retirement planning

By Matt Hoke, CFP^®, ChFC

Retirement. It seems to be every working person’s dream. But retirement dreams can also cause a lot of anxiety, especially the closer those “golden years” become. With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, the question I hear over and over again is, “Can I retire?” and “If so, when?” The answer isn’t always so easy.

By Amy Masters, CFP^®

I was a little nervous as I sat down for a long-awaited financial planning meeting with Ellen, an older and highly respected member of my church. It was four years ago, and she was considering retiring, but she wanted to look closely at the numbers first to be sure she was ready. When we sat down together, I was surprised that this poised, confident woman I’d known for years suddenly looked like a deer in the headlights. It was clear that she was even more nervous than I was! As soon as she spoke, I found out the reason. “I’m terrified Amy. I just don’t have a million dollars to retire!” As soon as I heard her words, I knew I could help.