What is #2ndHalfPlan?

2nd Half Plan is about being ready for the second half of your life. Your childhood is a dress rehearsal, a training camp, a pre-season; you are practicing and learning how to be an adult. The first half starts in your late teens/early 20’s; you now have responsibilities. You are creating a family, developing a career, having a good time. When your second half starts hopefully having a good time is all you have to worry about. 

In preparing for your second half you need to answer a couple of questions: 1) What do I/we want to do and 2) How do I/we pay for it? Figuring out what you want to do may be the harder part because it will probably change a few times along the way. Travel the world? Spend all your time with grandkids? Volunteer? Move to a cabin in the woods or a house on the beach? Generally speaking you are limited by your imagination (or your spouse’s).

Planning how to pay for your second half is the tedious part, and answering the questions of How is less fun than What. You need to understand the options available to you and the pros and cons of each option. How much do you sacrifice today to have more for tomorrow? Is it better to use tax-deferred accounts or taxable accounts? IRA, Roth, HSA, 401(k), NUA, CRT, 529, QLAC - all of these tools may or may not be good options and some better than others at different times in your life.

Where I can help is working with you to answer these questions and helping you to follow a strategy for your 2nd Half Plan.