Read about the six pillars of a retirement plan
How to Know If You’re Retirement-Ready at Age 55
Our journey takes place inside the Cave of Questions because retirement often begins with more questions than answers and figuring out where to start can feel like navigating a dark cave. While inside, we discover that a map is a great place to…
Retirement Sneaks Up: Steps to Take When You Need to Decide Fast
Retirement doesn’t always follow a perfect timeline. A buyout, layoff, health change—or even just the calendar—can speed up big decisions. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Haley Gutschenritter explain how to…
You’ve Inherited Money, Now What?
Inheriting money can be both emotional and overwhelming. In this blog, Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Clint Huntrods explain how different types of assets—cash, investments, retirement accounts, real estate, life…
The Top 10 Retirement Wake-Up Calls
Retirement may bring dreams of sandy beaches, golf outings, and more time with family—but it also comes with surprises that can catch many off guard. In a recent episode of…
Are You Making These Investor Mistakes?
Market volatility is unsettling, and it’s easy to make mistakes when emotions take over. Retirement Planners Chawn Honkomp and Loren Merkle tackle the most common investor missteps—and how to avoid…
Retirement Fact or Fiction: Investments
When it comes to retirement, some of the most common beliefs about investing sound true—but in reality, they can lead you down the wrong path. Misconceptions about the stock market,…
How to Know If You’re Retirement-Ready at Age 55
Our journey takes place inside the Cave of Questions because retirement often begins with more questions than answers and figuring out where to start can feel like navigating a dark cave. While inside, we discover that a map is a great place to begin—a guide to steer our travels. That map is the RetireSecure Roadmap, a visual representation of the personalized retirement plans we help families and individuals build. Each…
7 Essential Questions Your Financial Advisor Should Be Asking
Retirement planning isn’t just about saving money. It’s about making sure your plan supports the life you want to live once you stop working. Asking the right questions can uncover your goals, anticipate challenges, and create a plan that gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Clint Huntrods…
How Do I Stack Up? Understanding Where You Stand with Your Retirement Savings
That comparison—how you “measure up” to your peers, your neighbors, or even a number you once read in an article—is normal. But it’s not always helpful without context. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Chawn Honkomp discussed what those averages really mean and, more importantly, how to start focusing on what matters: your own retirement goals…
Four Retirement Lifestyle Traps — and How to Avoid Them
When people think about retirement, they often focus on the numbers—how much they’ve saved, when to claim Social Security, or how to manage taxes. But equally important, and often overlooked, is how they’ll actually live day to day once they stop working. That’s where a retirement lifestyle plan comes in. According to Retirement Planner Loren…
There’s No Place Like Retirement | Navigating the Yellow Brick Road with Confidence
Embarking on the journey to retirement can feel as daunting as Dorothy’s trek through Oz. But just like Dorothy, who had the lion, scarecrow, and tin man to help her reach her goal, you don’t have to navigate your retirement journey alone. We take a journey down the yellow brick road to help you build…
We’re Off to Plan Retirement | The Yellow Brick Road to Retirement
Planning for retirement is often seen as a daunting task, filled with more questions than answers. In a special edition of “Retiring Today with Loren Merkle” we take a whimsical yet informative journey along our own yellow brick road to plan for retirement with Dorothy (host Molly Nelson), the Lion (Retirement Planner Loren Merkle), and…
How to Know If You’re Retirement-Ready at Age 55
Our journey takes place inside the Cave of Questions because retirement often begins with more questions than answers and figuring out where to start can feel like navigating a dark cave. While inside, we discover that a map is a great place to begin—a guide to steer our travels. That map is the RetireSecure Roadmap, a visual representation of the personalized retirement plans we help families and individuals build. Each…
Retirement Sneaks Up: Steps to Take When You Need to Decide Fast
Retirement doesn’t always follow a perfect timeline. A buyout, layoff, health change—or even just the calendar—can speed up big decisions. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Haley Gutschenritter explain how to quickly get your arms around income, taxes, Social Security, and health care— so you can take confident next steps without derailing your retirement vision. When…
Are You Making These Investor Mistakes?
