Just as the Trump MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) slogan is polarizing, so too are annuities. In fact, the author of today’s article observes that “the very financial tool that could save someone’s retirement journey so that they have income for life is the very tool that many hate.” Given the fear so many Americans have of running out of…
“Money and rationality don’t always mix…That’s especially true with retirement,” notes the author of today’s article. Just one example of many: The fact that nearly half of Americans claim Social Security benefits as soon as possible (age 62), foregoing a significantly larger benefit had they waited. Fortunately, insights from behavioral finance can help “nudge” individuals towards making more rational decisions…
Stocks? Bonds? Exchange-traded funds? Mutual funds? Annuities? Unit investment trusts? Real estate? Given the wide range of options available when choosing investments for an Individual Retirement Account (today’s article notes you can invest in “almost anything” with an IRA), the critical question is what to select. For some insights on this question, taking into consideration how far you are from…
Half a percentage point. That is what one assessment suggests to expect return-wise from a balanced U.S. stock and bond portfolio over the next 10 years (before fees and taxes!). So what would the effects of an era of “persistently low returns” be on retirement strategizing? Today’s article examines the implications for 401(k)s, annuities, Social Security, medical care, alternative investments…
“The challenging task of getting decades’ worth of savings to last a lifetime can be made more manageable with a single product: an income annuity,” notes the author of today’s article. However, despite this, income annuities have yet to really catch on with investors. Given this, the author proceeds to outline who may benefit from an income annuity (and who…
To annuitize or not to annuitize: that is the question that the author of today’s article tackles – and a question that he notes “nearly all retirees and soon-to-be-retirees face at one time or another.” Do annuities have a place in your retirement portfolio? Is there a better alternative when it comes to having a stream of income that is…
Whether one is in the pre-retirement accumulation stage or the retirement decumulation stage, retirement planning seems to be getting increasingly complicated. At a recent investment conference, research and innovations related to the challenges posed by the evolving retirement planning landscape were discussed. For some key takeaways from this discussion – pertaining to target-date funds, Social Security, safe withdrawal rates, annuities…
“Is there a hybrid solution that can give you some of the lifetime income of an annuity, while offering the inflation protection and principal availability of an investment portfolio?” This is the question that the author of today’s article poses before examining one possible option in that regard: managed-payout funds. After delving into the managed-payout funds (and related investment products)…
Approximately 10,000 baby boomers are retiring every day – and many may find that saving for retirement was actually the easy part, while the real challenge will be making sure that their nest eggs last as long as they do. Today’s article highlights one financial tool that may be of assistance to retirees who want to avoid running out of…
To lump or not to lump? When it comes to how they want to receive their pensions or 401(k)s, many Americans are choosing lump sums over guaranteed monthly installments – and proceeding to deplete that money within 5 ½ years on average, according to one survey. Why are so many people choosing lump sums over annuities, and where is that…