Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
Required minimum distributions can be a double hit: they raise taxable income and can pull more of your Social Security into the tax net. If I want to keep my benefits tax free, or at least limit how much is taxed, I have to think about how to shrink my RMD to something like $25,000…
For many new retirees, the combination of $1.5 Million in savings and $4,200 Per Month in Social Security looks like the finish line. At Age 65, that nest egg and benefit level can indeed support a solid lifestyle, but only if spending, risk and healthcare are managed with care. I want to walk through what…
Retirees and near-retirees are watching Trump’s second term closely, because policy shifts over the next three years could directly raise what it costs to stop working. From Social Security and Medicare to 401(k) rules and tax breaks, the levers the White House pulls now will shape how far a fixed income really stretches. I will…
Federal policymakers are not scrapping the 401(k) system, but they are quietly reshaping it into something that could feel very different for workers and families. From new access to private investments to automatic enrollment mandates and child-focused “Trump accounts,” officials are layering a new architecture on top of the familiar plan. The result is less…
When more than a third of millionaires say they will need a miracle to retire, it signals a problem that goes far beyond the ultra-wealthy. If people with seven‑figure portfolios feel behind, everyday savers are right to wonder how they can possibly catch up. I see the same pattern in survey after survey: anxiety is…
Social Security has not stood still in 2025. While political fights grab the headlines, a series of quieter rule tweaks, benefit adjustments, and technology shifts are already changing how and when Americans get paid, and what they must do to qualify. Most of these moves are incremental on paper, but together they reshape expectations about…
Retirement is expensive enough without unforced errors quietly draining the income you spent decades building. The costliest misstep is not a bad stock pick or a luxury vacation, but a timing decision that locks in lower checks for the rest of your life. I see retirees underestimate how permanent that choice is, and how easily…
Dave Ramsey has never been shy about telling retirees to ignore conventional wisdom, and his latest guidance on Social Security is no exception. Instead of waiting for a bigger monthly check, he argues that many people should start benefits at age 62 and then put that money to work in the market. I see his…
Gray divorce can upend decades of retirement planning just as work is winding down, but it does not have to wreck your future. By understanding how late-life splits affect income, Social Security, home equity, and long-term risks, you can make decisions that protect both partners’ financial security. I focus here on 16 concrete strategies that…
Retirement income planning is no longer just about hitting a magic savings number, it is about turning that nest egg into reliable paychecks that can withstand taxes and a longer life. To do that, I focus on a three-part framework: steady cash flow, smart tax management, and protection against longevity risk. When those elements work…