This question has been one frequently asked by my clients and friends lately. What do we do now that the market is perched at a record high?

If you think financial planning is for older adults or those who are near retirement, think again.

The thought process is to take advantage of the hot housing market in some areas on the country with money that would otherwise be locked up in a 401(k) until retirement. Home prices are appreciating in some markets, so what’s wrong with this strategy?

A good deal of misinformation is published about a so-called Social Security earnings penalty. Many are led to believe that if they earn money while collecting Social Security, they’ll lose some of this benefit forever.

If you are fortunate enough to have this decision in front of you, you may be seeing some obvious reasons to take each of these options.

Given the backdrop of economic uncertainty and the rise in both life expectancy and medical costs, prospects look difficult for those facing retirement shortfalls.