Every person defines “retirement” on his or her own terms, and those individual views of this major life event can cause friction between married couples. One spouse may want to travel more; the other wants to stay put and enjoy volunteering in the community. Couples can generally compromise on how they’ll spend their newly found free time. However, there are some larger issues surrounding retirement that require couples be on the same page, whether the “golden years” are decades off or just around the corner.

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

Social Security benefits are a popular topic of discussion these days — will they be available? What percentage? How long? For whom?

You’re probably familiar with the reasons why clients choose a financial advisor:

For financial advisors, building client relationships is essential to growing business. “Firing” a client, then, seems counterintuitive and can be uncomfortable. However, from time to time, you’re left with no choice but to part ways.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated September as “National Preparedness Month” to encourage Americans to remain vigilant about the possibility for and handling of disasters and emergencies that could crop up in their homes, businesses and communities¹. While a good practice, chances are for most people being prepared for a natural disaster or other event eventually slips from being top-of-mind. However, it only takes a glance at the headlines or a nightly news broadcast to understand that catastrophic events — like wildfires² or flooding³ — can happen nearly anywhere, at any time.

The many woes of the Social Security program are well documented, and fixes to save it from collapse remain hotly debated. While those currently receiving or close to receiving benefits are rightfully focused on Social Security’s future, there’s another national financial crisis looming that could leave some retirees reeling.

As a financial advisor, you’ve likely talked to many clients about annuities and how they could play a beneficial role in an individual’s overall retirement income strategy. It’s also possible that you may have met with some objections or needed to provide some clarity around annuity perceptions and reality.

As your clients near retirement, many of them think ahead to how they’ll spend their new-found time and look forward to pursuing the many activities they’ve anxiously anticipated “doing in retirement.” Their excitement is certainly understandable. They’ve earned their leisure time and all that goes with it.

Your clients look to you to help them develop the right investment strategy for achieving their goals. They are equally aware that investment decisions can carry a lot of uncertainty given market volatility and complexity. Looking at a comparative history of individual asset class performance, it’s clear that consistent top performance can be elusive. Asset classes on top one year may bottom out the next, and vice versa. It’s a reality that requires active risk management to structure a solid portfolio that aligns with retirement goals.