When people consider retiring before age 65, the most common question isn’t just, “Do I have enough to retire?” It’s actually about health insurance. For many, paying for health insurance is one of the biggest hurdles to retiring early, often delaying their plans until they qualify for Medicare at age 65. But here’s the thing: most people don’t even fully understand their health insurance options if they decide to retire before 65. That’s exactly what we’re diving into today—your three main options for health insurance before Medicare kicks in. Let’s break them down. Option 1: COBRA COBRA allows you

What does it take to become a 401(k) millionaire? Fidelity conducted a study to uncover the common characteristics of individuals who had accumulated over $1 million in their 401(k)s. Today, we’re breaking down the findings and the habits that helped these investors achieve such impressive results. The Study: Context and Insights Before diving into the habits, let’s set the stage: When was the study conducted? This study was released in 2014 and examined account histories from 2000 to 2012, spanning a difficult investment period. Why is this significant? From 2000 to 2012, the U.S. stock market had an annualized

Retiring is a major life milestone, yet many people struggle with making the transition. Surprisingly, the biggest obstacle isn’t tax-related, investment-related, or even financial—it’s psychological. As a financial planner, I’ve seen firsthand how the “saver’s mentality” can derail even the best-laid retirement plans. Understanding and overcoming this mindset is crucial for a fulfilling retirement. What is Saver’s Mentality? Saver’s mentality is a deeply ingrained habit formed over decades of diligent saving for retirement. Individuals spend years or even decades contributing to their retirement accounts, developing a strong habit of accumulating wealth. When retirement finally arrives, the idea of drawing