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Is the War Over? The Market says so
This week, the S&P 500 rose above its February 27 th , 2026, level, the day before the Iranian war. Apparently, the market has decided that the war is over or at least is anticipating that a deal will be reached shortly. Oil fell to about $85 per barrel, a drop of $12 per barrel over the week, but was still above its pre-war level of $66 per barrel. Increasingly, the fog of war is lifting, and the market is focusing on economic growth. So far that is a good thing. Obviously
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 175 min read
Can I Retire Before Age 59.5?
Can you retire before the age of 59.5? The quick answer is maybe, but many mistakenly believe that they simply cannot leave their job and access the retirement accounts before this age. In fact, while the IRS has a general rule that imposes a 10% penalty on accessing your retirement accounts before 59.5, there are many exceptions that allow those with adequate savings to retire in their 50’s. When I work with retirees that have not yet reached that age of 59.5, I like to dev
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 103 min read
Medicare Enrollment: Remember age 65!
Remember that the “Initial Enrollment Period” for Medicare begins 3 months before the month of your 65th birthday and extends 3 months...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jun 3, 20221 min read
Big Changes Coming to IRAs: The SECURE Act
New retirement legislation, known as the SECURE Act, has passed in the House of Representatives, has bipartisan support in the Senate,...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 28, 20192 min read
Want to retire in 5 years? – Here are 5 things to do now!
If you are planning to retire within the next 5 years or less, then it is time to get serious about getting ready. Retirement can be a...
Steve Coker, CFP
Aug 26, 20193 min read
Retiring Out of California
California is a wonderful and expensive place to live. It has incredible beauty, amazing weather, and some of the highest tax rates in...
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 25, 20193 min read
Moving in Retirement? How to Keep Your California Property Tax Basis
There are a few excellent tax breaks for retirees in high tax California and Propositions 60 and 90 are two of the best. These laws...
Steve Coker, CFP
Nov 5, 20182 min read
Retiring Out of California
California is a wonderful and expensive place to live. It has incredible beauty, amazing weather, and some of the highest tax rates in...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 1, 20183 min read
Healthcare in Retirement - Developing a Health Insurance Strategy
Several weeks ago we wrote an article outlining the basics of healthcare costs. This week we continue our conversation with strategies...
Steve Coker, CFP
Aug 27, 20182 min read
The Cost of Healthcare in Retirement
One of the most daunting challenges facing retirees is the cost of healthcare. Without some type of employer-provided retiree healthcare,...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jul 1, 20182 min read
Diversification Strikes Again: Why We Stay Globally Invested
The concept of diversification is one of the hallmarks of modern investment theory. Diversification offers many benefits, most notably...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 15, 20173 min read
Overcoming the Black Hole of Retirement
“As I look out into retirement all I see is a black hole”. The comment from one of our clients struck me this week, and I have pondered...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 24, 20163 min read
Medical Expenses in Retirement - What You Can Expect
For many Americans finally retiring from their job means more than just walking away from a paycheck; it also means walking away from...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jul 11, 20162 min read
Want to Retire in 5 Years? - Here Are 5 Things to Do Now?
If you are planning to retire within the next 5 years or less, then it is time to get serious about getting ready. Retirement can be a...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 31, 20163 min read
