Blog
Weekly articles about how to live a secure, fulfilling retirement.
The cure for “Where did the time go?”
Have you ever looked back on pictures of a younger you and said something like, “Where did the time go?” Why does time often feel so fleeting? More importantly, is there anything we can do to slow it down? How can we keep life from feeling like such a vapor? I’ve...
Cash rich. Lifestyle poor.
The retirement question most people seem intent on answering is “How am I going to pay for it?” That’s an important question, of course, but retirement is more than just a math problem. In my opinion, we spend too much time thinking about how to get there (math) and...
30 day learning challenge: Speed reading edition
“The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” ~ Mark Twain I spend a good part of every day reading. Some of that is for pleasure, some for education, some for work. I read books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, social...
Which state will give you the lowest tax bill?
Your tax bill will vary in retirement depending on which state you call home. Some states are tax-friendly to retirees and their income. Others, not so much. Once you no longer have a job anchoring you in place, you have more freedom to evaluate your options. To...
Retirement: What Seuss might say
Note: Welcome to all the new readers who found us from the article I did at MarketWatch this week. I'm glad to have you on board. In today's post I'm sharing that article with IR readers, so sorry if you've already seen it. I have always looked up to Theodor Geisel,...
A new tool to help reduce prescription costs
It’s no secret that prescription drug costs can put a big dent in your retirement budget. What you may not know is that the cost of those drugs can vary (sometimes drastically) based on which pharmacy fills your prescription. The assumption is that drugs have set...
Why you need a vacation
It may seem counterintuitive, but spending your money can help you be a better saver. Let me show you what I mean. How successful would Olympians be if the Olympics were held every 40 years instead of every 4? Not very, right? Most athletes would burn out long...
How to be happy: Part 3
Quick note: As you may have noticed, I’ve been writing a little less frequently the last several weeks. I’ve been burning the midnight oil studying for an exam I need to take for work. That will be out of the way soon and I’ll be back to posting a few times per...
Financial Checkup Checklist
Just like it’s a good idea to get a health checkup every year, it’s a good idea to get a financial checkup as well. Doing so can help you detect problems early (while they’re still treatable) and will also help you gauge your progress and make sure you’re on track...
7 retirement resolutions for 2013
Well, another year is in the history books. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I was singing along to Prince’s “Party Like It’s 1999” and worrying that my coffee machine was going to be a victim of Y2K and here we are a “Baker’s Decade” into...
40 lessons from my first 40 years
Looking at the glass half full, the world did not come to an end on December 21st. Looking at the glass half empty, no apocalypse meant that my 40th birthday arrived as scheduled on the 22nd. Since I wasn’t otherwise preoccupied with the four horsemen, I had a few...
Annual Review: 7 questions for your adviser
If you work with a financial adviser, it’s a good idea to get together at least annually to review your accounts. As we get ready to transition into a new year and as our government grapples with the issues surrounding the “Fiscal Cliff,” now may be a good time to...