Q: I’m in my mid 50s and think I may be able to retire relatively soon. What issues should I be considering to help me determine whether or not I can make this work?

Q: I’m a gay man in my 60s who is not even thinking about retirement. I just don’t know what else I would do with myself if I wasn’t working at least part-time and earning income. Do you hear this from others my age? 

Q: I was reviewing my investments and noticed that many of them have done very well so far in 2017. Does it make sense for me to sell some of them before the end of the year?

Q: When I look over my investment statement, I see my stocks and mutual funds categorized by “cap” — large-cap, small-cap, etc. Can you please explain to me what that term means? 

Q: My husband and I are planning to adopt a baby! As hopeful same-sex parents, we want to begin thinking about our short- and longer-term planning. Can you offer any thoughts to get us on the right path financially?

Q: My partner and I may wish to downsize and move to a smaller home when we retire. But we’re also very comfortable in our current home, even though it’s a bit large for our needs. How do we decide to stay or move into something smaller?

Q: My wife and I are looking to retire soon. We’ve always managed our own finances to this point, but think maybe we should seek guidance from a professional. Can you help us understand what to expect when working with an advisor?

Q: My partner and I were recently married and we have a young son. We think we should be looking to update our wills and beneficiary information on our retirement accounts, just in case. Any thoughts on where to start? 

Q: I contribute to a retirement plan at work. Within the plan, I can allocate some of my contributions to my company’s own stock. Is that a wise move?

A: Thanks for your question. Many publicly traded companies today offer their own stock as an investment option in their employee-retirement plans. Here are a few things to consider which may help you answer your question. 

Q: I’ve recently retired and will be using money from my various investment accounts to pay my expenses going forward. I have IRAs, a 401(K) and brokerage accounts. How do I know where to take money from and what it will mean for me tax-wise?