As we end one year and begin another, there are things you need to think about doing to maximize your retirement assets, gain any available tax benefit, and/or avoid any tax penalty that may be linked to your investments.

Retirement planning does not end at retirement. The need to continue to grow assets to produce more cash flow remains important for most.

A report released in 2020 by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) finds that across all age groups women have substantially less income in retirement than men ( National Institute on Retirement Security, NIRS 2020 ). By age 65, 80% of women are more likely than men to live in poverty. Women age 75 to 79 were three times more likely to fall below the poverty level than men.

It’s back, and it’s something frequently overlooked in retirement planning.

Time is money—literally. For a recent graduate, time might also seem like an abundant resource, with many thinking they have plenty of time to save for their future – later.

A report showed 40% of parents surveyed had never discussed their estate intentions with their heirs (BMO Wealth Institute) . My experience shows this number may actually be much higher. You may hesitate to discuss death or incapacity for many reasons. Heirs may be reluctant to broach the subject for fear of appearing greedy.

Have you heard of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment conducted in 1972 by a Stanford University psychologist?

The past couple of years, COVID-19 has many people thinking more about their own mortality, leading many to take steps to plan to protect their loved ones.

As we end one year and begin another, there are things you need to think about doing to maximize your retirement assets, gain any available tax benefit, and/or avoid any tax penalty that may be linked to your investments. Here are some things you should consider:

What is an RMD? In the year in which you turn 72 (was age 70 ½ before 2020), current IRS guidelines require you to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) , from your Qualified retirement accounts (tax advantaged accounts).

A report released in 2020 by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) finds that across all age groups women have substantially less income in retirement than men (National Institute on Retirement Security, NIRS 2020).