Asset Strategies

02/26/2026

$5 million saved… And STILL not ready for retirement?

I just saw an article in Kiplinger about a couple in their mid-60s. Their retirement savings just crossed the $5 million mark.

And they can’t seem to agree whether they can finally retire!

For what it’s worth, the article pointed out that this couple is in the top 0.1% of households. That the average person their age has $609,230 in retirement savings. And many of those people will be just fine in retirement.

And if you’re like 99.9% of this $5-million couple’s peers, you can look at their number that’s bigger than yours and easily assume they’ll be okay!

But here’s the thing.

Retirement planning is deeply and irrevocably personal.

What’s more than enough for one family… Could feel far too risky for another.

It’s not how much you’ve saved.

It’s how you manage it once you have it.

If you’re not thoughtful and intentional about how you manage and maintain your wealth, you could easily blow through $5 million — with many years left in the tank and little means of supporting yourself.

Or you could retire with far less, and be just fine.

Clients come to us regularly — with all sizes of retirement savings — and ask, “Will we be okay?” If you’re wondering the same thing, we should talk.

02/26/2026

We've had some big changes at Asset Strategies! 👇

We’ve had some big changes at Asset Strategies, as we continue to grow and build to serve you better. We have two new affiliated companies, and a new office

02/25/2026

On track to retire with $1 million or more?

Here’s 3 little letters you should know about *now* … RMD.

If you’re not careful, you could end up owing far more in taxes than you might expect in retirement, no thanks to these 3 little letters.

But the sooner you plan, the more time you could have to mitigate the impact. And potentially reduce your lifetime tax obligation.

⚠️ What is an RMD?

RMD stands for Required Minimum Distribution.

If you have money saved in a traditional, tax-deferred IRA or 401(k), this is relevant to you.

Until you turn 73, any amount you choose to withdraw from those accounts is voluntary.

After you turn 73, you are required to take out a minimum withdrawal each year, until the account is empty or until you pass.

Basically, the IRS says they’re done waiting for taxes on these tax-deferred accounts. By requiring withdrawals, the IRS can expect at least that much taxable income for the year.

⚠️ How are RMDs linked to higher taxes?

Depending on how much you’ve saved and how your IRA or 401(k) has grown, these RMDs could add up to significant taxable income each year.

For some good savers, their RMDs could be even more than they earned while working.

That means:

❌ More taxable income.
❌ A potentially higher marginal tax bracket.
❌ Taxes due on up to 85% of Social Security income.
❌ And potentially higher Medicare premiums, to boot.

And because the IRS makes RMDs mandatory after 73, you don’t want to wait. Once you turn 73, you could have little choice left but to pay up.

⚠️ What strategies could help?

A good financial advisor could help you plan for RMDs, many years in advance.

If it makes sense for your personal situation, they may help you strategically move some of your money from your IRA or 401(k) before RMDs kick in. Through withdrawals, Roth conversions, or another personally relevant strategy.

For many retirees, there’s a “golden window” for this in the first few years of retirement. They stop receiving a paycheck. They haven’t filed for Social Security yet. And their taxable income could be relatively low. This could be an ideal time to make a move.

Withdrawals must still be reported as taxable income, of course. But using these years for strategic tax planning could help you make the most of lower tax brackets. And potentially reduce your lifetime taxes.

Of course, it’s important to consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual circumstances. Mistakes can be costly, and trigger unnecessary taxes and penalties. And that’s the last thing we’d want for you!

If you’d like to discuss RMDs and other retirement planning with an Asset Strategies financial advisor, we’ll share a link in the comments below.

02/24/2026

The other side of retirement planning: https://assetstrategies-ne.com/getting-ready-for-retirement-is-about-more-than-just-money/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=daily-content&utm_term=2026-02&utm_content=blog-link-getting-ready-for-retirement

When you’re 11 years deep into retirement and it’s a random Tuesday morning, what do you expect to be doing?

“Are we going to be okay in retirement?”

02/23/2026

Once you’ve saved half a million or more for retirement, things can get complicated.

And if you’re not asking these important questions, you should be…

❓ How much of your retirement money will still be yours… after taxes?

❓ If the market drops 30%, which accounts take the hit first?

❓ What happens to your income plan if you retire into a bad market year?

❓ Are you accidentally saving yourself into a higher tax bracket later?

❓ Which of your accounts gives you the most and least flexibility once you stop working?

❓ If tax laws change, which part of your retirement is most exposed?

❓ How long can your current plan survive if market growth stalls?

❓ What’s your plan if required minimum distributions push your income higher than expected?

❓ Do you know the exact order you’re supposed to withdraw from accounts — and why?

❓ Which financial decision you make in your 60s is almost impossible to undo later?

Ultimately, it’s not about how much you save. It’s about how much you keep. And what that means for your retirement.

And if you want help answering these questions, check the link in our first comment.

02/20/2026

“A new report has found that Social Security benefits could be cut by 28 percent in the coming years if no solution to a long-standing funding issue is found.” — Newsweek

This could be a big problem for American retirees.

And the deadline is coming at us, fast.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has just released its new Budget and Economic Outlook for the next 10 years.

It revealed the bad news:

The Social Security Trust Fund just keeps shrinking. It’s on track to run out of money by 2032 — just 6 years from now. That’s a year sooner than last year’s projection.

Then what happens?

Under current law, Social Security benefits can only be legally paid from taxes they collect.

So either Congress changes the law, or benefits are cut… automatically. The CBO projects those automatic cuts would be 7% in 2032, and 28% percent each year after.

❓Do you really think Congress will let retirees’ benefits be cut 28% across the board?

Will they put it off? Most likely.

Will they kick the can down the road? Probably.

