What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
Monday, July 15, 2019
Planning for college is exciting – right up until planning for how to pay for it. If you’re fortunate, you have the funding already. If not, you’re like the more than 43,000,000 others who have relied on student...
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Friday, June 28, 2019
A Special Announcement CochranMickels Retirement Specialists is excited to begin sharing podcasts!! The podcasts can be found athttps://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/podcasts/398638/website and we will provide a link directly from our...
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Monday, June 17, 2019
The third annual Lipstick N Lead is in the record books! It was a huge success!! A big shout out goes to Wayne Mitchell and his staff for providing a wonderful venue that ensures the success of the event. Special thanks also go out to...
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Tuesday, June 4, 2019
The David Letterman show has been off the air since 2015. One of the most iconic segments was Dave's top 10 list, something that Laura and I enjoyed watching. It brings to mind the top 10 things a financial advisor can do that you...
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Monday, June 3, 2019
I have been a fan of James Bond flicks for years. This movie comes to mind because of some recent articles circulating on social media about how much you need before you can retire. After reading one of those articles, I can see how...
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Friday, May 17, 2019
I do a fair amount of work in the employee benefits area and these questions come up with almost at every meeting either with the employer or the employee. Should we offer it? Should I buy a policy? According to the latest study by...
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Friday, May 17, 2019
If you are not sandwich meat right now, you probably know someone who is. It’s not very tasty being squeezed between kids heading off to college and the needs of aging parents, and at usually right about the time your career is...
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Wednesday, May 15, 2019
We celebrate our country’s freedom and independence on the fourth of July as John Adams wrote we should, “with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this...
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Wednesday, May 8, 2019
I rarely get to tell people about the remarkable career achievements of my wife and business partner. To me and the many professionals that she has worked with over the years, it is a remarkable story. Laura started her career in the...
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
It is something we all look forward to. Here are some of the signs that you might be ready: 1. You have searched the web for assisted living facilities. 2. You are curious about what the retirement age is. 3. You pay more attention to...
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Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Similar words were spoken by astronaut Jack Swigert on Apollo 13, “Houston, we have a problem”. So, what exactly is our problem here in Huntsville? Let me start out with the good news. We are a highly educated population....
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Tuesday, March 26, 2019
It has been an incredible week here in the Rocket City. The Missile Defense Agency that is based in Huntsville announced they had successfully conducted the first ever GBI Salvo Intercept. Our hats are off to the men and women who...
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Monday, March 18, 2019
What is the difference between a financial advisor and a retirement specialist? Aren’t they both working for you to reach the same goal? A lot of folks are surprised at the differences and what the potential outcome is to them...
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Friday, March 1, 2019
If you plan to retire before age 70, there is a brief yet magical time you can use financial strategies that may make a substantial change in lifetime assets. Most people plan to take social security at retirement and save their 401k...
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Tuesday, February 5, 2019
From time to time, we enjoy pertinent and relevant information. This blog is written by Mark Pettit. Seven billion people inhabit lands outside our borders, five billion of whom live on less than $10 per day[1]. The UN estimates 3 to 4...
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Thursday, January 24, 2019
I am willing to bet money, you have received an invite like this in the mail. You may have even thought about the wine you were going to enjoy with this "free" meal. All you have to do is go to this event and listen to a presentation....
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Tuesday, January 15, 2019
As business owners, we are often asked to support many different and worthy non-profit organizations in our city. We are blessed to be part of a community that gives; over 90% of our clients alone include charitable giving in their...
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Saturday, January 12, 2019
Here it is, the new year already! And right in the midst of holiday gatherings and celebrations, the stock market took an unprecedented roller coaster ride. If you haven’t done it yet, this may indeed be the year that you need...
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Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Many of you who bought traditional long term care insurance may have recently gotten quite a surprise in the mail. They are raising their monthly premiums and it is significant. Let me first say, don't abandon the policy without...
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Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Laura and I started our New Year doing one of the things that we love doing together, shooting sporting clay's. We had an enjoyable time and both of us shot well into the 80's and 90's. But most importantly, it gave us the space need...
