retirement planner?

[albireo13]

Do folks use/hire retirement planners to help manage their retirement?

I am 61yo and would like to retire sooner than 3 years .... preferably tomorrow!
Problem is we have youngest in college and want to save more to help pay.

I am starting to research FIR options but, am a newbie regarding financial planning.  It was never my strength.

Is it worth taking on a financial planner?   Is that a wast eof money?

Just curious about peoples' experiences.

Thx,
Rob

[albireo13]

yes, I'd be interested in one that specializes in retirement planning.  I have a few years and I want to get my ducks in a row and be in a good, solid situation before quitting.

[swick]

I would do a case study, share your numbers with the community and crowd-source your financial planning. There are loads of very smart educated people here who can help you - it's kinda what we do for each other.

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/case-studies/how-to-write-a-'case-study'-topic/

[h82goslw]

While this is a great site for living frugally and making you think about how you spend money, there's a better site for financial planning.  boglegeads.org will set you on the path you need for financial planning no matter what stage of life you're in.  Read the intro and post your situation, there's a lot of really astute members there who will guide you through the world of low cost index investing.

[Slow&Steady]

While this is a great site for living frugally and making you think about how you spend money, there's a better site for financial planning.  boglegeads.org will set you on the path you need for financial planning no matter what stage of life you're in.  Read the intro and post your situation, there's a lot of really astute members there who will guide you through the world of low cost index investing.

+1

[Capsu78]

At 61, I would suggest you are already on your landing approach and it would be good to contact the tower and see if you are heading for an open runway...  as opposed to a cornfield!
Here is a quick way to locate a Fee only financial planner near you.
What I like about my "second set of eyes" is that he can act as a "trusted advisor" not just to analyze my holdings and AA, but he also has experience in assessing pensions plans and specializes in SS claiming strategies.   Our relationship is very different than the years I spent with a commissioned "expert"  who was great for "Monday morning quarterbacking" and telling me where I should have been (after the fact).  I would rather pay for expertise as I need it than have it churned out in every transaction.  A Fee only planner should have zero products to sell you.

[albireo13]

I'm not so interested in investment planning and strategy.  It's more like I'm trying to land that "big plane" on the runway.
I want some guidance on pension disbursement, 401K/IRA disbursement, and SS strategies.

My major investing has already been done.  Now I have to work more on the back end of things.

Thanks.

Rob

[Capsu78]

Sorry, realized my link didn't copy:

http://www.feeonlynetwork.com/

And I know my guy offers all of those services you seek guidance on, so bringing up those issues on an introductory call would be a good place to start.

[Spork]

The biggest job in planning is to go back over the last several years and get an accurate view of your expenses.  You'll also have to think if there are any upcoming expenses that are not present in the past several years.

Even if you go to a retirement planner... you're going to have to delve through your records and come up with this data.  IMO, the best "service" a retirement planner does is forcing you to do your research.

Start with a case study here (after doing the research).  If that doesn't help, try the fee only planner.  By no means should you get a "free retirement planning" session with your local Merrill Lynch/Edward Jones/etc office.