There’s a good chance we won’t see any real action until the last possible minute.

And there could be a whole lot of uncertainty and hand-wringing between now and then.

But we believe: The political cost would be just too high. They’ll find a way. They won’t simply cut off nearly $3 out of every $10 from American retirees’ monthly checks.

So we expect Congress will eventually do something.

That said…

Dave Ramsey calls it “Social Insecurity” for a reason.

We don’t think you should rely on Social Security as a retirement plan. At least, not as your only source of spending money for retirement.

You’re far better off getting every dollar and not needing it… than needing it and not getting it.

When we sit down with clients and help them plan and get ready for retirement, that’s one important goal.

Yes, we want you to get every dime in benefits that you deserve, from your years contributing to the program. But we also want a plan that doesn’t put your retirement wellbeing at the mercy of Social Security’s struggles.

Of course: No strategy assures success or protects against loss. But if you’d like to develop your plan with all of this in mind, our financial advisors can help.

The first comment below has a link to schedule a confidential “Ready for Retirement” Review with one of our advisors. There’s no cost or obligation, and you don’t have to be a client yet.

02/19/2026

6 years ago today, the stock market hit another all-time high… Even as the world was falling into panic over the spread of COVID-19.

It was February 19th, 2020. Global investment markets were about to see some of their biggest one-day drops in history. But it hadn’t happened yet.

Then on February 20th, stocks started to fall.

March 9th, the Dow dropped 7.79%.

March 12th, it dropped 9.99%.

And on March 16th, the Dow lost a whopping 12.93%.

The COVID virus was still a great unknown. Spreading quickly around the world. Shutting down entire countries and economies. And we had no idea if life would ever be the same.

Between February 12th and March 23rd, the Dow lost 37% of its value — and many investors were feeling a world of hurt.

And then… Quiet as a mouse, the rebound started — even while most investors expected losses to keep piling up.

Almost as fast as it fell, the market began its climb up the proverbial “wall of worry.”

By August 17th, the S&P 500 had climbed 27% off its low — and was hitting all-time highs again. In November, the Dow climbed above 30,000 for the first time in history.

And even after all that volatility, the stock market still ended the year up, strong.

✅ The Dow finished 2020 up 10.15%.
✅ The S&P 500 gained 18.40%.
✅ And the Nasdaq was up a jaw-dropping 44.92% for the year.

Aside from this being an interesting little “this day in history” story, why are we sharing this?

In short, there’s plenty of worry in the markets today.

AI, tariffs and trade spats, and a whole lot more. And some days, those worries have translated into uncomfortable market drops.

If you just listen to the fear-driven financial headlines, you might want to run for the sidelines — or somewhere even safer.

And of course, what happened in the past is no guarantee of what will happen in the future.

But historically, even really rough days, weeks, months, or years in the market have eventually been followed by recovery, and new all-time highs.

Which is why we consistently remind clients…

No matter what the headlines say…

Stay calm, don’t panic.

Stick to the plan.

A good plan is built to cover short-term needs, regardless of what’s going on in the markets. And to stay invested for the long game.

The reality is that all investing carries the risk of loss. And no strategy can ensure success. Because this is how markets work.

But the last thing you want to do is make the terrible mistake many investors have in a moment of panic, and lock in losses you don’t have to, or miss out on recoveries that would’ve benefited you.

And if you’d like someone in your corner to help with your plan and guide you through making these tough decisions today, let us know. There’s a link in the first comment below.

02/18/2026

Ready to retire at 55 — but need to tap the money in your 401(k) to do so?

It could be possible with the “Rule of 55.”

What you need to know: With this special IRS provision, some retirees over 55 could avoid the 10% penalties on early 401(k) and 403(b) withdrawals.

✅ It only applies to your current employer’s 401(k) or 403(b).
✅ You must leave your job — quit, retire early, or be laid off — the year you turn 55, or later.
✅ It doesn’t apply to IRAs or retirement accounts from previous employers.
✅ Your withdrawals must come from the 401(k) directly, you can’t roll it over first.
✅ You’ll still pay income tax on withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts.
✅ The 401(k) must allow Rule of 55 withdrawals — check your plan’s rules.

Normally you’d have to pay a 10% penalty to the IRS if you withdraw from your retirement accounts before age 59 ½. But if you follow the “Rule of 55,” you could get access to your retirement savings years earlier, penalty-free.

Bad News: It’s complicated to make sure you’re in compliance, and won’t get dinged with an unexpected penalty.

Good News: A qualified financial advisor could be able to help.

Want to chat with a financial advisor and see if you could make the “Rule of 55” work for you? Request a free “Ready for Retirement” Review, from Asset Strategies. Check the comments to learn more.

06/04/2025

We'd love to see you there!

Asset Strategies is so excited to partner with Pink Gorilla Events this year as a sponsor for the BRIN series! We look forward to cheering the runners on at Cornfield Cornfield on June 14th! Stop by our table at the after party to sign up for our monthly newsletter and enter for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Fleet Feet or a FREE entry to the next BRIN series event, Harvest Moon Hustle!

02/18/2025

We are so excited to partner with Pink Gorilla Events this year as a sponsor for the BRIN series! We look forward to cheering the runners on at the Leprechaun Chase on March 1st! Stop by our table at the after party and sign up for our monthly newsletter for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Lincoln Running Company or a FREE entry to the next BRIN series event, Cornfield Cornfield!

01/21/2025

We are looking to add another full-time Client Services Associate to our team.! You can find the job posting and apply on LinkedIn or send your resume to [email protected].

12/13/2024

And what does she do on her birthday?
She brings all of US fresh cinnamon rolls!
This is just a small testament to her character.