About IKIGAI TOWN

Most financial planning starts with numbers: How much do I need to save? When can I retire? What rate of return do I need? These questions matter, but they're incomplete. IKIGAI TOWN starts with a different question: What kind of life do I want to live?

The Japanese concept of IKIGAI — finding your reason for being — provides the framework. When you understand what brings you joy, what skills you want to use, how you want to contribute, and what resources you need, the financial planning becomes purposeful rather than abstract.

We cover retirement, insurance, taxes, housing, healthcare, estate planning, and investments — all through the lens of building a meaningful life. Our content is educational and independent. We don't sell financial products, accept commissions, or provide personalized advice.

IKIGAI TOWN is committed to accuracy, clarity, and independence. Our editorial standards include:

• Fact-checked content: All figures, regulations, and program details are verified against official government sources (SSA.gov, IRS.gov, Medicare.gov, etc.) and updated when laws change.
• No conflicts of interest: We do not sell financial products, accept affiliate commissions, or receive payment from financial companies for favorable coverage.
• Plain language: Financial concepts are explained in clear, accessible language without unnecessary jargon. When technical terms are unavoidable, we define them.
• Appropriate disclaimers: Every article includes a disclaimer noting that content is educational and not personalized financial advice. We encourage readers to consult qualified professionals for their specific situations.
• Regular updates: Tax limits, Medicare premiums, Social Security rules, and other figures are updated annually to reflect current regulations.

Tetsuo Shiwaku — Editor-in-Chief

Tetsuo founded IKIGAI TOWN to bridge the gap between Japanese life philosophy and practical financial planning worldwide. With a background spanning financial services and content creation, he leads editorial direction and ensures all content meets the publication's standards for accuracy and clarity.

The IKIGAI TOWN project is operated by Specialist Doctors, Inc., a company dedicated to providing expert-level educational content across specialized fields.

IKIGAI TOWN currently covers financial planning topics for the United States and Japan. Our U.S. content addresses:

• Retirement planning: Social Security, 401(k), IRA, pension strategies
• Insurance: Life, health, long-term care, disability coverage
• Tax planning: Tax-advantaged accounts, Roth conversions, estate tax
• Housing: Mortgages, home equity, property taxes, reverse mortgages
• Healthcare: Medicare, ACA marketplace, HSAs, cost planning
• Estate planning: Wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, probate
• IKIGAI: Finding purpose in retirement and life transitions
• Investment: Index funds, asset allocation, dividend investing

Content is specific to each country's regulatory environment and cultural context. We do not provide advice applicable across jurisdictions.

IKIGAI TOWN is a publication of Specialist Doctors, Inc. For editorial inquiries, corrections, or content suggestions, please visit our website at ikigai.town.

We welcome feedback that helps us improve the accuracy and usefulness of our content. If you identify an error in any article, please let us know and we will correct it promptly.