By Michelle Cho, CFP®, BFA™, ChSNC® | Founder, Echo Wealth Partners   If you’re within 2 to 10 years of retirement, you are entering the most critical yet overlooked phase of wealth building. You spent decades mastering the art of accumulation—the climb up the mountain. But now, you’re preparing for the decumulation phase. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: An advisor who was great at growing your portfolio might not be the right fit for this next chapter. Retirement is a co

By Michelle Cho, CFP®, BFA™, ChSNC® | Founder, Echo Wealth Partners   December has a way of making everything feel urgent. But the most valuable year-end work usually isn’t a “big” decision—it’s the simple cleanup that prevents the costly, avoidable ones. Think of this as financial housekeeping: a short, high-impact reset that helps you enter the new year with fewer loose ends, fewer surprises, and more confidence. 1) Confirm your beneficiary designations (the #1 thing people