Isabel Barrow and Jean Chatzky discuss the significance of financial planning and the role of professional advice. They explore the services of Edelman Financial Engines, finding a holistic financial planner, and setting personal financial goals. They also touch on mortgages, retirement planning, maximizing returns with target date funds, and financial advice for your 20s.
Financial planning involves a comprehensive approach that covers retirement planning, investment strategies, insurance, college planning, and debt management.
When looking for a financial planner, it is crucial to find someone who can handle all the various aspects of financial planning and provide ongoing guidance to adapt to changing financial circumstances.
Deep dives
Financial Planning as a Process
Financial planning is a process that involves understanding one's financial goals, savings, investments, and navigating various aspects of personal finance. It requires a comprehensive approach that includes retirement planning, investment strategies, insurance, college planning, and debt management. Financial planning is not limited to a particular product, but rather a holistic process that helps individuals reach their financial goals over a long period of time.
Finding a Financial Planner
When looking for a financial planner, it is important to find someone who acts as a fiduciary, prioritizing the client's best interests. They should not be commission-based but rather focus on providing unbiased advice. A good financial planner should have a wide range of expertise, covering different aspects of financial planning, from retirement planning to investment strategies. It is crucial to find someone who can handle all the various things one needs help with and who can provide ongoing guidance in order to adapt to changing financial circumstances.
Retirement Planning and Mortgages
Planning for retirement involves considering factors like income levels, job security, and desired retirement age. It is important to save a substantial amount for retirement in order to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. When it comes to mortgages, it is not necessary to pay off a mortgage early just because one is retired. With low fixed-rate mortgages, the monthly payments may seem high now but will become more affordable over time due to inflation. Instead of focusing on paying off the mortgage quickly, it is essential to plan for retirement expenses more broadly and ensure enough savings to maintain a desired lifestyle.
Saving and Investing for Retirement
The key to successful retirement planning is to allocate enough savings for the future. A general rule is to save at least 10% of one's income for retirement, although it is advisable to save as much as possible. Increasing retirement contributions, maximizing employer matches, and taking advantage of tax breaks are effective ways to boost retirement savings. Putting money into retirement accounts that generate higher returns, such as solo 401(k)s and traditional 401(k)s, can provide long-term growth potential. It is important to regularly review and adjust retirement contributions to ensure a solid financial foundation for retirement.
Today on Other People's Pockets, you're going to hear what it's like to receive financial planning advice, and the person receiving the advice is ... me! My income, savings, and retirement goals will get scrutinized by Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning at Edelman Financial Engines and frequent guest on the podcast Everyday Wealth, along with Jean Chatzky, financial journalist and bestselling New York Times author who is also the host of Everyday Wealth.
This special episode of Other People's Pockets was produced with support from the Everyday Wealth podcast.