What to ask your financial professional before you retire

Whether retirement is far on the horizon or right around the corner, getting ready to retire can feel like a daunting task. Planning for retirement requires not only thinking about your personal wants and needs for the future, but also preparing for unexpected events and expenses that may arise along the way. Many people turn to financial professionals to develop a well-rounded plan that accounts for these expenses and helps boost financial confidence in the plan you’re building for retirement. To help you make informed decisions and get the most out of working with a financial professional, here are some key questions to ask about retirement planning and the benefits of getting practical guidance along the way.

Where to turn for retirement planning guidance

When looking for retirement planning guidance, there are a variety of resources available, including some 401(k) plans, financial programs in your community, online courses, and local financial institutions. Working with a skilled financial professional can offer a more personalized approach to planning for retirement and provide the tools and steps necessary to help achieve long-term goals.

Do I need a financial professional for retirement?

Along with creating a personalized plan, working with a financial professional can also help a person understand retirement challenges, avoid common pitfalls, and identify any savings gaps before the next chapter arrives. Plus, they can provide clarity around complex decisions and discuss how different solutions can meet different needs. Most importantly, having a trusted professional as a go-to resource can keep a retirement plan on track as personal goals and needs change in the future.

Why meeting with a financial professional is an important step of planning for retirement

While it’s possible to create a retirement plan on your own, meeting with a financial professional can help simplify the process, provide valuable insights, and give you the support needed to make informed, confident decisions. As a person well-versed in financial topics and money management, they can answer many questions, help ease financial concerns, and map out a practical path toward retirement goals. Working with a financial professional can help:

Create a personalized strategy

A financial professional can help create a retirement plan that aligns with an individual’s unique goals, timeline, lifestyle, and financial situation and help balance savings, investments, and income strategies so they align with long-term needs.

Simplify complex decisions

From deciding when to claim Social Security to thinking through healthcare costs, taxes, and the effects of inflation, financial professionals can help simplify complex financial decisions that may impact retirement success.

Provide ongoing support and insight

As life changes, so should your financial plan. A financial professional can provide ongoing support and adjust your retirement strategy over time to help you stay on track, even as your goals or circumstances change. Plus, as retirement approaches, they can help ensure a smoother transition from saving to living in retirement.

10 questions to ask about retirement planning

If you’ve begun planning for retirement or are getting ready to retire, it’s common to have questions about how to move forward with confidence. Meeting with a financial professional is a valuable opportunity to ask important retirement plan questions and gain the information needed to put all the pieces in place. Here are some questions to ask a financial professional as you prepare for retirement.

1. When should I retire?
2. Should my partner and I retire at the same time?
3. How much retirement income will I need?
4. What unexpected expenses should I be prepared for in retirement?
5. How can I make the most of my Social Security benefits?
6. Who can help manage taxes in retirement?
7. What’s the best way to draw down my retirement savings?
8. How can I create guaranteed retirement income?
9. How can I adjust my plan if my goals or circumstances change?
10. How should I update my plan as I near or enter retirement?

Getting ready to retire? Midland National is here with the answers

As you prepare for the next chapter, having the right financial tools and guidance can make all the difference. Midland National is a premier provider of life insurance and annuity solutions that are designed to help you protect your loved ones, create retirement income, and retire with confidence. To get started, connect with a financial professional who can help answer your questions and guide you through your retirement planning options.

Neither Midland National, nor any financial professionals acting on its behalf, should be viewed as providing legal, tax or investment advice. Please rely on your own qualified tax professional.

The term financial professional is not intended to imply engagement in an advisory business in which compensation is not related to sales. Financial professionals that are insurance licensed will be paid a commission on the sale of an insurance product.

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