Grady Group

When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse’s social security benefit may change significantly, and many retirees are unaware that they generally do not continue receiving both monthly checks. In most cases, the surviving spouse receives the higher of the two benefits, while the smaller benefit stops, which will still create an unexpected reduction in […]

Sometimes as we are in the midst of our retirement years, we need to have a serious heart-to-heart with our adult children. That conversation can often begin by explaining that not every decision you make will look the way they would personally choose to handle things, but that does not mean it is uninformed or

A fixed index annuity can provide a dependable stream of income, which becomes especially valuable after a divorce when household finances are often disrupted. It offers protection of principal while still allowing for some growth, helping preserve assets during a period of financial transition. Guaranteed lifetime income options can create a sense of financial independence

Staggered retirements are more common than you might think, especially when couples are different ages. A two-phase retirement can affect both you when it comes to your savings and spending needs. It’s important to think ahead about how you’ll both plan for and handle these impacts. There are differing and varied options that may fit

It is not surprising that people tend to compare their financial situation during retirement to others, because money is highly visible in life: through homes, cars, travel, and lifestyle. So it becomes an easy benchmark for perceived success. However, not only do these comparisons rarely reveal the full picture of someone’s debts, obligations, goals, or

We thought we’d bring to your attention an article recently published by AARP that discusses seven different ways retirement income will be different this year:  “For most people, retirement finance is a delicate balance between income that’s likely less than what you made while working and expenses that may be lower in some areas (no

Annuities are one way to leverage a sudden influx of cash that may or may not have been expected, such as a bonus, inheritance, or sale of a small asset you had never factored into your financial profile. The reason they can be leveraged is because, unlike traditional tax-advantaged retirement or ‘qualified’ accounts, annuities have

There was a recent report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute on an analysis of retirement accounts using the 2018 Survey of Consumer Finances. According to the analysis, a $5 million retirement nest egg puts you in the top 0.1% of households. Then, the question becomes: what does $5 million buy you in retirement? What

If you own a small business or family office you could be required to report ownership details to the federal government… or face stiff penalties and possible jail time. The Corporate Transparency Act went into effect on January 1, 2024, and it requires otherwise unregulated companies to report information about “beneficial” owners, those who own

We all know that complex estates require sophisticated estate planning. If you have a large estate or own a business, only a qualified estate-planning attorney will have the knowledge and expertise to tailor to your specific needs.  Because we have been doing business with you, we may be able to help answer some of the