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Monday, December 10, 2018
It’s always on your list of New Year’s Resolutions and looks something like spend less, save more - or pay off debt. All good resolutions! So, how’d that work for you? I find that people really want to be better...
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Friday, November 16, 2018
I was recently informed of a strategy that a fairly large insurance carrier is promoting here in Huntsville. It is using a whole life policy to fund children’s education. This is how it works: you purchase a life insurance...
Read MoreYou are enjoying retirement, cruising along when all of a sudden you get RMD Tax Torpedo shot at you. That’s right, many do it yourself retirement planners are learning the hard way that taxes are still an issue in retirement....
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Monday, October 1, 2018
RETIRING WITH A PENSION? DON’T MAKE THIS MISTAKE If you’re retiring with a pension, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is if to take a higher life-only annuity or a joint and survivor benefit that offers a lower...
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Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Long term care insurance has long protected against the chance that the devastating costs of long term care will deplete a family’s savings, and has prevented many from being forced into life-changing, unwanted living situations....
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Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Have you ever wondered what the most expensive thing you own is? Is it your house? Your cars? Your portfolio? It has taken me years to figure it out, but I think it is my ego. That’s right, my ego has cost me dearly both in time...
Read MoreOur firm specializes in financial planning, specifically as it relates to retirement planning. We run across of a lot of people that we call "Spreadsheet Warriors." These are people who meet with us and spend a fair amount of time...
Read MoreTHE QUALIFIED CHARITABLE IRA DISTRIBUTION What if you could make an IRA distribution non-taxable? If you are at least age 70-1/2 - the age when you are required to take minimum distributions from your IRA – you probably can! The...
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Thursday, August 9, 2018
I apologize, I got shooting on the brain. Clays for CASA is just around the corner and Laura and I looking at shooting a couple of tournaments in Tennessee. One of the common mistakes we make is we don't take the time to pattern our...
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Thursday, August 2, 2018
My wife/ business partner and I shoot sporting clay's together and we compete in registered and non-registered shoots whenever we can. We love being around people while enjoying the outdoors and you can find us at least twice a month...
Read MoreIf your employer-sponsored retirement plan offers pre-tax, Roth, and/or non-Roth after-tax contributions, which one should you choose? Start by understanding the features of each. Pre-tax: For those who want lower taxes now Pre-tax...
Read MoreHave you ever heard the following? You should be fine withdrawing 4% annually from your investments in retirement. It doesn’t make sense to pay off your mortgage when the interest is tax-deductible and you can get a better return...
Read MoreIf you are not sandwich meat right now, you probably know someone who is. It’s not very tasty being squeezed between kids heading off to college and the needs of aging parents, and at usually right about the time your career is...
Read MoreFinancial advisors thrive on numbers. What‘s the return on your portfolio? How well is it doing compared to the index? Need a financial plan? We’ll gather up all your numbers and put them into our software program that...
Read MoreThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passage in December made major changes in tax law. Most everyone has made decisions on buying homes, getting home equity loans, paying mortgages, making donations, and funding college – among others -...
Read MoreMy wife Laura and I are out in the community a lot and are often asked “what do you do?” When we answer that we are retirement specialists, more often than not, the response is “I’ll never retire.” How...
Read MoreHow you’ve spent your time and your money. How you’ve saved, gifted, and invested. It increases the risks of things that are out of your control - like inflation, interest rates, health care, and the economy. And it brings...
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PAYING OFF THE MORTGAGE You’ve probably asked – should I pay off my mortgage? Advice from one corner will say - no! If you have a low interest mortgage, and the interest is tax deductible, couldn’t you make more by...
Read MoreWHAT IS A SAFE WITHDRAWAL RATE? If you’ve studied about withdrawing an income from your investment accounts, you’ve likely encountered the “safe” withdrawal rate. The annual percentage of your total investments...
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Friday, May 18, 2018
WHEN TO TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY? A hot topic in retirement planning these days is the best time to begin Social Security benefits. When you approach age 62 – the earliest most people can begin – it becomes tempting to...
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