(jb note: the article below is from my friend Roger Wohlner, who blogs at The Chicago Financial Planner.) Many of the calls that I receive are from folks in their 50s or 60s who are either within sight of retirement or already retired. Many of these callers are pretty well-prepared for retirement and are seeking my help to fine-tune their situation and/or to help them through this next phase of life. This type of financial readiness doesn’t just happen it takes planning and preparation. Here are 5 essential financial planning steps for those of you in your 30s and 40s to help you reach your retirement goals and more importantly to help you achieve financial independence. Get started If for whatever reason you haven’t done much of anything to ensure your financial future it’s time to get going. Today is the best day to get started, tomorrow is the second best […]

Sterling Raskie, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®
The latest in our Owner’s Manual series, A 401(k) Owner’s Manual, was published in January 2020 and is available on
A Medicare Owner’s Manual, is updated with 2020 facts and figures. This manual is available on
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Sterling’s first book, Lose Weight Save Money, can be
An IRA Owner’s Manual, 2nd Edition is available for purchase on Amazon. Click the link to choose the
Jim’s book – A Social Security Owner’s Manual, is now available on Amazon. Click this link for the
And if you’ve come here to learn about queuing waterfowl, I apologize for the confusion. You may want to discuss your question with Lester, my loyal watchduck and self-proclaimed “advisor’s advisor”.