Hi Reader, If you’re planning for retirement and an annuity has been recommended to you, the hardest part may not be understanding how it works. It may be deciding whether it actually belongs in your retirement plan. Asking better questions can help you understand what you’re considering before you commit. "An annuity is not a retirement plan. It's just one possible tool in the toolbox that may help solve a particular retirement need." ERIC BLAKE How to Decide If an Annuity Fits Your...
8 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Retirement tax planning can feel confusing, especially when annuities enter the conversation. I've found that many people aren't really asking about the annuity itself. They're trying to understand what happens to their money, how it's taxed, and whether an annuity is the right fit for their retirement. "Taxes are very important, but taxes alone shouldn't determine whether an annuity belongs in your retirement plan. The planning objective always comes first. The tax rules simply...
15 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, We've learned that many of the most important retirement decisions aren't only about finances. They're about family, communication, and preparing for moments that none of us hope will come. "I want to see senior citizens; I want to see their voice in every room into their 80s and 90s, and I want adult children to not feel that immense guilt and exhaustion from doing something to their aging parents." TAMI CALAIS Don't Wait for a Crisis: How to Talk with Aging Parents In this...
22 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, When people hear the word annuity, they often picture a stream of retirement income. While that's certainly part of the story, there are important decisions that come long before those payments ever begin. How do the different types of annuities work? Which one might fit your retirement goals? And what questions should you answer before comparing products? "The objective isn't to find the best annuity. The objective is to determine whether an annuity belongs in your retirement plan...
29 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Annuities often become part of the retirement conversation during major life changes, yet many people still aren't sure what they actually are or when they make sense. "For many retirees, the question isn't simply, 'Have I saved enough?' The question becomes, 'How do I turn what I've saved into a dependable income?" ERIC BLAKE Understanding Annuities Before You Decide if They Belong in Your Retirement Plan In this episode, I begin a four-part series designed to help you understand...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Retirement decisions often happen during life's most emotional moments. When you're grieving, retiring, or suddenly making financial choices on your own, how do you know you're asking the right questions or talking to the right people? "I'm not expecting people to know all the answers. I'm just hoping they know which questions to ask, and ask the right people." ERIC BLAKE Helping Women Make Better Retirement Decisions After Life Changes In this episode, I share a story from a...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Losing a spouse often brings emotional and financial decisions that can affect your future for years to come. What happens when one of the largest assets you inherit is a retirement account? How do you know which choices may affect taxes, healthcare costs, income planning, and retirement flexibility? "The mistake isn't necessarily making a wrong choice. The mistake is not realizing you had a choice at all." ERIC BLAKE Inherited IRA Options Every Widow Should Understand In this...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Retirement taxes aren't always as straightforward as they seem. A decision that looks harmless today could create unexpected tax consequences, higher Medicare premiums, or reduced flexibility later. How do income sources, tax brackets, Social Security, and healthcare costs all work together in retirement? What happens when a major life event changes your filing status and reshapes your financial picture? "Retirement planning is no longer just about generating income. It's about...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Healthcare decisions can become overwhelming quickly once retirement enters the picture, especially when one spouse is nearing Medicare eligibility, and the other is not. What happens if you lose employer coverage earlier than expected? How do you compare COBRA, Medicare, and ACA plans without creating confusion later? “ We're not just choosing what works as a couple today. We also want to make sure we're choosing what's going to work for each person individually. ERIC BLAKE What...
2 months ago • 3 min read