The end of the year is a great time to take a step back and do a financial review, especially if your investment mix, risk tolerance, or time horizon has changed recently. When meeting with your financial advisor, consider whether these areas of your life are on track.

Early retirement is a phrase many Americans wish they could turn into a reality. While retiring in your 50s or early 60s sounds enticing, it typically requires years of planning to make sure you've accumulated enough retirement assets to last for 20 or 30 years, or more.