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Every retirement plan is based on a certain number of assumptions. You can’t predict the future, so you have to make assumptions about certain factors, such as your spending in retirement, how long you will live, your health and more.

According to a 2013 study from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, most Americans can be grouped into one of four categories when it comes to determining how they approach financial planning. One of the groups consists of “comprehensive planners,” which includes individuals who evaluate every aspect of their finances in their planning.

The question of when to file for Social Security retirement benefits often creates a tough dilemma for retirees. Many people choose to file for their benefits as soon as they become eligible. Others prefer to delay filing as long as possible.

One of the essential goals of any retirement strategy is to ensure your future financial stability when you’re no longer working. A key way to do this is to reduce your expenses in retirement as much as possible.

Are you in the homestretch of your career? Can you see retirement approaching quickly on the horizon? While you may still be fully immersed and engaged in your career, you also may have one eye on retirement. Specifically, you might be thinking about what steps you can take so you’re fully prepared when the big day arrives.

If you’re like many Americans, much of your retirement assets may exist in plans such as an employer-sponsored 401(k) or an IRA. These plans are attractive retirement savings vehicles because of their unique tax structure.

When planning your financial strategy for retirement, one of the most important steps is to estimate your spending and build a projected budget. You’ll likely factor in your usual bills and lifestyle expenses. However, be sure not to ignore health care costs as you predict your retirement spending.

In a 2016 Gallup poll, 64 percent of Americans reported they were worried about retirement.¹ It’s an understandable concern, as many workers haven’t saved nearly enough to fund a multi-decade retirement. Are you included in the nearly two-thirds of Americans who are worried about retirement?

I spend an inordinate amount of my time explaining to Indexers (those that tout that indexes are the only way to be effective with their investments) that there is SO much more to consider than simply buying an index. The main reason for the argument is costs. Indexes usually represent the cheapest options for packaged investments.

Have you noticed that everything is bad these days. There is more bad economics, bad math and bad information masquerading as analysis these days than we have seen at any time in recent history. Ever since the trauma of 2008, investors have had a bad case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.