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Happy Sunday! Here’s what we’re covering in today’s Clark Smart Investing newsletter:
5 of the most common retirement planning mistakes
Special report: The truth about 5% yields (and who should actually care)
Q&A with Wes Moss: How do you counsel families on whether to move or not if they are unhappy in their current location but moving to a new place may make their lives more expensive?
💵 5 of the Most Common Retirement Planning Mistakes
You can save diligently for decades and still make a few retirement planning mistakes that put your financial security at risk.
Wes Moss has spent decades working on the front lines as a fiduciary financial advisor. After walking thousands of families through the pivotal transition from saving to spending, Wes has found that the most devastating pitfalls rarely involve picking the wrong individual stock or failing to chase the latest investing fad. Instead, they almost always stem from foundational issues: debt structure, marital communication, and cash-flow reality.
We asked Wes to break down the most common — and costly — retirement planning mistakes he sees today, and what pre-retirees should do to protect themselves. Find out if you are making any of these common mistakes.
📣 Special Report: Should You Lock In 5% Yields? A Guide for Every Horizon
Long-term interest rates have hit 5%. You’ve likely seen the headlines, but what does this mean for you? This represents a rare, high-yielding window to lock in guaranteed real returns for extended time horizons.
How you should navigate this depends entirely on your time frame:
Long horizons (30+ years): You should probably keep your focus on stocks.Over the long term stocks will almost always provide a higher return than 5%.
Intermediate horizons (10–20 years): Consider locking in these timely 5% yields as part of your overall portfolio plan.
Retirees: Highly consider these treasuries (especially TIPS) to help protect you from both sequence-of-returns risk, and future inflation risk.
If you decide to lock in these yields, your choice between nominal Treasury bonds and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) comes down to your personal outlook on inflation. Though both share similar age and duration suitability, they handle inflation risk differently. Choosing between them comes down to whether you want to bet on a future of persistent low inflation or pay a small premium for built-in inflation insurance.
To help you decide which path fits your portfolio strategy, check out our two deep-dive breakdowns below on long-term Treasury Bonds and TIPS.
Today, long-term U.S. Treasury yields are sitting at heights we haven’t seen in nearly 20 years. Before you move a chunk of your portfolio into 20- or 30-year bonds, there are a few hidden risks you need to know about. Here’s what locking in today's yields actually means for your money. Read more.
TIPS offer a unique alternative: real yields that let you lock in guaranteed returns above inflation, no guessing required. And with current yields at multi-year highs, the timing couldn't be better. Before rates shift, here is what you need to know about how TIPS work. Read more.
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Sleep doesn’t just affect your energy. It may also influence your mood, health, relationships, and ability to make clear financial decisions. Explore why quality rest matters and simple habits that may help you sleep better.
💬 Ask an Advisor
✅ Poll: What’s Your Take?
Every week, we'll ask a new question to get your take on the latest financial trends and topics.
Last Week’s Poll Results
We asked: “Do you know the expense ratios on your investments?” Here’s how you answered:
Yes - (63%)
No - (37%)
💸 Money Tip of the Week
Build a master emergency file: Sit down with your partner to compile a central record — stored in a secure lockbox or encrypted password manager — containing account numbers, login credentials, debt obligations, insurance policies, and legal documents.
☎ Need Money Help?
The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.
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This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee offered that investment return, yield, or performance will be achieved. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Any company names shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The views and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment advisor before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.
