Pre-Retirees & Retirees

A close-up image of the word "Medicare" printed on a torn piece of paper positioned over a background that includes U.S. currency. It signifies financial aspects related to Medicare health insurance.

Medicare Planning for Retirement: A Comprehensive Guide

Why does Medicare remind us of Swiss cheese? Because it has many, many holes. Especially for those who have not properly researched their healthcare options before signing up for a program. Jokes aside, Medicare planning for retirement is a serious matter. It can be confusing and daunting. Our team at SYM Financial has covered the basics of Medicare before, so today’s article will briefly review the structure of the program before diving into the most

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A person wearing a black and white striped shirt and a black cap blows a whistle and holds up a yellow card. The background shows a blurred outdoor landscape with mountains. The words "EARLY RETIREMENT" are written in bold towards the top left of the image.

How to Avoid an Early Retirement Penalty

Every now and again, SYM Financial advisors and planners run into clients who retire early. There are many good reasons why someone might “retire early” in the eyes of the IRS, which is any time before reaching the age of 59½. Some are ready to separate from their jobs sooner than they had anticipated. Others may be impacted by layoffs, workforce reduction, or health problems that make it difficult to continue working. No matter how

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An infographic by SYM Financial Advisors shows a brain split into two sides: the left labeled "Logical Side" with analytical questions, and the right labeled "Emotional Side" with impulsive statements. The bottom line advises leaning on a financial plan and building emergency savings for decisions.

The Cost of Emotions in Financial Decisions

You might think that the hardest financial decisions are knowing which investments to pick, mitigating downside risk, or understanding how taxes might impact your returns. But there is one thing that can derail your investment portfolio even faster than poor investment choices and tax mistakes. That is the voice inside your head. On the surface, our daily thoughts and emotions may seem trivial. However, they can trick us into chasing after investments that don’t make

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An infographic by SYM Financial Advisors titled "Tax Time Checkup" shows that 62% of Americans expect a tax refund. It details how they plan to use it: 54% on savings, including emergency savings, 32% on debt, 27% on daily expenses, 12% on home improvement, 10% on major purchases, 8% on vacation, and

Next Year’s Income Tax Planning Starts Now

Whether you are the type to submit your tax filing early or you wait until the April 15th deadline, there are ways to make the annual necessity easier on yourself. Income tax filing doesn’t have to be a frantic race. If you develop the right habits now, you can take small steps all year long, which will make the tax-filing project much simpler. That can lead to a quicker, smoother filing — and can potentially

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An elderly man with gray hair, wearing sunglasses, a red bathing suit, and black-and-yellow water shoes, relaxes on a light blue inflatable mattress at the edge of the clear, shallow sea water near a pebbled shore.

What Does Inflation Mean for Your Retirement

Imagine that you’re retired, living on a fixed income, and your energy bill has just gone up by 11 percent. On top of that, your gas tank now costs 50 percent more to fill up, and groceries cost 5 percent more than usual. That might sound crazy, but this is exactly what’s happened over the past year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI) for all items has risen

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A red pushpin is pinned on the 30th of a calendar, which corresponds to a Friday. The date is crossed out with a red "X" and the word "RETIRE" is written in red above the date.

Setting Your Retirement Date: Are You Too Late or Too Early?

How much thought have you put into your retirement date? If you said “not that much,” then you are in good company. Most people simply assume they’ll retire whenever they become eligible for Social Security benefits. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s a lot more that goes into retirement planning than just your age. According to a study conducted by Columbia Business School’s Center for Decision Sciences, the act of thinking about

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