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Wealth management

Why Financial Planning Is Important for Everyone

  • 2 min read
  • 1 of 4 in Wealth management
A retired couple reviews household paperwork at their kitchen table

Good financial planning isn’t just about building wealth.  It’s about making the most of what you have and helping ensure it will be there when you need it.

As we grow older, our financial priorities change.  Creating dependable income, protecting savings, managing taxes and healthcare costs, and making our money last become increasingly important.  Here are nine reasons thoughtful financial planning matters—especially in retirement.

Income Management: Post-retirement, your regular salary income stops, and you're mostly dependent on savings, pension, or other investment returns.  Effective wealth management can help provide a steady income flow from these sources.

Preserving Capital: At retirement, your focus usually shifts from wealth accumulation to capital preservation.  The goal is to protect what you have amassed from excessive taxes, inflation, and market volatility.

Mitigating Market Risks: As you age, your ability to bear risk generally decreases.  Hence, wealth management is essential to balance your portfolio between risky and safe assets to match your risk tolerance.

Ensuring Lifestyle Sustainability: Many retirees want to maintain the same lifestyle they had during their working years.  A well-planned wealth management strategy can help achieve this goal.

Healthcare Costs: Healthcare costs are a significant concern for retirees, and they tend to increase as one gets older.  Proper wealth management can help you prepare for increased medical expenses or long-term care needs.

Inflation: Inflation reduces purchasing power over time.  Effective wealth management considers the impact of inflation to maintain the real value of your retirement savings.

Estate Planning: Many retirees want to leave a legacy or provide for their heirs.  Wealth management can include estate planning components to ensure the efficient transfer of wealth.

Tax Planning: In retirement, your income may be lower, but taxes can still take a significant bite out of your savings.  A wealth manager can help minimize tax impacts on your retirement income.

Longevity Risk: People are living longer these days, which means retirement savings need to last longer.  Proper wealth management can help reduce the risk that retirees outlive their savings.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice.  Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.  Consult a qualified professional about your own situation.