by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Apr 3, 2025 | Asset Allocation, Blog, Retirement Planning
Like what I saw in the year 2000, many investors are now touting the benefits of an all-equity retirement portfolio. I thought it would be fun to see how a hypothetical $2 million retirement portfolio would have performed using the 4% rule for retirement distributions...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Mar 26, 2025 | Asset Allocation, Blog, Retirement Planning
Retirees should plan to encounter four recessions during a typical 25-to-30-year retirement. According to Fed Chair Jerome Powell during his March 19th, 2025, press conference, the unconditional probability of a recession is in the range of 1 in 4 at any time. Another...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Mar 21, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning
Most people planning for their retirement will utilize software to develop their retirement plan. They might use a free retirement planning tool they find on the internet or hire a financial planner who uses software to develop their retirement plan. In either case,...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Mar 20, 2025 | Blog, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement
Annuities are among the worst investments an investor can make for their retirement. In this article, we will explore nine reasons why you should never buy an annuity. All Gains are Taxed as Ordinary Income Annuities do not qualify for favorable tax treatment in the...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Mar 13, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning
The year you retire can make or break your retirement plan. Will you retire at a good time or a bad time? You cannot really know if you have bad timing until after the fact. If you retire at a bad time, right before a recession and crash in the stock market, you won’t...
by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Mar 4, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning
Most retirement planning is done with complicated software. Unless the user is highly trained both on the software and with math and investments, mistakes frequently occur and go unnoticed. Making a mistake when building a software-based financial plan is extremely...
