Money & Retirement Tips

Welcome to your money & retirement guide!

No matter what stage of your career you’re in, you’ve probably thought about your retirement — even briefly. And how much it will cost you to live in a style that lets you actually enjoy what you’ve worked so long and hard for. Balancing your money & retirement … that’s the real dream.

So part of your retirement planning has to be about the money. And that can’t wait until you’re almost ready to officially retire or you will be kicking yourself . Too many people are learning that hard lesson and I want you not to be one of them!

There are three basic rules. Start saving and planning early. Keep investing. And to the best of your ability, don’t touch your retirement money until you retire. As much as you might need it now (that’s where regular savings come in handy), you’ll need it a lot more after you stop working.

We plan to add more articles about what you need to do now to help prepare for your eventual retirement (retirement planning, types of investments, savings, decisions you’ll need to make, and even where you might choose to live.) And some things you’ll want to know about once you do retire (Medicare, managing your money, life after work, what retirement feels like, etc.)

And don’t forget … your career can still continue even after you retire. While some people still have to keep working (and we hope to be able to provide support for you too), many find their retirement years a time when they can finally choose to do what they want to do.

Making retirement work for you

Retirement planning comes with all kinds of new challenges … the least of which may be what to do with all that time. And of course, there are physical and financial challenges, too. But there are also opportunities to take on new things that feed your spirit as much or more than work ever did.

Some articles to think about now:

How Much Money Do You Need To Retire?

Retirement Reality: What Happened To The Dream?

Why Are You So Afraid To Retire?

Would You Quit Your Job If You Win the Lottery?

Thinking About Retirement Way Before You Actually Retire

Why Won’t My Boss Retire Already!

Life Plan Retirement Community (CCRC) Questions

Posts to help with money & retirement

For most of us, a comfortable retirement means that we have enough money to support us whether or not we still choose to work. This means not only making it a habit to tuck away enough money whenever you can for those later years, but learning to manage what you do have wisely.

How To Create a Cash Flow Spreadsheet

How To Create a Budget Plan Spreadsheet

Advantages of SEP IRA Plans for Freelancers

Simple Chart of Retirement Money Growth Over Time

Why Diversified Investing Is So Important

I Want To Learn To Invest in Stocks

Roth IRA vs Traditional: What’s the Difference?

When Should I Use My IRA If Out of Work?

Investing Your Money: Do You Need a Stockbroker?

Volunteering articles

While most of these were written for job search and career mobility, for those of you who have stopped working and don’t need to earn extra money, retirement offers a wonderful opportunity to do things you truly care about. (It can also offer a possible pathway to part-time or full-time paid work, should you still want to bring in some extra cash.)

Can Volunteer Jobs Lead to Real Jobs?

7 Reasons People Don’t Enjoy Volunteering

Career change articles (never too late)

If you’ve retired from a long-time job (or any job) and are not yet ready to head out to pasture, you may find some of these articles helpful in your search for a new career — perhaps one that fulfills a desire to at last do something you truly care about.

NOTE: Although these were mostly written for any age or stage of your career, I’ll also be adding more that are specific to those of you in your “money & retirement” years.

What Is Career Change and How Does It Feel?

Using Transferable Skills to Make a Career Change

Helpful Tips for Resumes & Cover Letters

Overcoming Job Search Frustration

Job Search: Why Networking Matters So Darn Much

Medicare & Social Security

Part of money & retirement deals with cash flow — money you spend as well as money you have coming in. This section will contain articles related to Medicare and Social Security to help you navigate some of their many challenges. And also make the most of what you worked so hard to get!