It's Game Time

Football season is here, and that means it is game time again. Teams are back on the field. Coaches are reviewing their strategies. Players know their assignments. And everyone is focused on what it will take to finish the season strong. Fall can also be a good time to think about your own game plan, especially your retirement plan.

A good football team does not create a plan at the beginning of the season and then ignore it. Coaches constantly review what is working, what has changed and where adjustments may be needed. Your retirement plan deserves the same attention.

A lot can change during the course of a year. Your income may be different. Your expenses may have increased. You may have changed jobs, welcomed a new family member, paid off debt or started thinking differently about when you want to retire. The financial world can change too. Markets move. Interest rates change. Tax rules can change. Social Security and Medicare costs may also look different from one year to the next.

That does not mean you need to change your retirement strategy every time something happens. It simply means it is worth reviewing the plan to make sure it still matches where you are today and where you want to go. Think about your quarterback approaches the game. The play may already be called, but once the quarterback sees the defense, an adjustment can be needed. Retirement planning can work the same way.

You may still be headed toward the same goal, but the way you get there may need to change. A small adjustment today could help keep you from facing a much bigger decision later. Fall is also a natural checkpoint. We are far enough into the year to see what has happened, yet there is still time to make thoughtful decisions before the year ends.

So while you are watching your favorite team take the field this football season, take a little time to review your own game plan.

Are you still moving toward the retirement you want? Has anything changed that your plan should reflect? Are there questions you have been putting off? You do not have to have every answer today. But every strong game plan starts with knowing where you are, understanding where you want to go and making sure your strategy is still designed to get you there.

It is football season. It is game time. And it may be time to review your retirement plan.