What happened
A MarketWatch article published on August 28, 2026, presents a reader's question about retirement planning. The reader, aged 56, has $1.4 million and intends to retire in five years. They are considering relocating to California, New York, or overseas. The article quotes the reader asking, “How do I prepare for market drops or crashes just before or after retirement?”
Why it matters
The reader's situation highlights a key financial planning issue: managing market risk as retirement approaches. With a five-year horizon, the choice of where to live can have substantial financial implications, including cost of living and tax burdens. The question underscores the need for strategies to protect retirement savings from market downturns, a concern shared by many pre-retirees.