You’ve probably said it before. ‘I ran the numbers, and I should be fine.’ But what if the math you're relying on isn’t telling the whole story? Today, we’re unpacking some of the most common examples of fuzzy retirement math and showing you how to spot them before they cause real problems.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Inflation may not be in the headlines like it was in 2022, but for most Americans, it’s still public enemy number one when it comes to saving for retirement. A new Schwab survey reveals just how many people still feel unprepared and how that affects their confidence in their financial future.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Just because something used to be true doesn’t mean it still is, especially in retirement planning. In 2025, rising interest rates, tax uncertainty, and longer retirements mean it’s time to rethink some of the old advice. These seven assumptions sound smart at first… but they could quietly hurt your plan if you’re not careful.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

No two retirements look the same, and often clients come in with circumstances that make a cookie-cutter plan impossible. Let’s look at some examples of these more unique and challenging scenarios and explore the solutions you’ll need to successfully retire.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Markets crash. Taxes shift. Congress waffles on Social Security. You can’t control any of that. And stressing over it won’t help. What will? Focusing on the four things that actually move the needle in retirement.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

The 4% rule gets talked about like gospel in retirement planning. But let’s be honest, it’s always been more of a rough guess than a golden rule. Now, its original creator is revising it to 4.7%. So, does that mean your retirement paycheck just got a raise, or is this just another headline that oversimplifies a complex decision?

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

We’re starting a financial book club where a couple of times a year, we’ll discuss a book in the financial realm to see what we can learn…or what we might disagree with. Today, we’ll look at a few concepts from Morgan Housel’s book, The Psychology of Money…

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

Are you saving so much for retirement that it’s squeezing your life today? In this episode, we’re answering a smart viewer question about finding the right balance between preparing for the future and living fully in the present.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

It's been a volatile month. And if you’re feeling the pressure, you’re not alone. But how we respond in moments like this often has roots in the crashes we’ve lived through before. In this episode, we look at how past market meltdowns shaped investor psychology, how today’s chaos might be leaving its own mark, and what lessons we can take with us to navigate what’s next.

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092

The headlines are loud, the markets are messy, and your gut might be telling you to do something — anything — right now. But what should you actually do when your portfolio takes a hit?

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Website: https://crystallaketax.com/

Phone Number: 815-526-3092