Debt
77% of Americans Say Debt Is Blocking Their Retirement Savings
A National Institute on Retirement Security survey finds debt is keeping most Americans from saving, and few know what their money will earn.
Articles by Scott Staton
Retirement Planning
See Your Total Asset Allocation Across All Accounts in One View
How to sort your holdings into 8 asset classes, spot concentration risk, check against your risk profile, and catch drift or cash drag early.
Planning
The Future of Financial Advice Isn’t More Advisors
Vanguard just paid billions for Altruist to scale advisors. Boldin’s CEO argues the bigger opportunity is scaling what you can do yourself.
Retirement Income
What $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000 Pay You in Retirement Income
Social Security figures and 2026 withdrawal rate research show what three common retirement portfolios can generate in monthly income.
Social Security
Average Social Security Check by Age: 2026 SSA Data
See how your Social Security check compares to retirees your age, using the SSA’s newest 2026 data, and what the average leaves out.
Debt
Pay Off Debt or Save for Retirement? How to Model Your Plan
Debt advice often stops at interest saved, but you can see whether paying off debt faster changes your retirement date using planning tools.
Annuities
Annuity Sales Hit a Record High in 2026. Is One Right for You?
U.S. annuity sales hit $464 billion in 2025 and are still climbing in 2026. Here’s what’s driving the surge.
Financial Wellness
Financial Skills Self-Test: Can You Top the National Average?
Test your financial skills with this 10-question CFPB self-test and see how your score compares to the national average of 50.
Budgeting & Spending
Millionaire Retirees Spend $70,000 to $120,000 a Year. Here’s Why.
Federal Reserve, JPMorgan, and Boldin’s own planning data point to the same story for millionaire retirement spending. Here’s the math.
Medicare and Health Insurance
Retirement Healthcare Now Costs $185,500 on Average. Here’s What’s Included.
For a couple, Fidelity’s 2026 estimate climbs to $371,000. Here’s how costs break down, and what could make your own retirement different.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Is the Magic Number for Retirement $1.2 Million or $1.46 Million?
Two 2026 surveys put the number at $1.2 million and $1.46 million, $260,000 apart. Here’s why, and how to find your number.
Medicare and Health Insurance
Backdoor Roth, Mega Backdoor Roth & Your IRMAA/ACA Costs
Two CFP® professionals answer real questions on Roth conversion timing, the pro rata rule, and avoiding surprise Medicare or ACA costs.
Retirement Savings and Investments
84% of Retirees Take Only the RMD Minimum. Here’s When That’s Smart.
J.P. Morgan research found 84% of retirees never draw more than the RMD minimum. Here’s how to tell if that’s the right move for you.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Average IRA Balance by Age in 2026: How Do You Compare?
See average IRA balances by age for 2026, based on IRS tax data covering 71 million account holders, plus what the averages leave out.
Retirement Savings and Investments
A Trump Account Can Leave Your Kid With Less Than a Brokerage Account
Beyond the free $1,000, funding a Trump Account can leave your child with less post-tax than a brokerage account, unless you get the Roth conversion right.
Medicare and Health Insurance
How to Plan for Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Healthcare in retirement covers three phases, and a decision in one can raise what you pay in another. Here’s how to budget for each one.
Retirement Planning
Erin Talks Money: What She Wants Retirees to Know
Erin Moriarity shares her take on Social Security timing, building a retirement income floor, and when to stop going DIY and hire a CFP.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Baby Boomer Wealth: How the Wealthiest Generation Stacks Up
Boomers hold half of all U.S. household wealth. Here’s who got ahead, how, and whether $432,200 is enough to retire on.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Average 401(k) Balance by Age in 2026: How Do You Compare?
See what Vanguard’s data says the median 401(k) balance is at every age — and why the average number may not represent most savers.
Retirement Planning
Financial Literacy in America Hits a Record Low in 2026
Risk comprehension is the weakest financial literacy domain in 2026, and age doesn’t fix it. See why six in 10 Americans struggle with financial decisions.
Retirement Planning
What to Do With Money After Kids Graduate
When tuition stops, it frees up $30,000 to $80,000 a year. Most households don’t have a plan for that money. Here’s how to put it to work.
Retirement Savings and Investments
What Buying a House for Your Child Costs Your Retirement
A $150,000 gift can cost $360,000 in retirement terms. Here’s the opportunity cost math, gift tax rules, and four ways to structure the help.
Retirement Savings and Investments
S&P 500 Dividend Yield Is 1%: How to Plan Retirement Income
A 1% S&P 500 dividend yield leaves an income gap in retirement. An income floor can bridge it, and a Treasury ladder can help build it.
Financial Wellness
What the Fed’s Financial Well-Being Survey Misses About Retirement
The Fed found 73% of Americans doing okay financially. Only 35% feel on track for retirement. Both numbers are right, and that’s the problem.
