Streamline Your Finances - Adviser Investments

Streamline Your Finances

From your first checking account to your current 401(k) plan, by the time you reach your 50s, you may have opened accounts with numerous financial institutions. But if you are like most people, you may not have closed nearly as many. Streamlining can help improve your investment returns, reduce fees and, most importantly, give you a clearer picture of your financial situation heading into retirement.

Here are five ways to simplify your financial life:

  1. Use fewer custodians. When we begin the financial planning process with our clients, we consider it a red flag to see an excessive number of statements from a plethora of firms. Trying to maintain a cohesive portfolio strategy with multiple points of contact is sure to create confusion. The best fix is to decrease the number of accounts you manage, making it easier to grasp the overall state of your finances and remain on track with your goals. This will be even simpler if you can consolidate with a single custodian you trust. 
  2. Reduce excess cash. An emergency fund is the foundation of your financial plan. We recommend keeping enough cash to cover three to six months of expenses. But after years of asset accumulation, you may find that you have more cash on hand than you need, scattered among multiple accounts. Consider reinvesting that extra cash to avoid missing out on years of compound growth.
  3. Consolidate retirement savings. Odds are you haven’t spent your entire career with one employer—meaning you may have retirement funds stashed in several 401(k) or retirement accounts. Leaving funds to languish in forgotten accounts often means they’re part of a stale investment strategy that’s no longer suitable for your goals. In some cases, rolling the funds into an IRA might lower your costs and improve your returns; in others, it may be preferable to consolidate into one 401(k).
  4. Put your estate in order. Having accounts that are streamlined, with beneficiaries listed, will help ensure that your assets pass to heirs in accordance with your wishes. It will also make it easier for your beneficiaries to settle your estate. 
  5. Prepare to take RMDs. Under current law, required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your retirement accounts begin at age 72. Consolidating your retirement accounts where possible will make RMD management easier, helping you avoid tax penalties.

If you would like to explore consolidation opportunities, please contact your wealth management team. We are ready to assist with these ideas and many more.

About Adviser Investments

Adviser is a full-service wealth management firm, offering investment managementfinancial and tax planningmanaged individual bond portfolios, and 401(k) advisory services. We’ve been helping individuals, trusts, institutions and foundations since 1994. Adviser Investments and its subsidiaries have over 5,000 clients across the country and over $8 billion in assets under management. Our portfolios encompass actively managed funds, ETFs, socially responsible investments and tactical asset allocation strategies, and we’re experts on Fidelity and Vanguard mutual funds. We take pride in being The Adviser You Can Talk To. To see a full list of our awards and recognitions, click here, and for more information, please visit www.adviserinvestments.com or call 800-492-6868.


This material is distributed for informational purposes only. The investment ideas and opinions contained herein should not be viewed as recommendations or personal investment advice or considered an offer to buy or sell specific securities. Data and statistics contained in this report are obtained from what we believe to be reliable sources; however, their accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Our statements and opinions are subject to change without notice and should be considered only as part of a diversified portfolio. You may request a free copy of the firm’s Form ADV Part 2, which describes, among other items, risk factors, strategies, affiliations, services offered and fees charged.

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