That baby boomers face a retirement crisis is a widely accepted fact. But what caused it? It may seem that the answer to this question must be complicated, but the author of today’s article has a relatively simple explanation, stating that “If I had to point to one variable that could explain why so many are so ill-prepared for retirement…
When it comes to saving for retirement, the author of today’s article states that “although there are no shortcuts to saving – you just need to get on an automatic program and save as much as possible – there are some quick routes to finding out the right numbers.” Among those “quick routes” are retirement calculators which, while not perfect,…
A significant percentage of Americans are not saving enough (or at all) for retirement – and the U.S. government seems to be doing everything it can to exacerbate this problem. The latest example of this is the Treasury Department’s canceling of the Obama-era myRA program for individuals who did not have access to a 401(k) or other retirement plan at…
Among the myriad of potential issues to contend with in a divorce is the splitting of qualified retirement accounts between you and your ex – a transaction that the author of today’s article cautions, if done without the proper due diligence, can result in a very expensive tax trap: “You can divide up tax-favored retirement account money the tax-smart way…
While traditional pension plans are largely becoming a thing of retirement past, 25% of pre-retirees are still fortunate enough to participate in one – but the author of today’s article warns those individuals not to get too comfortable with their apparent advantage when it comes to funding their golden years, cautioning that “there’s a good chance your pension plan is…
With their (at least) 25 consecutive years of dividend hikes and steady-eddy nature, Dividend Aristocrats are appealing investments for retirees or any other income-focused investor. For those looking for an even greater income stream, the author of today’s article suggests an additional investment which – combined with a Dividend Aristocrat portfolio – “could be a profitable combination for income seekers.”…
There’s no question that the wealthy have a major advantage when it comes to retirement – but that doesn’t mean that the less affluent can’t learn a thing or two (or three) from the rich about how to achieve a financially secure – and overall fulfilling – retirement. Today’s article looks at some retirement planning lessons that can be gleaned…
You need $1 million to retire. Make that $2 million. Social Security will not be solvent much longer. Your expenses will go down in retirement. These are some of the prevalent retirement rumors the author of today’s article highlights that can have a detrimental effect on the retirement planning of those who subscribe to them. To read more – including…
If there was one simple thing that you could do that could help you be better prepared financially for – and boost your confidence in your ability to maintain your desired lifestyle in – retirement, would you do it? Well, as today’s article highlights, there is such a thing – yet less than a quarter of Americans have done it.…
Qualified longevity annuity contracts (QLACs) are still a relatively new option on the retirement planning scene, but they may be an option worth considering when it comes to hedging against longevity risk, with the author of today’s article advising one to “think of [QLACs] as insurance against running out of money if you live to be very, very old, and…