Retirement

by Drew Blankenship

$50,000 Saved, $20,000 Owed: Should a Retiree Pay Off Debt Before Medicaid Becomes a Concern? Imagine entering retirement with $50,000 in the bank but still owing $20,000 across credit cards, a car loan, and perhap... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

Retired Couples Budget for the Funeral — But the Bigger Financial Shock Can Come Afterward Many retired couples have at least discussed how they would pay for a funeral, whether through savings, life insurance, ... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

A $300,000 Retirement Account Sounds Like a Lot — How Much Monthly Income Can It Actually Produce? Seeing $300,000 on a retirement account statement can feel reassuring, especially after decades of saving a little at a ... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

The Roof Is 20 Years Old at Retirement — Should You Replace It Before You Stop Working? You finally have the retirement date circled on the calendar, but there’s a five-figure home expense sitting over ... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

A Spouse Dies Before Taking an RMD — Who Has to Handle It? When a spouse dies, checking whether they took their required minimum distribution probably isn’t anywhere near th... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

At 65 With No Retirement Savings, What Options Are Actually Left? Turning 65 with an empty retirement account can make retirement feel less like an approaching milestone and more like a ... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

Retired With $50,000 in Savings? Here’s What a 10-Year Withdrawal Plan Could Actually Look Like Having $50,000 saved at retirement can feel like a substantial cushion until you start dividing it across the years ahea... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

Is $5,000 Enough for a Retirement Emergency Fund? Run These 5 Expenses First Having $5,000 sitting safely in the bank can feel reassuring after you retire. After all, the traditional reason for kee... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

The Car Is Paid Off at Retirement — How Much Should Still Be Budgeted for Driving? Making the final car payment shortly before retirement feels like eliminating an entire category from the monthly budget... read the story

by Drew Blankenship

Downsizing in Retirement Can Save Money — But These 6 Costs Can Erase the First-Year Savings Selling a large house and moving somewhere smaller sounds like straightforward retirement math: lower property taxes, ch... read the story