Retirement Planning Review in Brighton, CO

What to know before you choose

Health care is one of the largest retirement costs, and the rules change at 65. If you retire before then, you need a bridge until Medicare. At 65, you have a seven month window to enroll, and your choices then, Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, shape your costs for years. We lay out those dates for you and your spouse first.

Social Security timing affects everything else. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, and claiming earlier permanently reduces your benefit (Social Security Administration). Medicare eligibility stays at 65 regardless of when you claim, so many people sign up for Medicare before they start Social Security. The Social Security retirement estimator is a good place to test different ages; bring the results to our review.

Income in retirement can raise Medicare costs. In 2026, single people with income above $109,000 and couples above $218,000, based on the tax return from two years earlier, pay an income-related amount on top of the Part B premium, starting at $284.10 a month instead of $202.90 (CMS). Required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs and most work plans generally begin at age 73 (IRS) and count as income, so the timing of withdrawals matters.

Protection is the last piece. We talk through whether you want income you cannot outlive (an annuity), coverage for a recovery after an illness (short-term care), and money for final expenses so your family is not left with the bill. Nothing is recommended until we have talked it through. I take a commonsense approach: I ask questions, listen to your answers, and only then recommend the type of policies that will fit your unique needs.

What this review is not: I do not give investment, securities, tax or legal advice. If a question belongs with your financial advisor, accountant or attorney, I will say so, and I am glad to work alongside them.

Your needs and situation are unique, and I am committed to spending the time to get to know you so you get coverage and support that fits your lifestyle.

Colorado rules to know

For under 65 coverage, Colorado uses its own marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, with Open Enrollment for 2027 from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. For Medicare questions, the Colorado SHIP helpline is 1-888-696-7213.

If you have lived and worked in more than one state, your Medicare and plan choices still depend on where you live now. Moving to or from Colorado opens a Special Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Part D.

How and when to enroll

1. Book a review by phone or in person at the Brighton office, ideally two to five years before you plan to retire and again in the year before you turn 65.
2. Bring your Social Security statement, current health coverage details, a list of doctors and prescriptions, and any existing life, annuity or long-term policies.
3. We build a timeline: last day of work, health coverage bridge, Medicare dates, Social Security decision and any coverage to add.
4. We revisit it each year at your Medicare or health plan review.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period because you are not claiming Social Security yet.
• Taking large withdrawals in a year that sets your ACA tax credit or your Medicare income-related premium.
• Planning income without planning for health costs.
• Buying products before you know the gap you are trying to fill.

How Lisa helps

• A no-cost review of your health coverage and retirement timeline
• Medicare and Social Security dates mapped for you and your spouse
• A bridge plan for health coverage if you retire before 65
• Income-related Medicare premiums explained before they surprise you
• Annuity, short-term care and final expense options discussed only where they fit
• A yearly follow up as your plans change

Who it fits

You are within a few years of retirement, turning 65 soon, or already retired and unsure whether your health coverage and income plan fit together. Couples and families planning across generations are welcome.