Now the real fun begins! Starting at age 50, several birthdays – including “half-birthdays” – are critical to strategize for as they have crucial implications for your retirement future.

In 2023, we saw a continuation of market turbulence, loosening of labor markets, and lighter inflation due to economic tightening from the Federal Reserve. Compared to a couple of years ago, you may have noticed higher prices on the items you buy every week and may be wondering if we’ll continue to see high inflation. Nobody can predict the future, so if you’re nearing or in retirement, you should aim to protect yourself from the eroding effects of inflation.

There was a time when pensions were the most common of retirement benefit plans. Employees looked forward to what could generally be described as a private version of Social Security offered via an employer. However, those days are gone, and only a small number of the US population have pensions now. There are so many decisions for you to make about your retirement income as a retiree, and as a pension-holder, you’ll want to be sure you make the most of this income-generating asset. The choices you make with your pension can impact your finances for the rest of your life.

Planning for retirement is never a “set it and forget it” activity: There are unexpected disasters, market drops, and changing laws that invariably cause retirees to reevaluate their plans. Diseases, natural disasters, or political instability are examples of things that can cause market downturns or drops. Such occurrences are difficult to predict, and their consequences can cause people to make hasty decisions with their finances. However, you can prepare yourself for a downturn by having a solid financial strategy in place. The most recent bout of “market panic” likely won’t be the last one you’ll see in your lifetime, so why not have a plan to address future market drops? If you’re concerned about your financial security as you near and enter retirement, assessing your risk tolerance, reevaluating your portfolio, and seeking professional advice could be a good idea.

You’re nearing your 60th birthday, which doesn’t seem as significant a milestone as the moon landing or important birthdays like 16, but that’s where you’re wrong! Turning 59 ½ is almost as exciting as when you turned 16 and could drive because at 59 ½ you can withdraw from your retirement accounts without incurring a penalty. Hopefully you’ve been taking advantage of the ability to contribute extra money to your retirement accounts since you turned 50. You’re also nearing the age at which you’re eligible for Social Security benefits and Medicare. Keep reading to learn about your retirement options and how you can successfully transition into retirement.

Social Security planning is one of the most important elements in any retirement plan, but getting the most from your Social Security benefit can also feel complex and frustrating. In our guide, “Optimizing Your Social Security in Today’s World,” you’ll uncover practical tips and easy-to-understand steps to get the most out of your Social Security benefits.

It’s important to seek out advice on how to create and update your retirement plan based on the new provisions of the SECURE Acts so that you can take advantage of the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls. At Gentz Financial we can explain how the latest retirement legislation could affect you specifically. The rules are complex, but your objectives may be as simple as finding strategies to help minimize your taxes, grow your savings, and pass on your wealth to your loved ones.

We all know that a 401(k) is one of the most important retirement planning tools we have. You pay into it for decades and will likely need to rely on it, among other income sources, for decades in retirement. The potential tax benefits and power of compound interest can make it a great saving and investment tool for anyone who practices financial discipline and contributes regularly. There are several important things to know about your 401(k), such as how much you can contribute, options for your 401(k) when you leave your job, and how much you are paying in 401(k) fees.

Do you know how much you’re paying in fees for your retirement account? Were you aware that fees are commonly charged on retirement accounts in the first place? If you have access to an employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k), information about your account might be harder to access given that it’s offered through your employer and often isn’t completely in your control.