Meghan Kahler CSRIC’s Post

When unplanned expenses strike, like a major home repair or medical bill, how will you pay for them without taking on debt or raiding your #401k? Building a #RainyDayFund is critical to your #FinancialHealth — it can cover emergencies and help protect your long-term #FinancialWellness. Watch our latest video to learn how #MeritWealthAdvisors can help you build an #EmergencyFund that supports your #WealthBuilding and retirement goals: https://bit.ly/3VLp94z

Reimagine your retirement journey! It's time to design the retirement that suits your unique vision. We're your partners in this adventure—let's craft your ideal retirement together. Dive into the details with our guide! https://lnkd.in/evmyr85E #ReimagineRetirement #YourDreamRetirement

The shoe is on the other foot Why you can't be too proud to take advice. Disclaimer: Don't take just any advice. Ensure your source is credible. In my final months as Director of Army Retirement Services, I got lots of advice about how to retire. I almost didn't listen (the Dunning-Kruger Effect at work). One piece of advice came from Jerry Wood, a friend and fellow member of the Soldier for Life Office. Jerry's advice resonated because I trust him. Jerry urged me to do absolutely nothing for the first 60 days after retiring . . . to reset myself. When I retired from active duty in 2007, I started my new job three days later, never slowing down. But I took Jerry's advice. The shoe was on the other foot, I realized. Jerry, thanks for caring and pounding the message through my hard head. I've slowed down. 60 days have passed. I'm ready to explore the new, truly retired life. Well, semi-retired life at least. Vet your sources and advice givers carefully but listen to them! You might not be the expert in this new area you think you are! #soldierforlife #RetiredSoldier #advice #veterans

🚀 Thinking of Leaving/Retiring from the Military? Here’s Some Key Advice From My Own Transition! 🪖 1️⃣ Start Early: Begin your transition process a few years ahead, not just a few months but years. Rushing through this major life change is the last thing you want. Perform a cashflow analysis and start making financial/lifestyle adjustments early - it may take time for any necessary adjustments to take effect. 2️⃣ Prioritize Yourself: Approach your transition with a focus on your needs. Don’t hesitate to make and keep appointments. You may not think so, but the mission will continue without you, and it's crucial to prioritize your future. 3️⃣ Attend Briefings: Start attending retirement briefings about 5 years before you plan to retire. Yes, you read that right – 5 years. Also, attend them multiple times. Trust me, you will learn something new every time. Also, bring your spouse or significant other as there is plenty of information for them, and having them there will most likely reduce the stress and anxiety they are going through. If anyone (especially those in Maine) have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me. I took this same advice from others and am more than glad I did as it allowed me to uncover things I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. Your future self will thank you for the preparation and foresight! 💪 #MilitaryTransition #VeteranAdvice #MilitaryRetirement #CareerTransition #VeteranSupport

I Retired at 35: Here's How I Used The FIRE Method to do it Curious about how I retired at 35? In this video, I'll share how I retired at 35 using the FIRE method, and how you can do it too. Learn how I retired at 35 by following the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) strategy, and discover the key steps and principles that made it possible. If you're looking to achieve financial independence and retire early, find out how I retired at 35 and get started on your own FIRE journey today. If you find my story on how I retired at 35 inspiring and actionable, please like, comment, and subscribe for more personal finance tips and early retirement success stories. Don’t forget to hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content! What you'll learn: How I retired at 35 using the FIRE method The principles of the FIRE strategy that led to my early retirement Step-by-step guide on how to achieve financial independence Practical tips on saving, investing, and reducing expenses How to stay disciplined and motivated on your FIRE journey 0:00 The Standard Plan of Life 0:42 Meeting Paul: A New Perspective 1:18 Discovering the FIRE Method 1:57 My Initial Resistance and Turning Point 2:47 The Moment I Started My FIRE Journey 3:27 Strategies for Financial Independence 4:00 Living Frugally and Investing Wisely 4:37 Achieving Financial Independence at 35 5:39 The Nomadic Lifestyle and Purpose 6:12 Building Wealth is Not About Luck 6:48 Creating a Gap Between Income and Spending 7:12 Building an Emergency Fund and Investing 8:00 Reflecting on Life Choices and Taking Action https://lnkd.in/eVDya7zE

Reimagine retirement! Design your ideal retirement through thoughtful planning, adjusting, and self-discovery. Don't go it alone. Our team is here to help you craft the retirement you deserve. Get your guide here! https://lnkd.in/evmyr85E #ReimagineRetirement #PersonalizedPlan

VETERANS FIND YOUR IDENTITY: I did 14 years active duty and never regretted the decision to leave. Did I get a retirement?..NO. Is that a loss?...not at all. There will be times when you really have to work on your frame of mind and the perception and projection of yourself. If you don't know what you want or where you want to go, you will be stuck. Still to this day I have old buddies telling me how they are getting ready to retire and that I should have stayed. Truth be told....if I would have stayed I would not have had the experiences I had over the pat 10 years. Many of them which have been great. Many of us join in hopes of finding who we want to be. I don't wanna toot my own horn here, but I knew who I was when I joined. It was just a matter of experiences and opportunities that help me to refine and learn things along the way. I contribute a lot of my success from my military career, but I knew when to step away when I no longer identified with it. Getting to a point of knowing who you are, what you are worth and where you want to be takes a lot of self work and development. Some people don't desire to go into those trenches because it's too easy to form to the stat quo around them. This does not necessarily mean that they are happy, but conforming sometimes can be an illusion of happiness. Active duty was great, but there are so many possibilities out there if you are willing to explore and seize them. I will not go on to say that it is for everyone to leave what they do, but if they are committed to growth, there will be times when you may have to divert from the beaten path and create your own. Stay tuned for Part 2.

EDGES OF THE RETIREMENT 5 “The unhappiest people of the world are those in the international watering places like the South Coast of France, and Newport, and Palm Springs, and Palm Beach." --Nixon I may not agree with Nixon, but I get his point. I've talked a lot about the kernel of belief. That to work for an organization, to serve any sort of greater purpose -- you must hold fast to a core, kernel belief in what you're doing is right. And where you're doing it is the right place for you to be. You don't stay with an organization, habit, or practice -- for decades on end, unless you believe it's the right thing to do. Unless you believe the majority of what you do, ends up towards an achievement you want to be remembered by. We chase and crave alignment -- belief runs close with alignment. If any part of that kernel of belief cracks or fractures, you have to move. You have to get out. There's another kernel than runs with belief: the kernel of discontent. People, by design, are contextually discontent. We moderate ourselves against the numerator of what we want, over the denominator of what we have. Friends, family, fortunes, futures -- all stem and stemmed by our discontent. I'm still working with this one. Discontent drives action -- but not always driving change or improvement. I know, there's a positive way to spin this as well. Content as being the towards goal, vice discontent being the away goal -- being the thing we run away from. I get Nixon's point -- people in the best, most picturesque of places can become beset by their discontents. But I also think -- Nixon doesn't account for what it takes for those people to get where they are. Moreover, Nixon was always haunted by his own perception of discontent and inadequacy. It caused his own ultimate downfall. Retirement is a new construct. To be "retired" doesn't mean to be done. Far from it -- it means to find a new focus on belief. And a new way to frame our discontents. #military #transition #uscg #coastguard #experience

Retire sooner so you can live longer

What’s it like to be retired? If someone asks you, “What’s it like to be retired?’ ask them a question in return. For the chances are they’ve already formed an opinion and really simply asking for validation of their own ideas on it – and probably biased ideas at that. This video makes clear that the answer to “What’s it like to be retired?” is not a simple question to answer. It depends upon many factors.