Planning for Life’s Sunset: Key Assumptions You Can’t Ignore
Planning for Life’s Sunset: Key Assumptions You Can’t Ignore
Most people plan for a rainy day, but few think beyond that, toward their life’s sunset. Planning for the “end game” requires assumptions—some big, some small—that influence everything from retirement goals to healthcare needs. The key is defining the life you want and preparing for the unexpected.
Assumption 1: Life Expectancy and Health
Many of us plan based on an average lifespan, but what if you live longer? Take stock of how your finances would play out if you live 5, 10, or even 20 years beyond your anticipated age. Do you have the savings, healthcare coverage, and support for those “extra innings”?
Assumption 2: Inflation and Rising Costs
Inflation affects everything, especially healthcare and daily living expenses. Create a retirement plan that accounts for rising costs, adjusting your investments and savings rates accordingly. If you assume a conservative growth rate, you’ll be better prepared to manage your lifestyle’s cost over time.
Assumption 3: Family Support and Caregiving
Are you assuming that family will be there to help if needed? While family support is a blessing, it’s wise to have backup plans. Options like professional caregiving support, in-home care, or retirement communities can help relieve your family’s caregiving burden.
What’s one assumption you’re making about your future? How could rethinking it helps protect your family?
Conclusion:
Planning for life’s sunset isn’t about guessing what the future holds—it’s about preparing for it with confidence. If you’ve ever wondered, “Will I have enough? Am I truly prepared?” now is the time to take action.
Schedule a no-pressure phone call today, and let’s talk through your assumptions and goals. Together, we’ll create a plan that gives you control, protects your family, and ensures you’re ready for those extra innings—rainy days and all.
HOMESCHOOLING: Haven or Havoc?
Your child's school years are precious and fleeting.
Now could be your best time to step up where your school is letting your child down. Let this series of myth-busting short chapters encourage you.
2 Major Mistakes
Which one will you make?
Which of these 2 retirement mistakes are you making right now? It's impossible to entirely avoid both mistakes.
You won't know for sure which mistake will work out better for you until it's too late.
How to choose?
Finding the Will
(Part 1)
Part 1: Have the will to arrange for a smooth transition when you’re no longer around to answer questions
Have the will to arrange for a smooth transition when you’re no longer around to answer questions (Part 1)
Ensuring your children or other Loved Ones can readily access your important papers when you die entails a sound process versus one or two conversations. You must overcome aversion to the subject of death, procrastination of anything that is long-term, and the tendency to assume things will be fine. Family dynamics can be sweet, spicy, or dicey.
Finding the Will
(Part 2)
Part 2: Getting Organized
While the internet permits convenient access to accounts, policies, and stored documents, it presents a plethora of password management problems. which too many people avoid by succumbing to password laziness, such as:
- re-using passwords for multiple logins, or
- use simple, easy to remember passwords, or
- writing them on sticky notes placed on their monitor or under their keyboard, or
- keeping them in a spreadsheet on their computer, or
- letting their browser remember passwords for them
Embrace Your Clarence
Is Clarence your future?
Golden insight from a golden retriever.
Post-Pandemic W.E.L.L.ness
Working, Earning, Learning, and Launching to Thrive
Where life drastically changed forever two years ago, everyone adjusted to the best of their abilities.
Here are a few of the key adjustments--"pandemic pivots"--that sustained some and prospered others.
Prenuptial Adulting
Equip Them for Happily Ever After
“Mom, Dad, we’re getting married!"
“Wonderful, congratulations! Here’s what you both need to do first.”
Equipping newlyweds with essentials of responsibility leaves plenty of life yet to be discovered on their own. Adults understand that love isn’t oogly feelings; it’s a hard choice. It’s putting your commitments and your money where your mouth is.
Many of the following steps also apply to one’s turning 18 years old. Becoming engaged adds urgency and a deadline.
Rethinking Competing Funds for College and Retirement
We live in a time of skyrocketing inflation topping decades of unbridled higher education costs.
Is the tension between funding your retirement and funding (at least partially) your children’s college education keeping you up at night?
You’re not alone.
Married? Is Your Endgame 100% or Just 50%?
Are you single? That other 50% could be whoever is most important to you.
Multiple unforgiving players factor into your retirement and estate plans (collectively your “endgame”). Household names include the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Key decisions with these players are nearly impossible to reverse. Plus, if you qualify for a pension, how you activate it is another irreversible decision.
Are you more of a planner than your spouse? It’s all too common for one spouse to blindly trust the planning spouse. Countless endgame “plans” were created by 50% of a couple:
