5 Money Moves for Your 50s: No-Nonsense Financial Tips That Work
Welcome to your 50s, where you're finally done with everyone else's nonsense but your body decided to start its own circus. Hot flashes? Check. Sleep that's more like a suggestion? Double check. A retirement timeline that's suddenly feeling very real? Triple check.
Here's what I know after watching countless women navigate this decade: your 50s aren't about catching up—they're about finishing strong. You've got 10-15 years to nail this, and frankly, that's plenty of time if you stop overthinking and start doing.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Master the retirement math that actually works - ditch the generic 15% advice and get aggressive with catch-up contributions and real numbers
Build your healthcare fortress - turn your HSA into a stealth retirement account and plan for the $315K reality check
Navigate the sandwich generation squeeze - set boundaries that help family without nuking your own financial future
Let me cut through the noise and give you what actually works.
1. Retirement Math That Actually Adds Up
Forget those calculators that tell you to save 15% and hope for the best. You're 50-something with a finite runway. It's time for aggressive math.
The reality check: You need 25 times your annual expenses saved for retirement. If you spend $60,000 yearly, you need $1.5 million. Sounds impossible? It's not, but it requires intentional moves.
What actually works:
Max out everything: 401(k) with catch-up contributions ($31,000 total for 2025)
IRA with catch-up ($8,000 total)
If you're self-employed, SEP-IRA lets you sock away up to $70,000
Every raise goes straight to retirement savings—you've lived without it this long
Stop waiting for the "perfect" time to get serious. This is the time.
2. Healthcare Costs That Won't Destroy Your Dreams
Let's talk about the elephant wearing a hospital gown: healthcare costs in your 50s aren't cute anymore. They're predictable, they're substantial, and they're not going away.
The numbers you need: Average couple needs $345,000 for healthcare in retirement. Yes, you read that right.
Your defense strategy:
HSA as a retirement account in disguise—triple tax advantage beats everything
Long-term care insurance now, while you're healthy and premiums are manageable
Dedicated health fund for current menopause-related costs (because insurance has opinions about what's "necessary")
Research Medicare supplement plans now, not at 64 when you're panicking
Your health is your wealth. Fund it like the asset it is.
3. The Career Pivot or Stay-Put Decision
Your 50s career strategy isn't about climbing—it's about optimizing. Whether you're staying put or pivoting, make it count financially.
If you're staying: Negotiate like your retirement depends on it (because it does). Ask for flexible arrangements that reduce stress and extend your working years. Document everything you know—it makes you indispensable.
If you're pivoting: Do it smart. Keep one foot in your current income while building the next. Consulting in your expertise area can pay better than your old job with half the politics.
Either way: Build a "bridge fund" for the gap between your last paycheck and Social Security. Even $100,000 can buy you incredible freedom in your early 60s.
4. Sandwich Generation Survival (Without Going Broke)
Caring for aging parents while supporting adult children? Join the club nobody wants to be in. Here's how to help without sacrificing your own future.
Boundaries that work:
Set a specific percentage of income for family support (10-15% max)
Help with planning and research, not just money
Adult children get loans, not gifts—protect your retirement first
Explore community resources for parent care before writing checks
The truth: You can't pour from an empty cup. Securing your own retirement isn't selfish—it's preventing you from becoming a burden later.
5. Estate Planning for Real Adults
You're in your 50s. The "I'll get to it someday" approach to estate planning expired with your last period. This isn't about death—it's about having control while you're very much alive.
Non-negotiables:
Updated will that reflects your current life, not your 30-something priorities
Healthcare power of attorney (pick someone who makes decisions, not just someone you like)
Financial power of attorney for when you can't handle things yourself
Beneficiaries updated on everything—that 401(k) from your old job too
Bonus moves:
Consider a trust if you have significant assets or complicated family dynamics
Document your wishes about medical care during a health crisis
Tell your chosen people where everything is—don't make them play treasure hunt
Your Next Decade Starts Now
Your 50s aren't a warmup for retirement—they're the main event. Every decision you make now echoes through your 60s, 70s, and beyond.
This week's assignment: Pick the one area where you're avoiding reality and face it head-on. Run the retirement numbers. Price the long-term care insurance. Have the estate planning conversation. Update the beneficiaries.
The bottom line: You don't get a do-over decade. But you do get to decide how your next chapter reads. Make it a good one.
Your future self—the one sipping coffee in her dream retirement spot—is counting on the decisions you make today. Don't let her down.
Forward this to 3 women in your life who are done playing small with their money. Your 50s crew deserves to finish strong—and that starts with real talk about real numbers.