Blog
Weekly articles about how to live a secure, fulfilling retirement.
How to sow the seeds of a secure, meaningful life.
I was driving past a large cornfield the other day—I live in Nebraska after all—and had a few thoughts on sowing and reaping. We’ve all heard the phrase “You reap what you sow.” That’s true, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Yes, if...
21 things that reduce your odds of retirement success
How are those 2020 plans working out for you? In crazy and uncertain times, it’s easy to get sidetracked. To feel helpless and stressed. To give up or get discouraged. To ask: “What’s the point?” To pick up bad habits. And even to actively do things that reduce...
Time for a mid-year financial checkup
Well, we just past the halfway point of 2020. Five months to go. Time for a mid-year financial checkup. I’m a big proponent of doing an annual review each January, but this year has been a bit…unusual…so I encourage you to look things over now and make sure that...
How to plan a safe, fun road trip during these crazy times.
My family and I just finished a 4,200-mile, 7 state road trip. A few nights we stayed in hotels. More often we camped. Sometimes camping was a luxury tent with a fireplace and running water (Thanks Under Canvas!). Sometimes camping was our trusty tent deep in the...
Why COVID-19 may be the best thing to ever happen to your retirement
“It’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good.” – Pa Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie COVID-19 has been a tragedy. There’s no disputing that. Thousands dead. Millions sick. Millions more jobless. It’s hard...
A quick summary of the COVID-19 legislation that affects retirees
Hi everyone. Below is a quick summary of the COVID-19 legislation that affects retirees. Before jumping into that, a quick apology. Sorry I haven’t written much lately. January and February are normally very busy months for...
An intentional life should focus primarily on the present
Quick thought for today. If you want to live an intentional life, you should focus primarily on the present. Let me explain. We all spend part of our days—either mentally or physically—in the past, present or future. You’re sitting there right...
The importance of more at bats
Happy New Year! Just a quick thought today on doing (i.e. taking more at bats). One of the biggest retirement mistakes I see people make has nothing to do with money. It’s that they constantly defer their dreams. They just don’t do stuff. Everything is “someday”...
The importance of friends to a healthy, happy retirement
How healthy are your friendships? The answer will have a huge impact on your retirement. Research shows that friends (or lack thereof) can affect your health, happiness and even your habits. Let’s look at the findings, examine some of the challenges your...
5 things Medicare doesn’t cover
Most people rely on Medicare to cover their health expenses during retirement, but it won’t pay for everything. Here are 5 things that Medicare doesn’t cover. Deductibles, coinsurance and copayments: Depending on the type of Medicare you choose, you’ll still be...
How to optimize your life for retirement
To optimize something is to “make it as perfect, effective or functional as possible.” That’s a good goal for retirement. After all, you only have one shot at it, so make it the best it can be. Here’s how to optimize your life for retirement. Control...
Finish the year strong
We just wrapped up Labor Day Weekend here in the U.S. That is the unofficial end of summer and it means we only have four months to go before we finish up this year and start a new decade. That’s plenty of time to get a few things done and finish the year...