The reading journey
Pick a chapter.
Make a little headway.
8 guides for the questions before, during, and after retirement. Start where you are; these chapters are places to explore, not deadlines to meet.
08guides tocome back to
Chapter 1
Before
Start with an ordinary week, then put your income, savings, and unanswered questions on the same page.
Getting ready 5 min read
Five years before retirement: a little room to prepare
Turn a distant retirement date into a manageable set of conversations about everyday life, income, benefits, and the transition from work.
Read this guideYour income picture 6 min read
Build a retirement income inventory
Bring benefits, spending and account balances into one clear picture, with a hypothetical income-and-gap worksheet rather than a withdrawal recommendation.
Read this guide
Chapter 2
The transition
Your last paycheck, Social Security, and health coverage do not all start or stop together. Get familiar with the questions behind the handoff.
Social Security 5 min read
Social Security questions for your next planning meeting
Prepare a more useful discussion about benefit estimates, work, household circumstances, and how the timing fits your wider retirement picture.
Read this guideHealth coverage 5 min read
Medicare and employer coverage: a North Carolina preparation guide
Organize coverage, enrollment, prescription, and household questions before leaving work, with free Medicare counseling through North Carolina SHIIP.
Read this guide
Chapter 3
Everyday living
A North Carolina move or a familiar home brings its own practical questions. Look beyond a mortgage payment to the costs of an ordinary year.
A North Carolina move 5 min read
Moving to North Carolina in retirement: build a local budget
Prepare Raleigh-area moving, state-income-tax, and county-property-tax questions without assuming every retirement benefit receives the same treatment.
Read this guideHome and everyday life 5 min read
A Raleigh and Wake County retirement housing budget
Compare staying, adapting a home, or moving with a practical budget for upkeep, transportation, support, and local aging resources.
Read this guide
Chapter 4
Keep reviewing
A new chapter can be a reason to revisit accounts, costs, and the support you want. Compare the choices before committing to a change.
Choosing support 5 min read
Compare the relationship, not just the retirement pitch
A practical way to compare retirement-planning scope, fees, responsibilities, conflicts, and the experience of working together.
Read this guideAccount decisions 5 min read
Leaving a Triangle employer: compare a rollover with keeping the plan
Compare retirement-account choices, total fees, services, and plan features before deciding whether to keep an account or move eligible assets.
Read this guide
Read a little. Reflect a little.
Keep your questions
beside your reading.
Every guide links to the original sources behind it. Bring the questions that relate to your circumstances to the appropriate professional or benefits provider.
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