Chris Chen CFP

09/01/2026

“My adviser is pushing annuities — should I buy one or find a new planner?”

Depending on how your advisor is paid, you may at least need a second opinion.

🔎 Check out my take on this question in the MarketWatch article:
https://www.marketwatch.com/picks/im-a-lifetime-federal-employee-with-all-the-perks-i-have-3m-in-investments-3-rental-properties-and-no-debt-now-my-adviser-is-pushing-annuities-whats-my-move-815699a2

09/01/2026

Retirement spending is not usually a flat line.

The chart shows what many retirees experience in real life: spending is often higher in the early years of retirement, then gradually declines over time. That makes sense. The first years of retirement are often when people travel more, pursue hobbies, visit family, renovate homes, or do the things they waited years to enjoy.

This is sometimes described as the “go-go, slow-go, and no-go” pattern of retirement spending.

That does not mean everyone will follow the exact same path. Healthcare costs, housing costs, family needs, and personal goals can all change the picture. But the general idea is important: your retirement plan should reflect the life you expect to live, not just a fixed monthly number multiplied by 30 years.

This is also why housing deserves careful attention. If housing remains one of your largest expenses throughout retirement, reducing or eliminating that obligation can create meaningful flexibility. If you're weighing that decision, our blog, Should You Retire With a Mortgage?, explores the factors to consider and when keeping a mortgage may (or may not) make sense.

Retirement planning is not just about how much you can spend. It is about when, where, and why you are likely to spend it.



https://insightfinancialstrategists.com/should-you-retire-with-a-mortgage/

08/31/2026

Election seasons tend to bring strong opinions and even stronger headlines.

But when you step back and look at history, one pattern stands out.

Businesses continue to innovate, hire, solve problems, and generate profits regardless of which political party controls Washington.

That's why long-term investors benefit from staying focused on fundamentals instead of election predictions.
Markets have navigated wars, recessions, inflation, elections, and countless other uncertainties.

A disciplined investment strategy has historically outlasted them all.

08/31/2026

One of the most important retirement planning assumptions is also one of the easiest to underestimate: how long retirement may last.

Most people think about their own individual life expectancy. But for married couples, that often isn’t the right planning number. In many cases, the more important question is how long the second spouse may live.

That changes the math considerably.

The chart shows there is a meaningful chance that at least one spouse in a couple will live into their 90s. For healthier, higher-income households, that possibility may be even greater than the population averages suggest.

Living longer is good news. It also means your portfolio, income plan, healthcare planning, and inflation strategy may need to last longer than you originally expected.

A strong retirement plan does not just help you get to retirement. It helps prepare you for the retirement you may actually experience.

What age are you planning for?

We are excited to plan and dream with you about the future: what you will do, where you will live, and where you will travel, but we also want to be realistic.

08/28/2026

One of the easiest ways to stay humble as an investor?

Watch how quickly expectations change.

At the beginning of the year, markets anticipated multiple rate cuts.

Today, expectations have shifted toward possible rate increases. This is a good reminder that forecasts are constantly evolving.

Rather than building a financial plan around predictions, I believe in building one that's flexible enough to adapt no matter what actually happens.

08/27/2026

Most retirement planning conversations focus on money.

That is necessary, but it is not sufficient.

The chart highlights four areas tied to well-being in retirement: purpose, using your time meaningfully, social connection, and health. In my experience, these non-financial factors often play a major role in whether retirement actually feels successful.

A person can have enough money and still feel lost if work provided their structure, identity, community, and sense of usefulness.

That is why I encourage people to think carefully about what they are retiring to, not just what they are retiring from.

Think beyond your finances and picture your daily life in retirement. Consider how you'll spend your time, stay connected, remain active, and which parts of your current lifestyle you want to keep or change.

Financial independence creates options. But a fulfilling retirement usually requires more than options. It requires intention.

The best retirement plans prepare for both your money and your life.

08/24/2026

This year's market has offered an important reminder.

While several of those household names struggled, the other 493 companies in the S&P 500 collectively generated more than 10% of the index's return.

Leadership changes.
Market favorites rotate.

That's exactly why diversified portfolios are built to participate wherever opportunity appears not just where today's headlines are focused.

08/24/2026

Long-term care is one of the retirement topics people are most likely to avoid.

Unfortunately, avoiding the conversation does not make the risk go away.

The chart shows that many people who need paid care may need it for several years. It also highlights how costs can differ between men and women, with women often facing longer care needs and higher lifetime costs.

This is not just a financial issue. It is also a family issue.

If care is needed, who will provide it? Would a spouse be physically and emotionally able to help? Would adult children be involved? Would care happen at home, in assisted living, or in another setting? How would the cost be paid?

There is no single right answer. Long-term care insurance may make sense for some households and not for others. Some people may self-fund. Others may use a hybrid strategy.

The important thing is to make the decision intentionally. If you'd like to learn more about your options and what to consider as you build a plan, take our long-term care survey: https://insightfinancialstrategists.com/long-term-care-planning/

A long-term care plan is not about predicting exactly what will happen. It is about reducing the burden on the people you love if something does.

08/21/2026

Artificial intelligence has been one of the defining investment themes of the past few years.

But even the strongest trends experience pullbacks.

When an investment or sector has performed exceptionally well, it's easy to feel like that's where all your money should be. History tells us that's rarely the best approach.

Diversification isn't exciting when one area is soaring. It's valuable when that area inevitably stumbles.
That's not pessimism. That's risk management.