 250th birthday, and spending is expected to hit record levels. But budget-friendly 4th of July celebrations are absolutely possible with a little planning. Here are 7 ideas ...
After working for 27 years for the same organization, I found out in late April that my job was being eliminated as of July 1st (a story for another post) I am 64, divorced with two grown children. My...
We have recently received inquiries as to how to use Copilot to implement the Actuarial Approach. Copilot can use different data sources to provide reasonable results, but we recommend that you provid...
Florida is the future retirement home. I’ve called Florida home for almost 50 years. I travel extensively for work and met BF six years ago. BF, future husband, lives in AZ. Plan is to sell both our r...
Everyone wants to invest in the next hot thing. Today, it's SpaceX. Tomorrow, it might be OpenAI or Anthropic. Twenty-five years ago, it was Pets.com. More recently, investors have chased the exciteme...
I’ve had three bookkeeping clients for years. I work about three days a week and it’s enough to pay my bills. In April I told one of my clients I was planning to retire in May. Two weeks ago, I actual...
The 2026 OASDI Trustees Report was released today. Last month, we estimated that Social Security’s long‑range actuarial balance as of January 1, 2026 would be –4.14% of the present value of taxable pa...
Back story: - 2015 Spouse retired at 65 and receives SS. - 2021 I retired at 64.6 and receive a monthly pension and SS. - Prior to retirement, we were able to save ~300K in cash. ~400K in 401. In 2014...
The 2026 OASDI Trustees Report is expected to be issued in the near future. Last year, the 2025 report was released in June. Like we did last year, we will take a shot at predicting this year’s 75-yea...
I just informed my manager that I'll be retiring July 3rd. Pretty exciting. The plan has been afoot for a while now, but I needed to let them know. I've tested the numbers, I've created my fund for th...
Jeremy Keil walks through three critical questions future retirees can answer before their paycheck stops Most people spend decades preparing for retirement by focusing on one number: How much have I ...
Hi, all. Planning for retirement next year. Looks like my social security and pension (both inflation-adjusted, a bit less for the pension) will cover my basic budget without the need to tap the 401k,...
Tuesday, April 28 - Monday, May 04, 2026 Top Comments score comment 19 /u/SageCactus said I'm retired, and make way, way over the poverty limit. Healthcare is just a large expense. Just budget for it....
In this post, we discuss how you can use the Actuarial Approach and its funded status metric to help you feel more confident about your spending plan in retirement. It is a follow-up to our post of Ja...
President Obama will propose new 401(k) and IRA rules in his 2017 budget.
The trust funds for Social Security and Medicare Part A seem likely to run out of money faster than was projected last year, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.
The second quarter is a key time to reset your finances and stay on track for the year. From reviewing your budget to maximizing your 401(k) and rebalancing your investments, these smart money moves c...
In this episode, Roger Whitney breaks down essential elements you need to consider before and during retirement. From understanding inflation risks to strategic asset reallocation, this episode offers...
We’ve all read the research about the “Go-go, slow-go and no-go” periods of retirement and decreased real-dollar spending as we age, but contrary to observed research, most decumulation strategies tod...
When I claim SS my wife and I suddenly have another $5700 monthly coming in (mine+spousal). That WELL exceeds what we need to live on - even with a generous vacation budget. I'm thinking that at that ...
Both 70. Sold Del Mar home. Bought La Jolla condo. Needed kitchen and both bathrooms updated before we could move in. Timeline was brutal. Had to be out of rental by end of April. Only had 10 weeks fo...
Spring is here, but so are the bills. From HVAC tune-ups to surging travel costs, here are 6 hidden expenses retirees must plan for in 2026.
Hi everyone! My husband and I were having a fun conversation about what to do with our RMD dollars when they start coming in (we are 5 years out so it’s just a fun question, not advice). We both love ...
There was a Senate hearing yesterday on Senate Budget Committee Examines Social Security Solvency You can watch / read /listen to it all on CPAN 2 at this link - https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-...
I always thought I could budget $1,000 for healthcare in early retirement and be totally fine. Turns out that was nowhere close to true. The post The Health Insurance Dilemma of Early Retirement appea...
Juan and Mary in Brooklyn are 49 and 48 with $2.2 million saved. Can Juan afford to retire early, or just walk away if he gets fired? And if they get divorced, yikes - but does the math still work? Th...
We have begun working with a new advisor and they went through our investments, health insurance, expected social security, etc. If I retire at the end of 2026 at 60 year old, there is a probability o...
We all know we need to have an emergency fund, mine is around 6-8 months of expenses, but what's your strategy for if and when you dip into it, how do you go about replenishing it when you're on a tig...
My life is changing fast and I’m having a hard time keeping up. Just a short recap: My mother passed away late August 2025. In November, I drove across the country to have a funeral service (it was at...
For the third year in a row, lawmakers froze funding for these efforts. Rising costs and a growing population of frail older adults will result in reduced services.
60 yo with three decades of experience at my employer, being forced to retire for budget reduction reasons. Was given 90 days notice as required by policy, and find myself in a no-man's land between b...
When your heart says "yes" but your wallet says "no," there is still a way forward. Here's what financial pros say.
As the Retirement Plan Live case study continues, Roger Whitney helps Henry and Lucy articulate what they want their FIRE retirement to actually look like—starting with values, dreaming without constr...
In these sun-soaked, welcoming beachside cities, retired couples can live the good life on a monthly budget of $3,208 or less...
As 2026 takes off, half of Americans are worried about the cost of everyday goods. A simple budget can help you beat the money blues and reach long-term goals.
You probably budget or measure your money. But, are you budgeting time? Explore 9 ideas for measuring and valuing what really matters. The post Budgeting Time: You Probably Know Your Net Worth but How...
After enactment of the Social Security Reform Act of 1983, Social Security actuaries determined OASDI’s (Social Security’s or the system’s) long-range actuarial balance (LRAB) to be .02%, meaning that...
Steve spent more than two decades building video games, working with a team that felt more like family than coworkers. By all measures, he loved his work. But a heart attack in 2021 changed everything...
Summary of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 26TH | NOVEMBER | 2025 Overview The Chancellor, Ms. Reeves, delivered a Budget focused on stability, […]
The chancellor has delivered the government’s Autumn Budget. Here’s a summary of the key announcements and what they could mean for your financial plan
Holiday spending is rising sharply in 2025, with shoppers planning to spend more on gifts and online purchases than last year. This guide shares 8 steps to help you avoid holiday debt, set clear expec...
It’s not too early to start planning your spending for 2026 even though you haven’t yet determined your January 1, 2026 Funded Status. You or your spouse may be considering spending in 202...
Interesting Social Security Scenario - What’s your take on this? ? or ? A (breadwinner) parent divorced a real deadbeat parent after 14 years of marriage -and (2) kids. Neither ever remarried. T...
The list is growing It’s become comical I’ll do that as a project when I retire Anyone else accumulating home improvement projects like crazy? I have everything from the cliché clea...
Whether traveling within the U.S. or internationally, retirees can find a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement in these destinations, all while staying within budget....
Will this new role make it difficult to address emerging issues like budget and staffing cuts and customer service concerns?...
as i am estimating my retirement budget, trying to figure out if i'll have enough to live on given how much i think i'll spend, how long i'll live, etc., i have been using these basic calculations: *T...