This question comes up a lot, especially for people in their 40s and early 50s. You've built a solid 401(k). You have some cash in the bank. And naturally, you start wondering: “Am I saving too much for retirement?” The answer is not a single number. It depends on factors like inflation, future spending needs, and whether things like a pension, business sale, or inheritance may come into play. Instead of focusing only on a number, it helps to think in terms of structure. A Simpler Way to...

I recently came across a few headlines about Elon Musk suggesting that saving for retirement may not even matter anymore because of artificial intelligence. I will admit, I found that a little ironic. The richest person in the world telling everyone else to stop saving for the future. That observation aside, it raises bigger questions worth sitting with. Is AI real? Yes. Will it change jobs and industries? Almost certainly. Does that mean everything we know about money, work, and planning...

Originally published August 26, 2025 Sometimes it feels like the world is going to hell. So why bother planning a career, saving for the future, or even starting a family? It is easy to feel nihilistic about the future. Honestly, I do not disagree with the feeling. The headlines around climate, politics, and economics can weigh heavy, like holding bricks above your head while standing in quicksand. Looking back over my own 44 years, history has thrown curveballs at every stage of life: -When...