The timeless wisdom of Mark Twain is always worth a listen. Join us as we analyze some of Twain’s most famous quotes through the lens of a financial advisor! We’ll have a laugh at Twain’s quick wit and shed light on the complexities of retirement planning in today's unpredictable world.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Having a steady income stream through your retirement.
• Building a financial plan that limits the effect of political decisions on your money.
• How money is a tool.

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Are you making rookie mistakes when it comes to planning for your retirement? Even those with strong experience in investing can make silly mistakes from time to time. Join Mark as he discusses some common things that can trip people up.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Making sure that your investments have a defined purpose.
• Understanding risk and the role it plays in diversifying your portfolio.
• Avoiding making emotional decisions.
• Why you don’t need to act on tips your friends and family give you.
• Most investors severely underestimate how much they’re paying in fees.
  
  

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

How can you walk off a winner into retirement? Listen in as Mark dives into the key areas of retirement planning through the lens of America’s pastime.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• How having a solid retirement plan is a little bit like playing “small ball.”
• The “Moneyball” approach, avoiding emotional decisions and focusing on the numbers.
• The “five tools” or the five key areas of retirement.

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Saving in your 401K can be an easy and painless way to build your retirement savings. But are you making the most of yours? Listen in as Mark breaks down the common pitfalls many people fall into with their 401(k) plans in today’s episode.

Here are some 401K mistakes we’ll discuss in this episode…

• Leaving money invested in a former employer’s 401k plan
• Failing to rebalance often enough
• Sticking all of your money in a target date fund
• Assuming that your fees and costs are minimal since you don’t see them on your statement

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

When it comes to retirement planning, one critical aspect that’s often overlooked is the designation of beneficiaries. It's not just about who you want to inherit your assets; it's about making sure that your wishes are carried out smoothly and without legal complications. Let’s talk about some of the common mistakes we see people make when it comes to the beneficiaries of their accounts…

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Naming minors as beneficiaries
• Not coordinating your beneficiary designations and your will
• Not naming alternative or successor beneficiaries
• Naming your estate as a beneficiary
• Making errors on the application

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Conventional wisdom says you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube. That is to say, once the deed is done, there’s no taking it back. There are many decisions in retirement planning that can’t be undone, and in today’s episode, we’re going to explore some of them.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Choosing the right time to take Social Security
• The irreversible nature of decisions regarding spousal benefits on pensions
• The increasing cost and potential unavailability of life insurance as you age
• Retiring too soon without a well-conceived plan in place

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

Have you ever faced the daunting task of moving to a new home? The careful packing, the labeling of boxes, and the strategic loading of the moving truck are all important parts of a smooth transition. What if we told you similar principles apply to planning for your retirement? Listen in as Mark and Ron share some of the unexpected similarities between moving houses and financial planning in today's episode.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Like labeling boxes in a move, having a plan for your investment accounts can help you stay on track
• Certain financial assets, like emergency funds or retirement savings, require extra care and protection
• Similar to securing items in a moving truck, a well-designed financial plan protects assets from market volatility
• Rollovers act as the hand trucks of retirement accounts
• Hiring a professional to alleviate stress and ensure a successful transition

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526

There are certain rules of thumb in the financial industry, many of which you might’ve heard of. For example, the “Rule of 100” or the “4% Rule” might sound familiar to you. But how helpful are these rules of thumb in real-life planning?

In this episode, Mark walks through 5 common financial rules and shares his thoughts as a financial advisor.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

• The Rule of 100 is a helpful way to think about risk and savings as you approach retirement
• Why Mark generally disagrees with the 75% Rule
• The 6-Month Savings Rule is a reasonable guideline for emergency funds
• The accuracy of Wall Street’s Rule of 5
• The danger of the 4% Rule + the importance of comprehensive withdrawal strategies

Want to get in touch with Mark?

https://retirementhuddle.com/
mark@howardfinancialgroup.com
888-511-7526