Retirement Planning

The big decisions of retirement planning, from when to retire to how the pieces of your plan fit together, explained in plain language.

An older couple making notes together at home while reviewing planning documents.

Retirement Planning

The Complete Guide to Flat-Fee Financial Planning

A practical guide to flat-fee financial planning: what it covers, how it differs from percentage-based pricing, and the questions to ask before choosing an advisor.

September 25, 2026 · 8 min read

Cover art for the Retirement Planning Education podcast episode featuring Ryan Langan, CFP®, and Andy Panko.

Retirement Planning

Retirement Planner Chat with Ryan Langan, CFP®

A transcript-grounded recap of Ryan Langan, CFP®'s Retirement Planning Education conversation with Andy Panko, focused on purpose-led retirement planning, coordinated decisions, and questions to ask an advisor.

September 17, 2026 · 5 min read

A person around 60 at a clean home desk reviewing a printed document, representing thoughtful fee decision-making

Retirement Planning

Who Should Hire a Flat-Fee Advisor?

A flat-fee advisor isn't the right fit for everyone. Here's an honest look at who benefits most from predictable pricing and comprehensive planning, and who might be better served by an AUM advisor instead.

August 26, 2026 · 6 min read

A person in their early 60s sitting at a kitchen table with retirement planning documents, looking thoughtful in warm natural light.

Retirement Planning

Do I Need a Financial Advisor to Retire, or Can I Do It Myself?

Plenty of people retire well without professional help. Here's an honest look at when DIY retirement planning holds up, and when the decisions get complicated enough that it starts to matter.

August 19, 2026 · 7 min read

A person reviewing financial charts on a laptop alongside handwritten notes, representing the choice between automated and human retirement planning.

Retirement Planning

Robo-Advisor vs. Financial Advisor: Which Is Right for Retirement Planning?

Robo-advisors are good at low-cost portfolio management. Retirement planning usually asks for more than that. Here's an honest look at what each one covers.

August 11, 2026 · 8 min read

A retiree at a home desk looking closely at a printed financial statement, searching for the advisory fee line.

Retirement Planning

Why Retirees Often Overpay Their Financial Advisor

More than half of investors don't know what they pay their financial advisor. In retirement, when portfolios and percentage fees are both often near their peak, that gap matters more than at any other point in your financial life.

August 7, 2026 · 7 min read

A framed CFP certificate on a warm home office desk in late afternoon light

Retirement Planning

Is a CFP® Better Than a Financial Advisor?

Anyone can call themselves a financial advisor, no license required. CFP® is a specific certification with defined education, exam, experience, and ethics requirements from CFP Board. Here's what that difference means when you're choosing someone to plan your retirement around.

August 5, 2026 · 8 min read

A printed fee breakdown sheet with a calculator on a clean desk, representing the clarity of a flat fee you can see and add up yourself.

Retirement Planning

Flat fee financial planning explained

What does it actually mean when an advisor charges a flat fee? A plain-language look at how the model works, what's typically included, and who it tends to fit.

August 3, 2026 · 6 min read

A retirement-age person at a home desk reviewing a printed investment statement, pen resting near a circled line item, calm expression in warm natural light.

Retirement Planning

Should You Pay 1% of Your Portfolio Every Year?

Once you stop contributing and start drawing down, your portfolio is near its lifetime peak. That is exactly when a 1% AUM fee costs the most in dollar terms. Here is an honest look at whether that fee still makes sense in the decumulation phase.

July 30, 2026 · 7 min read

An advisor and client in genuine conversation at a desk, representing a personal, relationship-driven approach to flat-fee planning.

Retirement Planning

Why I don't charge based on portfolio size

Most financial advisors charge a percentage of what you have invested. Here's why I don't, and why I think that model creates a quiet conflict of interest for people approaching and in retirement.

July 22, 2026 · 7 min read

A single simple statement resting on a clean, minimal desk, representing a transparent, easy-to-see flat fee.

Retirement Planning

Flat fee financial advisor vs. 1% AUM: which costs less?

AUM fees grow automatically as your portfolio grows. A flat fee doesn't. Here's an honest comparison at several portfolio sizes, including when a flat fee costs more.

July 21, 2026 · 7 min read

Hands sorting retirement account statements at a table with a moving box in the background, representing a 401(k) rollover decision at retirement.

Retirement Planning

What to do with your 401(k) when you retire

Roll it to an IRA, leave it in the plan, or start converting to Roth? Each choice has real tax and flexibility consequences that most people don't think through until it's too late.

June 9, 2026 · 6 min read

A person calmly on a phone call at a home desk, representing navigating the health insurance gap before Medicare.

Retirement Planning

The healthcare gap: covering yourself from retirement to Medicare

Retiring before 65 means planning a short but important coverage bridge. Compare Marketplace plans, COBRA, a spouse's plan, and retiree coverage before you leave work.

June 2, 2026 · 8 min read

A calm morning kitchen table scene with coffee and an open notebook, representing thoughtful retirement spending planning.

Retirement Planning

How much can you safely spend in retirement?

The 4% rule is the famous answer. It's also widely misunderstood. Here's what actually determines how much you can spend without running out.

May 12, 2026 · 7 min read

Retirement Planning

Why preparation creates calm in retirement

Retirement brings plenty of unknowns. Deciding ahead of time how you'll handle them is what turns uncertainty into a sense of calm.

April 3, 2026 · 4 min read

Retirement Planning

The biggest adjustment in retirement isn't financial

You can have a solid plan and a strong portfolio and still feel unsettled. The hardest part of retirement is often personal, not financial.

April 2, 2026 · 4 min read

Retirement Planning

When simplicity is the smarter retirement strategy

Optimizing every decision does not always lead to a better retirement. Sometimes the best plan is the one that lets you sleep at night.

March 13, 2026 · 4 min read

Retirement Planning

Avoid this common retirement mistake: forgetting about inflation

Many retirees plan for the income they need today and forget what a few decades of inflation will do to it. Here is how to keep your lifestyle intact for the long haul.

January 21, 2025 · 4 min read

Retirement Planning

6 key elements of a strong retirement plan

A retirement plan is more than a number in an account. Here are six key elements to consider so your plan supports the life you want.

August 14, 2024 · 4 min read

Retirement Planning

The Six Pillars of Retirement Planning

Retirement planning involves much more than just saving money; it's about ensuring you can live comfortably and fulfill your goals in your golden years.

July 31, 2024 · 4 min read

Retirement Planning

High Yield Savings Account: Elevate Your Cash

When you're a few years from retirement — or already there — where you keep your cash matters more than most people realize. A high-yield savings account (HYSA) could be one of the most practical tools in your near-retirement cash strategy.

July 1, 2023 · 5 min read

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