Information To Plan for Retirement
Insights for Every Stage of Retirement
Our blog is where we share timely updates and thoughtful perspectives on retirement planning. Explore articles that help you stay informed and confident in your financial journey.
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July 23, 2026
The 4% Rule Is Broken for Financial Plans: Here's What Greenville Retirees Should Do Instead
If you've done any reading about retirement, you've almost certainly bumped into the 4% rule. It's the most famous rule of thumb in the business: withdraw 4% of your savings in your first year of retirement, adjust for inflation each year after, and — supposedly — your money lasts about 30 years. It's simple, it's tidy, and folks love it because it gives them a number. The trouble, folks, is that real retirement is a lot messier than a tidy rule. Let me explain why the 4% rule can let you down, and what we'd suggest Greenville retirees do instead.
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How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire in South Carolina?
It's the million-dollar question—literally. When folks walk into our offices for a financial plan in Greenville, Spartanburg, or Anderson, this is often the first thing they want to know: "Do I have enough to retire?"I wish I could give you a simple answer, but here's the truth: retirement planning isn't one-size-fits-all. What's enough for someone living in Travelers Rest might be different than what's needed for someone in Clemson. Your lifestyle, your health, your goals—they all matter.
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Can You Afford to Retire? A Simple Self-Assessment for Upstate SC Residents
It's the question underneath every other question about retirement.Not 'when should I take Social Security?' Not 'should I buy an annuity?' Not 'what should my investment allocation be?' Those are all important questions — and we spend a lot of time on them at Common Sense Retirement Planning.But underneath all of them is the foundational question that most people are really asking: Can I afford to retire?
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The Truth About Financial Advisor Fees: What You're Really Paying For
Folks, I want to have an honest conversation about something that doesn't get nearly enough daylight in the financial planning world: fees.Not in a sensational way. Not to make anyone feel bad about what they're currently paying. But because I genuinely believe that informed consumers make better decisions — and when it comes to financial advice, you have an absolute right to know exactly what you're paying and what you're getting in return.
Why Market Risk Matters More in a Financial Plan at 60 Than It Did at 40
I want to tell you about two people who experienced the exact same market drop and had completely different outcomes. The first person — we’ll call him Alan — was 41 when the market declined sharply. His 401(k) dropped significantly over several months. It was unsettling to watch. But Alan kept contributing every paycheck, kept his investment mix steady, and 18 months later, the market recovered and his balance was higher than before the drop...
5 Questions to Ask Any Financial Advisor Before You Hire Them
Folks, let me be upfront with you. Picking a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you'll make as you approach retirement. And yet most people spend more time researching a new car purchase than they do evaluating the person who's going to manage their life savings.
What Does ‘Conservative’ Retirement Planning Actually Mean?
Folks, I hear the word ‘conservative’ thrown around constantly in the financial planning world — and I want to be direct with you today: it doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. We’ve had people come into our Greenville office who told us their previous advisor had them in a ‘conservative’ portfolio, and when we…