September is National Preparedness Month — a fitting moment to talk with clients about a risk that can upend even a well-built retirement plan: long-term care. As Carroll Golden, Executive Director of NAIFA's Knowledge Centers, notes in a recent piece for ADVISOR Magazine, the numbers are hard to ignore.

The Healthcare Costs You Don’t See Coming
Healthcare costs can be one of retirement’s biggest uncertainties. Planning ahead for unexpected medical expenses, extended care, and caregiving responsibilities can help protect not only retirement savings, but the entire family from difficult decisions during a crisis.

Are You a Career Extender? What Caregiving Can Mean for Retirement
Many people are choosing to work beyond the traditional retirement age—not simply because they need the income, but because they still have purpose, skills, and goals they want to pursue. But extending a career can also intersect with caregiving, retirement planning, and financial decisions. Understanding what is driving the choice to keep working can help families and professionals have better conversations about the years ahead.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: Building Your Care Squad
Caregiving should never have to fall on one person alone. Building a Care Squad helps families share responsibilities, communicate clearly, and prepare for changing care needs before a crisis occurs.

The Conversation Can’t Wait
Important conversations about aging, retirement, caregiving, and future care are often postponed until a crisis forces them to happen. The best time to start planning is before decisions become urgent. A thoughtful conversation today can bring greater clarity, confidence, and peace of mind for the whole family.

Retirement Reality Check: A Dose of Humor
Retirement planning isn't just about choosing a date and calculating a number. It’s about asking the right questions about lifestyle, healthcare, caregiving, longevity, family, and financial security. A little humor can make those difficult conversations easier—but a realistic plan is what helps prepare for the unexpected.

What Is an RBA—and What Does It Mean for Retirement Planning?
Retirement planning has changed dramatically as traditional pensions have given way to defined-contribution plans. The Retirement Benefit Account (RBA) offers another approach, combining elements of pension and defined-contribution structures. Understanding how these plans work can help employees and families make more informed decisions about long-term financial security.

Retirement Reality Check: A Dose of Humor
Retirement planning isn't just about choosing a date and calculating a number. It’s about asking the right questions about lifestyle, healthcare, caregiving, longevity, family, and financial security. A little humor can make those difficult conversations easier—but a realistic plan is what helps prepare for the unexpected.

Who’s Working… and Why? Rethinking Retirement in an Aging Workforce
The workforce is aging, retirement is becoming less predictable, and caregiving is changing the way people plan for their later years. Understanding why people continue working—and how work, caregiving, longevity, and retirement intersect—is essential to building a more realistic financial plan.

The Hidden Cost of Healthcare: Why Medical Debt Should Be Part of Every Retirement Conversation
Healthcare costs are one of the biggest financial challenges retirees face, yet they're often underestimated. Learn why planning for medical expenses is essential to protecting your retirement, your family, and your financial future.

Caregiving Is a Marathon—Not a Sprint

Family caregiving is rarely a short-term responsibility. Discover why caregivers need more than endurance—they need planning, workplace support, and conversations that prepare families for the long road ahead.

Beyond the Brochure: Why the Best Family Conversations Begin with Better Questions
Financial plans are only as strong as the conversations behind them. When families understand the "why" behind important decisions, they replace uncertainty with confidence—and that's where lasting planning truly begins.

Progress Takes Time: Why We Must Continue the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer's research may not always deliver immediate breakthroughs, but every study brings us closer to better care and deeper understanding. Learn why hope, preparation, and family conversations remain essential in the journey through cognitive aging.

Supporting Caregivers at Work Is More Than a Benefit—It's a Business Necessity
Caregiving is reshaping today's workplace and retirement landscape. Discover why supporting working caregivers benefits employees, strengthens organizations, and creates healthier, more resilient families.

Social Security Still Matters: Why Retirement Planning Needs More Than a Number

Social Security remains a vital part of retirement planning for millions of households. Learn why looking beyond headlines and building flexible plans can help families prepare for longer lives, changing circumstances, and a more secure future.

Beyond the Count: How an Aging Nation Is Changing the Way We Plan for the Future

An aging population is changing the way we think about retirement, caregiving, and family responsibilities. Discover why longer lives require new conversations, new strategies, and a broader approach to planning for the future.

Who’s Going to Fill in the Gaps? The Growing Challenge of Healthcare Workforce Shortages

As healthcare needs continue to grow, workforce shortages create new challenges for families planning for the future. Understanding these changes and preparing early can help create greater confidence and stability when care is needed.

Is “Average” Enough When It Comes to Retirement?

Social Security remains an important part of retirement planning, but longer lifespans and changing financial realities require a broader approach. Learn why understanding your benefits and preparing beyond the “average” can help create greater retirement confidence.

Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts: Why Knowing the Difference Matters.

HSAs and FSAs may seem similar, but understanding their differences can have a lasting impact on your retirement and healthcare planning. Learn how making informed choices today can help protect your financial future tomorrow.

Hack Away at the Noise: Why Simplicity Is One of the Greatest Retirement Strategies
Modern life is full of distractions, but successful longevity planning begins with clarity. Discover why simplifying your financial, caregiving, and retirement decisions can help protect your future and strengthen the relationships that matter most.