Many years ago, my wife, 6 year old cat and I made the move from Chicago to St Simons. It was a long journey – over 1,000 miles of driving – and we were exhausted when we finally made it to St Simons. After two days of driving, we had a yin for frozen yogurt, so we...
One of the most unsettling aspects of retirement can be the idea that there will no longer be a regular paycheck. This shift can be scary but does not have to be a traumatic event. Retirement is the part of life when you shift from a single income source that...
When it comes to understanding your TSP withdrawal options, it is useful to differentiate between taking a withdrawal while you are still a Federal employee versus after you have separated from service. We have covered TSP account options at federal retirement here...
If you’re a federal employee then chances are you have a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account. If leaving federal service for retirement is just around the corner, you may be wondering how to handle your TSP account investments. In this article we’ll cover your...
Property taxes in Atlanta and Decatur have become a real point of contention in recent years. There are other considerations when purchasing a home that I’ve written about here and here, but sharply rising home prices make understanding property taxes and the...
A client recently asked my thoughts on buying a house “in this market.” The market in question is Atlanta, and for most neighborhoods here, it’s a seller’s market. Prices have risen a good bit over the last several years, and well-priced houses in popular areas go...
If you don’t think working with a fiduciary advisor is important, imagine going to a doctor for the first time and being told the doctor does not adhere to the Hippocratic oath. The doctor patiently explains that though he is a doctor, the professional...
Although we think of retirement as a specific point in time, it is really a process. This process has key retirement dates that begin just before age 60 and end just after you turn 70. Understanding what those milestones are is vital in determining when you can...
Years ago when I was thinking about switching careers to become a financial advisor, I was sure the secret to financial success was investing. I had read a number of the classics on investing – Peter Lynch, Benjamin Graham, Phillip Fisher – and I thought...
