Investing Road Maps

Tips to stay on the right track and enjoy the ride. [Morningstar](?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_improvingfinances&utm_content=46056&elqTrackId=0b90026610aa458da049fe67e0859554&elq=0f94b83c4eab4e5c9a990e6cc3183b32&elqaid=46056&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=22607) [Improving Your Finances] Improving Your Finances with [Christine Benz]( [Christine Benz] I just got back from a vacation in Scotland. My husband and I skipped driving on “the wrong side,” opting instead for copious amounts of walking and train trips from Edinburgh to Glasgow to the Highlands. We patted ourselves on the back for that decision as we watched the breathtaking scenery unfold from the window of our train car. We were grateful that we could sit back and enjoy the ride (and even nap a bit) rather than navigating unfamiliar terrain in an unfamiliar vehicle. Yet I still found myself looking at the map as we chugged along. Even though I wasn’t driving, the map helped me visualize the relationships between various points, how far we had gone, and how much further we had yet to go. Reading the names of the towns—Garelochead, Falls of Cruachan, Bridge of Orchy—perfectly evoked the scenery we were passing through (and brought to mind a little bit of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones to boot). We need road maps for our investing plans, too. Even if you’ve delegated some or all of the decision-making to a financial advisor, you still need to understand where you’re going and the steps you’ll take to get there. My investing road maps—one for each major life stage—aim to provide that sort of guidance. [An Investing Road Map for Early-Career Accumulators]( [An Investing Road Map for Midcareer Accumulators]( [An Investing Road Map for Pre-Retirees]( [An Investing Road Map for Retirees]( Elsewhere on the site this week, [John Rekenthaler’s recent assessment of the best options for retirement income]( is a must-read. I also thoroughly enjoyed [the conversation that Jeff Ptak and I had with Fritz Gilbert and Eric Weigel]( about retirement blind spots—issues that actual retirees say are a big deal but that pre-retirees tend to underappreciate. And finally, regular readers know that I’m not a big fan of checking up on a portfolio too often; a policy of benign neglect invariably beats the too-busy one. A good once-yearly or twice-yearly—or quarterly at most—check-in is plenty. As we’re at midyear (no, I can’t believe it either), it’s a decent time to check in on your portfolio to see if any adjustments are in order. Susan Dziubinski and I recently sat down to discuss [how to conduct a midyear portfolio checkup](. I hope you enjoy the Fourth and all that comes with it! With warm regards, Christine Benz [8 Tips for Investing in Your 20s and 30s]( Tips on getting the most bang for your investment dollars when you’re just starting out. [Read More]( Share: [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( ADVERTISEMENT [media]( [media] [An Investing Road Map for Midcareer Accumulators]( Key financial priorities for investors in the peak earnings years of their 40s and 50s. [Read More]( [7 Key Tasks for Investors Approaching Retirement]( The late 50s and early 60s are the perfect age for investors to embark on a savings sprint, assess the viability of their portfolio, and build out their stake in safer securities. [Read More]( [An Investing Road Map for Retirees]( For people in drawdown mode, tips on asset allocation, Social Security, annuities, withdrawal rates, and more. [Read More]( [How to Conduct a Midyear Investment Portfolio Review in 2023]( A step-by-step guide to ensure your investment portfolio is on track this year. [Watch Now]( [Eric Weigel and Fritz Gilbert: Uncovering Blind Spots in Retirement Planning]( Authors Fritz Gilbert and Eric Weigel discuss what preretirees miss when planning their own retirements. [Listen Now]( [The Best Current Sources of Retirement Income]( Treasury bonds, TIPS ladders, or annuities? None are perfect, but each can be useful. [Read More]( Listen Now Get the latest investing insights and market updates with [Morningstar’s podcasts]( available on your iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, or smart speaker. 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](. © 2023 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602