Jamie Hopkins: 8 Big Retirement Lessons for 2024

The effort of preparing for retirement has never been a simple proposition for the average working American, but in the view of financial planning expert and Bryn Mawr Trust director Jamie Hopkins, the outlook in 2023 for those leaving the workforce was about as complex as it has ever been. From contending with inflation and sequence risk to confronting greater longevity, today's retirees are grappling with a lot, and many fear their hard-earned nest eggs will fall short of their long-term spending needs. That doesn't mean retirement isn't an exciting proposition for many late-career Americans, however. As Hopkins discussed on a recent episode of ThinkAdvisor's Ask the Retirement Expert podcast, retirement balances are as high as they have ever been, and there is a groundswell of helpful planning tools and resources for investors and advisors alike to draw upon. With a flexible and adaptive approach, Hopkins says, many Americans stand a decent chance of enjoying a dignified financial life after work. The fact is that is a very exciting time to be working on retirement planning topics, Hopkins adds, and there is a growing appreciation of the important role that financial advisors play in successful retirement outcomes. See the slideshow for a rundown of eight key retirement issues Hopkins is tracking in the waning weeks of 2023 — and how he expects the topics to evolve in the new year and far beyond.