Social Security retirement benefits are crucial to many in retirement, yet many near-retirees don’t know the basics, and it could cost them money in the future, according to a consumer poll¹ by MassMutual Life Insurance Co.

Stock investors have been on a roller coaster over the past two years. As measured by the S&P 500 Index, stock prices rose by 20% during the six months ending in January 2018; declined by 10% over the next three months ending in April 2018; rose by 15% through the end of September; and plunged by nearly 20% through year-end 2018. Since the end of December, stocks have risen by nearly 25% to a level within 2% of the all-time peak reached on September 20.

Your clients nearing retirement age are hopefully looking forward to many peaceful and rewarding years ahead. However, health care costs could add some unexpected stress to their “golden years.” Let’s dig into the good/bad/ugly news and uncover what you can do to help. We’ll start with the bad news…

When you look back at life in America over the past 100 years or so, it’s amazing to see the progress made in society. Just a century ago, women were a year away from voting equality,¹ there were only 48 stars on the U.S. flag,² and the average number of hours worked per week was 45.6 with weekly average earnings of $25.61.³

Yes, we’ve all had this uncomfortable social exchange at an event.

As the saying goes, breaking up is hard to do. Still, the current divorce rate stands around 40 percent, having declined from around a 50 percent marriage failure rate in the 1980s.¹

Taking a look at historical market performance, it’s easy to see that asset classes fall in and out of favor with great frequency.

Success is subjective for many. As a financial advisor, however, your success is directly tied to the financial success of your clients. While hard work and strategically helping them invest their money certainly play a part, there’s more to building a reputation—and a life—than merely putting in the hours and recommending the “right” portfolios.

Consider these three elements that may help you achieve new heights of success and, in turn, help your clients do the same.

The meltdown in risk assets late last year culminated in a sharp retrenchment by investors accompanied by a stampede into safe-haven assets, most notably U.S. Treasury securities. Was the abrupt shift from risk-on to risk-off investing in October justified? How should investment portfolios be positioned for the year ahead? Do current underlying economic, financial, and policy conditions suggest that a recession is not imminent? Is the economic outlook for 2019 favorable for risk assets, most notably common stocks?

As April 15 draws near, many of your clients may face uncertainty about whether they should claim various investment income on their taxes and, if so, how. This is especially true in light of recent tax code changes signed into law — the first major revisions since 1986.¹