5 Underappreciated Aspects of Retirement Planning

Plus, what lower interest rates mean for your portfolio and plan. [Morningstar](?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_improvingfinances&utm_content=57818&elqTrackId=56954e2862b14631a757fe1dbdbf7ff8&elq=0194186cbe7a4e99a85ebeb17a96d1b9&elqaid=57818&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=29474&elqak=8AF5821BD67B4DA83A1A7C2E1A692407133996887ED4E0BAF4FB515B009717C37BC8) [Improving Your Finances] Improving Your Finances with [Christine Benz]( [Christine Benz] One reason that I'm so fascinated by retirement planning is that there are so many dimensions to explore—both financial and nonfinancial. I was able to dig into a lot of them in my new book, [How to Retire]( which [I'm thrilled to say launched this week](. In [a recent video]( Ivanna Hampton and I discussed five of what I think are some of the most underappreciated aspects of retirement planning, including the role of safer assets in retirement portfolios, how retirement spending might change throughout retirement, and "softer" but no less important topics like housing and relationships. We'll be running some excerpts from the book on Morningstar.com in the coming weeks. In the first one, [Social Security guru Mary Beth Franklin and I explored Social Security timing]( and whether filing early might make sense. Mary Beth delved into the idea of claiming benefits early in order to invest and addressed fears that benefit cuts could be on the way. Thanks to the higher yields available on low-risk investments, Mary Beth pointed out that the "claim benefits early and invest" approach makes more sense today than it did when real yields were in negative territory. But interest rates have been declining again recently, thanks to signals that the job market is softening a bit. Our team has been exploring various aspects of what lower yields mean for your portfolio and plan. [Sarah Hansen delved into what to expect from the market amid Fed rate cutting]( and [Jason Kephart explored the implications for a traditional 60/40 portfolio](. A few weeks back, Susan Dziubinski and I discussed [the impact of lower yields on retirement plans](. Finally, I loved John Rekenthaler's recent piece about [what we can learn from past returns](. John mined academic research about past performance and found that it's sometimes predictive, but it may not be useful from a practical standpoint. With warm regards, Christine Benz [Does It Make Sense to File Early for Social Security and Invest in the Market?]( In this exclusive excerpt from her new book, ‘How to Retire,’ Christine Benz explores that question with Social Security expert Mary Beth Franklin. [Read More]( Share: [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( ADVERTISEMENT [media]( [media] [What Happens to Stocks When the Fed Starts Cutting Rates?]( The answer: It varies, so be prepared. [Read More]( [What Interest-Rate Cuts Mean for Your Retirement Portfolio]( Here are the implications for your cash, bond, and stock investments. [Watch Now]( [Should You Ignore Past Stock Market Returns?]( Many investors are influenced by how stocks have recently performed. Should they be? [Read the Full Commentary]( [How to Retire]( Morningstar’s director of personal finance Christine Benz discusses her new book, the bucket approach, and why retirement shouldn’t be a math problem. [Listen Now]( [Order Christine's New Book, How to Retire, Today!](zg_bs_g_2731_d_sccl_1/143-2932733-6203903?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_improvingfinances&utm_content=57818&psc=1&elqTrackId=a68ce115c5eb4e348a4b4a7025738670&elq=0194186cbe7a4e99a85ebeb17a96d1b9&elqaid=57818&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=29474&elqcst=272&elqcsid=4241&elqak=8AF57C6D067163DBEC4D32522883627E1D4196887ED4E0BAF4FB515B009717C37BC8) What's the secret to a healthy, happy, and wealthy retirement? To find out, Christine Benz asked 20 retirement experts to each share one key lesson they believe leads to success. The result is her new book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement. Her latest work is designed to give you the tools and insights you need—whether you're nearing retirement or already retired—to approach it with confidence, wisdom, and a specific plan to maximize both your financial and personal resources. Stay connected: [twitter]( [facebook]( [linkedin]( [instagram]( [YouTube]( [Apple News]( [View online]( | [See all newsletters]( | [Share your feedback]( [Unsubscribe]( from this newsletter. Or update your [email preferences](. © 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602