Can You Afford to Retire? A Simple Self-Assessment for Upstate SC Residents
It’s the question underneath every other question about retirement. Not ‘when should I take Social Security?’ Not ‘should I buy an annuity?’ Not ‘what should my investment allocation be?’ Those are all important questions — and we spend a lot of time on them at Common Sense Retirement Planning. But underneath all of them is…
The Truth About Financial Advisor Fees: What You’re Really Paying For
Folks, I want to have an honest conversation about something that doesn’t get nearly enough daylight in the financial planning world: fees. Not in a sensational way. Not to make anyone feel bad about what they’re currently paying. But because I genuinely believe that informed consumers make better decisions — and when it comes to…
Why Market Risk Matters More in a Financial Plan at 60 Than It Did at 40
I want to tell you about two people who experienced the exact same market drop and had completely different outcomes. The first person — we’ll call him Alan — was 41 when the market declined sharply. His 401(k) dropped significantly over several months. It was unsettling to watch. But Alan kept contributing every paycheck, kept…
5 Questions to Ask Any Financial Advisor Before You Hire Them
Do You Need a Retirement Planner or Financial Advisor? Folks, let me be upfront with you. Picking a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you approach retirement. And yet most people spend more time researching a new car purchase than they do evaluating the person who’s going to manage…
What Does ‘Conservative’ Retirement Planning Actually Mean?
Folks, I hear the word ‘conservative’ thrown around constantly in the financial planning world — and I want to be direct with you today: it doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. We’ve had people come into our Greenville office who told us their previous advisor had them in a ‘conservative’ portfolio, and when we…
The Biggest Retirement Planning Mistakes We See With Greenville and Upstate Retirees
How Upstate South Carolina’s Retirees Can Avoid Costly Financial Planning Missteps Before They Retire Folks, if you’ve spent 20 or 30 years working at one of the Upstate’s great employers — BMW in Spartanburg, Michelin here in Greenville, Fluor, Lockheed Martin, GE, or Prizma — you’ve done an incredible job building a career and saving…
The Common Sense Retirement Roadmap: A Different Approach to Retirement Planning in Greenville
A Common Sense Approach to Retirement Planning Every year, thousands of people retire in the Upstate. Some slide into retirement smoothly, confident and prepared. Others struggle, stressed about whether their money will last, confused by Medicare, worried about taxes, and uncertain about their investment strategy. What separates these two groups? It’s not how much money…
Why Your Current Advisor Can’t Help You Retire (And What You Need Instead)
You’ve been working with the same financial advisor for years. They’ve done a great job helping you accumulate wealth—your 401(k) has grown, your portfolio looks solid, and you’re finally approaching that magic retirement number. But here’s the uncomfortable truth I need to share with you: the advisor who helped you build your nest egg may…
The 5 Things Every Upstate SC Retiree Wishes They’d Known Before Retiring
After decades working at BMW, Michelin, or Fluor in the Upstate, retirement is finally within reach. But here’s what we’ve learned helping thousands of South Carolina retirees over 25+ years: those who thrive aren’t necessarily the ones with the most money—they’re the ones who knew what to plan for. I’ve heard it countless times in…
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