Get Smarter

We’ve been trained to go get a second opinion if we have a significant medical issue come up, but why in the world do we not get a second opinion if we’re getting ready to make a decision as significant as retirement.

The idea is simplicity. Be simple, be low-cost, be consistent, stay the course, be tax-efficient.

In retirement we're not trying to maximize returns, we're trying to minimize risks - ensure that I have enough income to last for the rest of my life.

These are investments to a degree, but most annuities are risk management tools. There are a few things you can do with risks: assume it, remove it, reduce it, or transfer it.

People are so focused on accumulating assets, which is relatively easy compared to the math you have to solve when you start drawing money out.

The best thing you can do is to make 'easy buttons' and a way to enjoy retirement where you're not stressed out all the time when the market goes down.

The majority of planning which feeds the mindset of this very uncertain world is always gonna default to denying today, and that’s not right because tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. You gotta be a good steward.

Retirement is not just an event, it’s a change in life. Think of the behavioral and emotional aspects of it, not just the money. But when it comes to money, keep these three things in mind: your social security, medicare, and your benefit pension plan.

Financial advisors should know all the tools available, and then, depending upon the client’s specific situation, feel comfortable and put in the right spot that's in their best interest and the right thing to do.

Would you give up all your money if it means that you’ll be happy for the rest of your life? Most people would say yes - that’s what we’re aiming for. Dollars are a means to an end.

The key to financial success in retirement, in my humble opinion, is not what products you have or how great your investment strategy is. It's knowing how much you spend.

Most people can do accumulation well; it’s the decumulation where things get a little more tactical and complicated.

There is one annuity that you might have that will keep up with inflation and it’s called Social Security.

If you're looking for something that will zig when your stocks zag, you probably want to ensure that your portfolio includes that cash and treasury bonds.

Keep in perspective where money is supposed to be. You didn't make it to save it. You didn't make it to be buried. The richest man in the graveyard is not the happiest man before he got there.