Ken R. Clark

What could you uncover with our complimentary reports?

Our goldendoodle Toby!

What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution? What is a QCD? Are you 70 1/2 or older and give to charity? You could be leaving huge tax benefits on the table!

When it comes to money approaching your 50s and 60s…

1. Don’t take on excessive risk to make up for lost time. In most cases you’re playing with fire.

2. Don’t leave retirement accounts at previous employers. The investments can become unbalanced and the listed beneficiaries may never get updated.

3. Don’t forget to take advantage of the “catch up” contributions allowed by the IRS if you’re 50 or older.

How much do you actually need to retire?

It’s not as simple as picking a number out of thin air. Your retirement target should account for at least 6 things:

Monthly budget: What will your core lifestyle actually cost?

Wants: Boats, travel, large gifts, and the things you want to enjoy in retirement.

Investment mix: How your portfolio is positioned can impact both income and risk.

Taxes: Is all of your retirement money in pre-tax accounts? Your $1 million may not really be $1 million after taxes.

Inflation: What costs $5,000 a month today could cost significantly more 10 or 20 years from now.

Long-term care: Have you accounted for the potential cost of needing care later in life?

The right retirement number isn’t the same for everyone. It’s the amount you need to fund the retirement you actually want.

There’s a universal rule of money that most investors never think about:

You can have 2 out of 3, but not all 3.

Every investment has to balance Growth, Liquidity, and Safety.

You can have:
• Growth + Liquidity
• Growth + Safety
• Liquidity + Safety

But you can’t have **Growth + Liquidity + Safety** all at the same time.

Understanding this simple concept can help you make smarter decisions about where and how you position your money.

Are you 5 years away from retirement?

If you’re about 5 years from retirement, it’s time to shift from simply building wealth to protecting and optimizing what you’ve built.

Here are 3 things you should do:

1. Get your tax plan in place. Understand how your retirement income will be taxed and how your withdrawals could impact Medicare premiums and the taxation of your Social Security benefits.

2. Revisit the risk in your portfolio. A major market crash right before retirement can significantly impact your retirement income. Make sure your portfolio is positioned appropriately for the transition from accumulation to retirement.

3. Review your beneficiaries. Make sure your retirement accounts, life insurance, and other assets are going to the people you actually intend. You don’t want an outdated beneficiary designation sending your retirement savings to a former spouse.

The final 5 years before retirement can be some of the most important years for retirement planning. Don’t wait until you retire to start making these decisions.

Don’t miss these critical steps 10 years out from retirement!

How to check (for free) if you have unclaimed money that is owed to you. Don’t leave free money out there unclaimed!

Here’s what I’ve found to be the making of a fullfilling retirement