In a recent study published by Forbes magazine, Americans as a population received a C grade in retirement readiness with only 27 percent taking into consideration how much to save for necessary expenses as well as entertainment and travel. As financial advisors, this is fortunately not an issue that most of our clients will have. While families working with a financial planner will likely have their portfolios well attended to, there are plenty of concerns that an attentive and experienced financial advisor might remind their clients to consider in the retirement years.

Debt: Debt and debt management take up most of the financial bandwidth in Americans’ lives. Bound by student loans and heavy credit card balances, many struggle to improve their credit and financial footing in order to make milestone purchases like homes or cars, let alone save for an unforeseen future. One of the golden rules we’ve established for our clients is to eliminate all debt before the retirement years. This may seem like rather basic advice, but many clients forget that this also means not taking on any debt after retirement. For instance, you may do well to remind them that purchasing that brand new car may not be in their best interest. You might ask them how much they realistically drive and if that amount justified all of the expenses that come with the purchase. Recently, one of our clients abandoned her intentions to buy a new car after being introduced to the Uber app by her family. Based on the amount she would have driven, this service met all of her needs at a much lower cost than the car she would have liked to purchase, but would have rarely used.

Longevity: No one would go as far as to reverse the improvements that technology and scientific advancement have brought to our ability to live longer. Some clients may even live much longer than they have adequately planned for. Ask your older clients to sit down and think seriously about the long term. For instance, if they are in their 70s and may reasonably live for another 20 years or perhaps even more, will they run out of money if they encounter an unforeseen disaster two decades from now? Have they considered options like longevity insurance? On a lighter note, a longer life means more time to enjoy the things you love. Will your clients have the financial freedom to golf or travel with their families if they are fortunate enough to live much longer than they expect?

Health care: Health-care cost after retirement is an area that is continually underestimated when calculating how much is enough to save. In fact, health-care costs can reach a hefty $130,000 after retirement. Unlike the general public, most individuals working with a team of financial advisors will likely not be entirely dependent on Medicare benefits. A strategic retirement plan will surely consider medical expenses and thus clients will have a greater deal of flexibility with federal benefits. Have a discussion about how they can best maximize Medicare or Social Security benefits based on their individual circumstances.

Lack of communication: Whether it is discussing retirement and long-term care plans as a family or receiving guidance from a well-versed financial advisor, opening the conversation between parents and adult-aged children can significantly improve their understanding of the future. In my experience, the biggest obstacles to a comfortable retirement are very often clients’ own children. There are many situations that cannot be overcome and require a holistic perspective outside of one’s portfolio, such as an illness. Sometimes the financial blows are avoidable, such as a hard-partying adult child who sees Mom and Dad as their personal ATM or the son or daughter that just cannot hold down a job and has come to rely on the soft landing their parents repeatedly offer. This is where the line between being a personal advocate and a financial advocate may blur. Watching your client’s assets dry up needlessly is painful for a dedicated financial advisor to watch. Use a little bit of tough love and point out that your clients’ money is going up in smoke, and fast. Suggesting that they have a straight talk with children or relatives about the reality of their means might save them from disaster.

Have a good plan. Then revisit it. Often: No financial professional can predict the future. Change is inevitable; a conscientious financial planner not only considers changes in the markets but also considers the changes in their clients’ personal lives. Check in with your clients’ intentions periodically. Revisiting my earlier point about longevity, ensuring that a longer life is also satisfying and healthful is still a struggle. A longer life means more opportunities to be impacted by divorce, increased health-care costs, and familial obligations. It may be that estate plan you drew up 10 years ago when you started working together is no longer valid. For instance, your client designated power-of-attorney to their late husband and put dear old Cousin Gertrude next in line, but Cousin Gertrude passed away last year. A “set-it-and-forget-it” plan is ideal, but is not the reality. This doesn’t mean revisiting your asset allocations seasonally, but check in on your clients’ charitable intent, their estate plan, their living will and other parts of their plan that might be more affected by changes in their personal lives.

As financial enthusiasts, it’s easy to get caught up in the facts and figures of our clients’ portfolio, but helping them prepare for retirement requires more than just looking at statements. While incorporating a saving strategy, cutting expenses and investing are all key players in improving your client’s retirement readiness, it’s important to remain responsive to the particularities of each client’s financial life as they progress towards retirement. Just as your client regularly visits their doctor for a health check, sitting down with a financial planner for a regular financial check-up should be a part of any well-managed financial plan.

Benjamin A. Tobias, CFP, CPA/PFS, CIMA, AIF, is the founder and president of Tobias Financial Advisors. He has been recognized by numerous publications over the years, including Worth Magazine as one of the “Top Wealth Advisors” for multiple years.