Market volatility is unsettling, and it’s easy to make mistakes when emotions take over. Retirement Planners Chawn Honkomp and Loren Merkle tackle the most common investor missteps—and how to avoid them. From panic selling during downturns to sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “perfect time,” and even holding on to investments too long, they…
Retirement Fact or Fiction: Investments
When it comes to retirement, some of the most common beliefs about investing sound true—but in reality, they can lead you down the wrong path. Misconceptions about the stock market, savings accounts, bonds, or even the 4% rule can cause retirees to make costly mistakes. To help separate truth from fiction, Retirement Planners Loren Merkle…
7 Essential Questions Your Financial Advisor Should Be Asking
Retirement planning isn’t just about saving money. It’s about making sure your plan supports the life you want to live once you stop working. Asking the right questions can uncover your goals, anticipate challenges, and create a plan that gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Clint Huntrods…
How Do I Stack Up? Understanding Where You Stand with Your Retirement Savings
That comparison—how you “measure up” to your peers, your neighbors, or even a number you once read in an article—is normal. But it’s not always helpful without context. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Chawn Honkomp discussed what those averages really mean and, more importantly, how to start focusing on what matters: your own retirement goals…
How to Know If You’re Retirement-Ready at Age 55
Our journey takes place inside the Cave of Questions because retirement often begins with more questions than answers and figuring out where to start can feel like navigating a dark cave. While inside, we discover that a map is a great place to begin—a guide to steer our travels. That map is the RetireSecure Roadmap, a visual representation of the personalized retirement plans we help families and individuals build. Each…
Retirement Sneaks Up: Steps to Take When You Need to Decide Fast
Retirement doesn’t always follow a perfect timeline. A buyout, layoff, health change—or even just the calendar—can speed up big decisions. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Haley Gutschenritter explain how to quickly get your arms around income, taxes, Social Security, and health care— so you can take confident next steps without derailing your retirement vision. When…
You’ve Inherited Money, Now What?
Inheriting money can be both emotional and overwhelming. In this blog, Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Clint Huntrods explain how different types of assets—cash, investments, retirement accounts, real estate, life insurance, and personal property—are treated, which tax rules to watch for, and how to make thoughtful decisions that fit into your bigger retirement plan. When…
7 Essential Questions Your Financial Advisor Should Be Asking
Retirement planning isn’t just about saving money. It’s about making sure your plan supports the life you want to live once you stop working. Asking the right questions can uncover your goals, anticipate challenges, and create a plan that gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Clint Huntrods…
Fact or Fiction: The Truth About Taxes in Retirement
This blog breaks down five common beliefs about taxes in retirement, helping you separate fact from fiction. With direct insights from Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Haley Gutschenritter, it covers topics like Social Security taxation, Roth IRA rules, RMDs, and the impact of relocating — highlighting how tax planning may influence your retirement income picture….
4 Retirement Tax Traps (And How to Avoid Them)
Taxes can quietly take a big bite out of your nest egg if you don’t plan ahead. Relying on old assumptions from your working years can lead to costly mistakes once you pivot to drawing down your assets. That’s why it’s crucial to understand some of the most common—and sneaky—tax traps that can surprise retirees….
Understanding Retirement Income: What It Is, How It Works, and Why it Matters
Retirement is a significant milestone in anyone’s life, marking the transition from years of employment to a period of relaxation and new experiences. A critical aspect of this transition is having a plan for retirement income. According to a study discussed by Molly Nelson, Loren Merkle, and Clint Huntrods, while 62% of advisors claim to…
Debunking Social Security Myths: A Guide To Navigating Your Benefit
Understanding Social Security is important as it plays a significant role in retirement planning. We help you make sense of the facts and provide insights into optimizing Social Security benefits to help you navigate this important income decision. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Why social security decisions matter The conversation began with Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Chawn Honkomp…
Year-End Tax Planning | 5 Strategies to Boost Your Retirement Income
As retirement approaches, it’s essential to rethink your strategy for handling your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). With a focus on maximizing benefits and minimizing taxes, this blog will help you navigate the complexities of IRAs, understand their evolution, and leverage effective strategies like Roth conversions and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). We discuss important IRA rules…
Rethinking Your IRA Strategy
As retirement approaches, it’s essential to rethink your strategy for handling your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). With a focus on maximizing benefits and minimizing taxes, this blog will help you navigate the complexities of IRAs, understand their evolution, and leverage effective strategies like Roth conversions and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). We discuss important IRA rules…
The Ultimate Guide to Help Beat Inflation in Retirement
Retirement is a phase in life that should be enjoyed, not spent worrying about running out of money. But with inflation spikes in recent years, many are concerned about sustaining their lifestyle in retirement. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you plan for and navigate inflation in retirement. Understanding the Impact of Inflation Why…
There’s No Place Like Retirement | Navigating the Yellow Brick Road with Confidence
Embarking on the journey to retirement can feel as daunting as Dorothy’s trek through Oz. But just like Dorothy, who had the lion, scarecrow, and tin man to help her reach her goal, you don’t have to navigate your retirement journey alone. We take a journey down the yellow brick road to help you build…
Can You Retire Earlier Than Expected?
