--- title: Mark Zaifman|Money Matters Blog | retirement planning description: retirement planning | Articles on Investing, Retirement Planning, Cash Flow Planning and Tax Planning --- [![Spiritus Financial Logo](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/Spiritus_Financial_logo.png?width=238&name=Spiritus_Financial_logo.png "Spiritus Financial Logo")](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/) [707-534-9478](tel:707-534-9478) ![spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png?width=933&name=spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png "spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png") # MONEY matters Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics ##### [More Time or More Money - Which Road Do You Take?](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/more-time-or-more-money-which-path-do-you-take) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Feb 17, 2026 @ 11:44 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/image-png-4.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/more-time-or-more-money-which-path-do-you-take)   [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/more-time-or-more-money-which-path-do-you-take) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [fee-only financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning), [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence) ##### [On The Road to Retirement](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/on-the-road-to-retirement) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Jan 20, 2026 @ 12:56 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/image-png-1.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/on-the-road-to-retirement) **** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/on-the-road-to-retirement) ** [video recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/video-recommendation), [tax planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/tax-planning), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence), [holistic financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/holistic-financial-planning) ##### [Stock Market and Musical Chairs](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/stock-market-and-musical-chairs) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Jan 05, 2026 @ 02:11 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRViP7t4smEjG-9vXOyxF7kbnWmMyjb_Ul7dIHUR6L_Tb1W0kvKsDY57bLAvceKpSMW6DtLpQ&s) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/stock-market-and-musical-chairs) What do the stock market and the game of musical chairs have in common? Will you be sitting comfortably when the music inevitably stops? [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/stock-market-and-musical-chairs) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) ##### [Boomers in Their Early to Mid-60’s Are Heading For the Exits](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/boomers-in-their-early-to-mid-60s-are-heading-for-the-exits) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, May 05, 2020 @ 12:57 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![retirement exit strategy](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/exit%20sign.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/boomers-in-their-early-to-mid-60s-are-heading-for-the-exits) *** *** ***'We’re all in the same storm, but not all in the same boat’*** I have read so many good quotes lately that I am not sure where the one above came from, but it certainly speaks volumes. Twice a month, beginning in mid-February, I've been attending Zoom meetings with other financial planning colleagues from around the country. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/boomers-in-their-early-to-mid-60s-are-heading-for-the-exits) ** [life transitions](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/life-transitions), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money) ##### [Financial Planning Matters More Than Ever Right Now](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/financial-planning-matters-more-than-ever-right-now) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Mar 25, 2020 @ 10:19 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![lwer your stress level by having a financial plan](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/pressure%20gauge.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/financial-planning-matters-more-than-ever-right-now)       ***“Pressure is what you feel when you are not prepared”***   ***Lou Holtz***   [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/financial-planning-matters-more-than-ever-right-now) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [fee-only financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning), [the economy](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/the-economy), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) ##### [Why You Should Develop a Trusting Relationship with a Financial Advisor Before Retirement](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/why-you-should-develop-a-trusting-relationship-with-a-financial-advisor-before-retirement) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Feb 24, 2020 @ 11:56 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/trusting.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/why-you-should-develop-a-trusting-relationship-with-a-financial-advisor-before-retirement) As I write this blog on Monday, February 24, 2020, the Dow is down about 900 points at mid-morning. Most analysts are pointing to the recent outbreak of the coronavirus in Italy and South Korea as spooking the markets, since this could set off a global economic slowdown. We shall see. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/why-you-should-develop-a-trusting-relationship-with-a-financial-advisor-before-retirement) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [financial adviser](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-adviser), [registered investment advisor](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/registered-investment-advisor) ##### [Boomers Crave Freedom; Retirement, Not So Much](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/boomers-crave-freedom-retirement-not-so-much) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Sep 24, 2019 @ 09:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![freedom](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/freedom.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/boomers-crave-freedom-retirement-not-so-much) As many of my boomer clients get closer to that ‘magic’ number of enough savings to become financially independent, the concept of retirement, even just using the word ‘retirement’, is causing many to question what comes next. Just last week, I came across a recent tweet written by **[Carl Richards](Carl%20Richards @behaviorgap)**. He’s the New York Times money sketch guy who writes a weekly column about behavioral finance. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/boomers-crave-freedom-retirement-not-so-much) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) ##### [5 Tips for Managing your Cash Flow in Retirement During a Recession](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/5-tips-for-managing-your-cash-flow-in-retirement-during-a-recession) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Jul 01, 2019 @ 03:31 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![cash flow](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/riverHanalei.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/5-tips-for-managing-your-cash-flow-in-retirement-during-a-recession) The latest economic guessing game these days is predicting when the next recession will occur in the U.S. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a mid-year market outlook conference at Charles Schwab headquarters in San Francisco.  There were four panelists; two from the equity side and two from the bond side of the investment world. Liz Ann Sonders, the Chief Investment Strategist for Schwab, was on the equity ‘team’. All four panelists agreed on two major themes; the global economy continues to slow down, and that a recession starting in early 2020 is a very likely possibility. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/5-tips-for-managing-your-cash-flow-in-retirement-during-a-recession) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [stock market](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/stock-market), [recession](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/recession) ##### [Women & Money & the Fear of Being a ‘Bag Lady’](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/women-money-the-fear-of-being-a-bag-lady-0) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Fri, May 31, 2019 @ 10:31 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![fear](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/fear.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/women-money-the-fear-of-being-a-bag-lady-0) *“Despite the good withdrawal rate, I still fear some catastrophic situation and imagine sitting on the curb as a bag lady!  That, of course, requires a therapist--not a financial planner, eh?”* *** (This blogpost appeared four years ago, but it bears repeating.)*** The above quote comes directly from a client, let’s call her Mary (*not her real name) *responding to an article I emailed her about [**the 4% withdrawal rul****e in retirement.**](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/09/your-money/some-new-math-for-the-4-percent-retirement-rule.html?_r=1) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/women-money-the-fear-of-being-a-bag-lady-0) ** [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [women and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/women-and-money) ##### [How to Get Used to Hearing the “R” Word](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/how-to-get-used-to-hearing-the-r-word) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Apr 30, 2019 @ 08:30 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![R](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/R.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/how-to-get-used-to-hearing-the-r-word) Imagine you just left your job/business/practice for the last time after an illustrious career of 42 years. Today was your last official day of working for money and tomorrow, as the saying goes, is the first day of the rest of your life. A week has gone by since your last day of work. You’ve been super busy, you’re still waking up at 6:30 a.m., still following a tight to-do schedule, so the sense that you’re no longer working hasn’t really sunk in yet. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/how-to-get-used-to-hearing-the-r-word) ** [life transitions](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/life-transitions), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) [All posts](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning/page/2) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Recent Topics - [retirement planning (103)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) - [investing (93)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing) - [book recommendation (54)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation) - [relationship with money (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) - [risk management (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management) - [fee-only financial planning (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning) - [save money (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money) - [financial planning (36)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) © 2026 Spiritus Financial Planning. 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