With open enrollment season comes cold calls from insurance companies and unsolicited voicemail ads. But it’s also your annual chance to revisit your employer benefits to determine which coverage is best for you and get the biggest bang for your buck. Here are some pointers to keep in mind while you select your benefits package for next year so you can have optimal coverage for yourself and your dependents.

By Lauren Minches, Actuary, Blueprint Income

Retirement has become more complicated ever since employers stopped offering traditional pensions. Even worse, there’s an endless barrage of products, advertisements, and commercials trying to “help” you get ready for retirement. There’s enough advice floating around to create thousands of different retirements.

Before deciding which product, investments, or plan is right, you should understand the basic principles and math behind a successful retirement. So here they are…