Life Stage Planning

Where are you on your investment journey?

Starting out Lay the foundation for
your financial future
Building wealth How to hit your investing stride during peak earning years
Nearing retirement Make sure you're ready to
make the transition
In retirement Tips to help your savings last
as long as possible

Starting out

 
 

You can find the funds to start investing: Take charge of your personal finances and practice solid savings habits.

Start with the basics
  • 1.
    Build a budget and get a handle on debt
  • 2.
    Be prepared for emergencies
  • 3.
    Save and invest for retirement:
    Start now, even if you start small
  • 4.
    Balance long- and short-term goals

  • We can also help you prepare financially for life events like getting married or having a baby.

Building wealth

 
 
 

Take advantage of your peak earning years: Look for ways to help maximize investment returns and reduce your taxes.

Balance your goals
  • 1.
    Who gets paid first? Prioritize your savings
  • 2.
    Make the most of tax advantages
  • 3.
    Monitor your portfolio
  • 4.
    Insure your health, life & belongings
  • 5.
    Wills, advance directives and more:
    Document your wishes

  • We can also help you prepare financially for life events like selling a home or changing jobs.

Nearing retirement

 
 
 

It’s a sprint to the retirement finish line. Assess where you stand today and make the most of the time left to invest.

Maximize your savings
  • 1.
    Sharpen your focus on retirement
  • 2.
    Revisit your asset allocation
  • 3.
    Plan now for the cost of health care
  • 4.
    Develop a Social Security & retirement date strategy
  • 5.
    Revisit your estate plan

  • We can also help you financially prepare for life events like downsizing or living with disability.

In retirement

 
 
 
 

Get potential solutions designed to help you stretch your funds and live comfortably throughout your retirement years.

Make your assets last
  • 1.
    Follow a retirement income strategy
  • 2.
    Create a retirement budget
  • 3.
    Plan for & manage healthcare costs
  • 4.
    Leave a legacy

  • We can also help you financially prepare for life events such as passing on assets to beneficiaries or caring for an ailing spouse.

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Asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing do not ensure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
This material should be regarded as general information on Healthcare and Social Security considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare or social security advice. If you have questions regarding your particular situation, please contact your legal or tax advisor.

Please review the applicable Merrill Guided Investing Program Brochure (PDF) or Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor Program Brochure (PDF) for information including the program fee, rebalancing, and the details of the investment advisory program. Your recommended investment strategy will be based solely on the information you provide to us for this specific investment goal and is separate from any other advisory program offered with us. If there are multiple owners on this account, the information you provide should reflect the views and circumstances of all owners on the account. If you are the fiduciary of this account for the benefit of the account owner or account holder (e.g., trustee for a trust or custodian for an UTMA), please keep in mind that these assets will be invested for the benefit of the account owner or account holder. Merrill Guided Investing is offered with and without an advisor. Merrill, Merrill Lynch, and/or Merrill Edge investment advisory programs are offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S") and Managed Account Advisors LLC ("MAA") an affiliate of MLPF&S. MLPF&S and MAA are registered investment advisers. Investment adviser registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Clients enrolled in Preferred Rewards receive a Preferred Rewards discount off the Merrill Guided Investing program's annual asset-based fee of 0.45%, and the Merrill Guided Investing with Advisor and Merrill Edge Advisory Account programs' annual asset-based fee of 0.85% for any of their accounts enrolled in the respective advisory programs. Preferred Rewards enrolled clients receive a discount of 0.05% off of the annual rate for the Gold tier, 0.10% for the Platinum tier, or 0.15% for the Platinum Honors, Diamond and Diamond Honors tiers based on their Preferred Rewards tier effective at the time the applicable advisory program fee is calculated. It may take up to 30 calendar days for changes to your Preferred Rewards status or tier to be associated with and effective for your accounts in the advisory programs. This fee is charged monthly in advance. In addition to the annual program fee, the expenses of the investments will vary based on the specific funds within each portfolio. Actual fund expenses will vary; please refer to each fund's prospectus.
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