In this episode of Retiring Today with Loren Merkle we cover important strategies to help you plan for the possibility of an extended retirement, emphasizing the need to anticipate a longer lifespan than previous generations. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Recent data from the Social Security Administration highlights that men and women reaching the age of 65 today can…
The Complete Guide to Medicare in 2025
In this episode of Retiring Today, Loren Merkle and AnnaMarie Morrow discuss the most critical Medicare updates that will help you make the best decisions for your retirement plan. – Complete explanation of the $2000 out-of-pocket maximums for Medicare Part D Key topics: – A comprehensive breakdown of Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D…
The Ultimate Guide to Help Beat Inflation in Retirement
Retirement is a phase in life that should be enjoyed, not spent worrying about running out of money. But with inflation spikes in recent years, many are concerned about sustaining their lifestyle in retirement. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you plan for and navigate inflation in retirement. Understanding the Impact of Inflation Why…
There’s No Place Like Retirement | Navigating the Yellow Brick Road with Confidence
Embarking on the journey to retirement can feel as daunting as Dorothy’s trek through Oz. But just like Dorothy, who had the lion, scarecrow, and tin man to help her reach her goal, you don’t have to navigate your retirement journey alone. We take a journey down the yellow brick road to help you build…
We’re Off to Plan Retirement | The Yellow Brick Road to Retirement
Planning for retirement is often seen as a daunting task, filled with more questions than answers. In a special edition of “Retiring Today with Loren Merkle” we take a whimsical yet informative journey along our own yellow brick road to plan for retirement with Dorothy (host Molly Nelson), the Lion (Retirement Planner Loren Merkle), and…
Navigating 2025 Medicare Changes | A Comprehensive Guide
Health care planning is a critical component of a secure retirement. With significant changes coming to Medicare in 2025, it’s essential to stay informed and prepared. Retirement Planner Loren Merkle and Director of Medicare AnnaMarie Morrow delve into the upcoming Medicare changes and their implications. Introduction to the 2025 Medicare Changes The landscape of Medicare…
How to Know If You’re Retirement-Ready at Age 55
Our journey takes place inside the Cave of Questions because retirement often begins with more questions than answers and figuring out where to start can feel like navigating a dark cave. While inside, we discover that a map is a great place to begin—a guide to steer our travels. That map is the RetireSecure Roadmap, a visual representation of the personalized retirement plans we help families and individuals build. Each…
Top Legacy Planning Traps That Could Derail Your Retirement
Legacy planning isn’t always top of mind when preparing for retirement, but overlooking it can have costly and stressful consequences. You’ve worked hard to build your wealth—now it’s time to make sure it’s protected and passed on according to your wishes. In this blog, Retirement Planners Loren Merkle and Chawn Honkomp share five common legacy…
Legacy Planning with Attorney Charlie Bottenberg
This blog post explores the often-overlooked essentials of estate planning, dispelling the myth that it’s only for the wealthy. With insights from retirement planner Loren Merkle and estate planning attorney Charlie Bottenberg, it covers the importance of updating wills, the role of trusts, powers of attorney, and strategies to protect your legacy and loved ones—especially…
3 Costly Health Care Traps to Avoid in Retirement
One area that can catch even the most diligent savers off guard is health care. We explore three of the biggest health care traps in retirement—and how you can avoid them. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trap 1: Failing to Plan for Extra Health Care Costs Many people see Medicare as their golden ticket to affordable health care in…
Essential Retirement Checklist: How to Organize, Declutter, and Plan for Retirement
Retirement isn’t just about leaving the workforce—it’s about entering a new phase of life, and getting organized is one of the best ways to ensure your retirement journey is smooth and enjoyable. Much like preparing your home for a new chapter, organizing your financial life ahead of retirement helps create confidence and clarity. By following…
How To Test Drive Retirement
Retirement planning is a crucial stage in life, similar to making significant financial decisions like buying a car or a house. Loren Merkle brings a fresh perspective on the concept by introducing the idea of “test-driving retirement.” This approach involves taking steps to “test out” your retirement lifestyle, income, taxes, investments, health care costs, and…
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