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.
Articles by Scott Staton
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.
JPMorgan spending data and Boldin’s own planning data put millionaire retirees at about $70,000 to $120,000 a year. Here’s the math.
Medicare and Health Insurance
Retirement Healthcare Now Costs $185,500 on Average. Here’s What’s Included.
Fidelity puts 2026 retirement healthcare at $185,500 per person, so a couple should plan on about $371,000. Here’s what’s included and what changes it.
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.
Retirement Savings and Investments
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.
Planning
Financial Advisor Fees: What Each Pricing Model Costs
Financial advisors charge in various ways, from flat fees to a percentage of your assets. See typical ranges for each, plus what Boldin costs.
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
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 Quiz: Can You Beat the P-Fin 8 Average?
Take the 8-question P-Fin financial literacy quiz. Only 15% of Americans got 7 or 8 right. See how you score and which gaps cost the most.
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.
Social Security
Social Security Benefit Cuts? What the Latest Projections Show
Social Security benefit cuts are a real risk but not certain. Here’s what projections show, and how to plan your retirement accordingly.
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.
Planning
MaxiFi vs. Boldin: Which Retirement Planner Is Best for You?
MaxiFi sets your max sustainable spending. Boldin visualizes your full financial life and guides you at every stage. Here’s how they compare.
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, and What to Do About It
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.
Family and Relationships
Retirement Planning for Couples: How to Build One Plan
Retirement planning for couples means one plan for two lives. Coordinate retirement dates, Social Security, savings, taxes, and the survivor years.
