3 simple tips to improve your client's retirement plans

“Many baby boomers will retire in the next few years, and for many of them that dream has a nightmarish tinge—they’re worried they’ll run out of money,” says Stephen F. Lovell, a nationally recognized retirement expert. Lovell, president of Lovell Wealth Legacy, offers three simple ways to bring your dream into reality. 1. Revise your budget at the year’s beginning.

Ask yourself: How do I spend my money? Many of us believe we have a reasonable idea of where we put our money, but unless you account for your spending, you may miss out by not putting away enough for your happy retirement.

A household’s discretionary spending on nonessential goods and services like a second smart phone case or the premier movie channel could top 30 percent. And that is often twice what you intended—but you don’t see it until you budget.

“Budgeting puts you in the driver’s seat,” Lovell says. “From there you can control where you spend. You’re buying on purpose, and sometimes you get a nice surprise. That alluring vacation is now within reach.” 2. Be proactive about your financial interests before visiting a professional.

Knowing which financial products may work best for your personal needs and how to protect your hard-earned money from unnecessary taxation is not what most laypeople excel at. That job is best handled by working with a professional. But, as with your health, you reap the benefits of being aware of your needs and of initiating the process of looking after yourself.