January is full of fresh starts, but February is when reality checks show up. The holiday bills are done, the first paychecks of the year have landed, and the “new year, new plan” energy starts fading. That’s when many people notice their retirement math doesn’t feel as solid as it did on paper. A small change in withholding, a higher insurance premium, or a goal that suddenly feels out of reach can expose weak spots fast. If you want to strengthen your plan, February is the perfect month to test your retirement assumptions while you still have time to adjust.
