Start Here
A guide to the best articles in the archive, organized by topic
If you’re new — or if you’ve been here a while and want a map — this is where to begin.
I’ve been writing this newsletter since 2008. There are almost 500 articles in the archive. That’s a lot of ground to cover, and I don’t expect you to read all of it.
So here’s a shortcut: the articles I’d point you to first, organized by the topics that matter most to women in or near retirement.
Social Security
This is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make — and one of the most misunderstood.
When should I take Social Security? — Why claiming age depends on your full picture, not a break-even calculator.
Social Security planning for women — A foundational overview of how the system works, including spousal and survivor benefits.
What widows need to know about Social Security — Survivor benefits, timing, and the mistakes I see most often.
Can you collect spousal benefits if you remarry? — The rules around ex-spouse benefits are more flexible than most people realize.
If you want to go deeper on Social Security, I’ve written a full guide on my website: Social Security planning for women.
Tax planning
Retirement planning is tax planning. The two are inseparable.
Retirement planning is tax planning — How Social Security taxation, IRMAA, and RMDs make taxes the center of your plan.
Out of order — How tax-deferred, taxable, and tax-free accounts work together.
The 2025 sunset — Tax law changes and what they mean for your planning decisions.
How to turn healthcare expenses into tax savings — HSA strategies and medical expense deductions.
Healthcare and Medicare
One of the largest — and most unpredictable — expenses in retirement.
A guide to help you sign up for Medicare — Step-by-step walkthrough of Parts A, B, C, and D.
Health insurance between retirement and Medicare — What to do if you retire before 65.
No more donut hole: how Medicare Part D works — Prescription drug coverage explained in plain English.
For a broader look at how I help clients with healthcare planning, see Health insurance planning in retirement on my website.
Retirement income and spending
The shift from saving to spending is harder than most people expect.
Creating a paycheck in retirement — How to build a reliable income stream when there’s no longer a paycheck.
A retirement income planning case study — A real-world example of how income sources, tax brackets, and withdrawals work together.
How much can I spend if I retire early? — Sustainable spending when retiring before 65.
When an annuity makes sense — The narrow circumstances where annuities can be useful — and the far more common cases where they aren’t.
Women and retirement
Women face a different set of challenges. These articles address them directly.
5 things every woman needs in a financial advisor — What to look for in an advisor relationship.
Beyond the portfolio — Why investment management alone isn’t financial planning.
Financial planning for single women — Longevity, long-term care, beneficiary planning, and building a support team.
Retirement planning for women over 50 — Age-specific guidance from your 50s through your 70s and beyond.
My website has a comprehensive guide that ties all of this together: Retirement planning for women.
Widows and divorce
Two of the most difficult financial transitions a woman can face.
Financial planning tips for widows — What to do immediately, what can wait, and how to avoid costly mistakes.
How women can protect their retirement after divorce — Asset division, retirement account splits, and rebuilding your plan.
Money mistakes during divorce — Common financial errors and how to avoid them.
Advice for the suddenly single — Practical guidance for navigating finances alone for the first time.
Estate planning
It’s not just about what happens after you’re gone. It’s about protecting your plan now.
3 biggest estate planning myths — Common misconceptions about wills, trusts, and beneficiaries.
Per stirpes vs. per capita beneficiaries — A small choice on a form that can make a big difference.
Investing
I keep this simple. On purpose.
Sit still and build wealth — Why patience is usually the best investment strategy.
Alternative investments: read this before investing — Why “exclusive” investments are usually just expensive.
My advice, distilled — 30+ years of financial planning principles, stripped to their essentials.
Philosophy and perspective
These are the pieces that get the most replies. They’re less about money and more about what money is for.
What I believe — My core beliefs about money, planning, and what matters most.
The good enough financial plan — Why a plan that’s 80% right and actually followed beats a perfect plan in a drawer.
FOMU: fear of messing up — How fear of the wrong decision leads to no decision — which is usually the worst one.
Am I going to be OK? — The question behind every retirement conversation.
About me and my practice
I’m Russ Thornton — a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisor with more than 30 years of experience. I work exclusively with women in or near retirement, typically with $2 million or more in investment assets.
My practice is small by design. I current work with 65 clients, and I like it that way. It means I know you, I reach out regularly, and I’m available when something comes up.
If you’d like to learn more:
And if you’re curious whether we’d be a good fit, the first conversation is free and there’s no obligation: Let’s see if we’re a fit.
I publish every Wednesday. Thanks for reading.