The bull market of the last 20 years means Americans are increasingly being asked to make big decisions about big sums of money. It pays to get professional advice, which can make a critical difference in how and when one retires. Relying on genes and luck is just an excuse for inaction.

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Americans have historically thought about health care and retirement as separate issues, but they are now converging. Whether you're paying for a hip replacement, a grandson's education or a Mediterranean cruise, at 70 it all comes out of the same pocket. In the coming years, the nexus between health and money will grow even clearer.

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