We constantly hear that Americans are not saving enough for retirement. In fact, the constancy of the message likely causes worry for even the best of savers. These are the folks who reach their final years with a big portfolio wishing they’d traveled more, retired earlier or given more during their lifetime. Often, savers can find it difficult to spend joyfully.  Here are some reasons why:

The question of whether you should pay off your mortgage is a complex one and everyone has an opinion. Some radio talk show hosts say all debts should be eliminated as fast as possible, including your mortgage. Debt presumes on the future they say. Your ability to pay might be impacted by health, job, or other unforeseen factors.

Efficiency and control are two words not generally associated with the process of active investing, but they should be. The disciplines of saving taxes, keeping expenses low, and ensuring you don’t under-perform the markets in which you invest, offer real and measurable improvements in your returns – in fact, some like Betterment and Wealthfront claim up to 4% or more. Our clients have enjoyed the benefits of control and efficiency for eight years. Here are eight ways we do it.