Today’s article highlights how, in the search for stable and predictable retirement income, some people are choosing to “be the bank”: “As an alternative to a 401(k) account or investing in the stock market, they become private lenders for people who are investing in real estate. And just as borrowers send monthly payments to a bank or mortgage company to…
The average monthly Social Security benefit this year is just $1,404. Needless to say, most retirees will need to supplement their Social Security payments – significantly – in order to generate enough income to live comfortably in their golden years. And the three stocks highlighted in today’s article – with their consistently increasing dividend payouts – can play a part…
The good news? American workers’ confidence in their ability to retire is growing. The bad news? As today’s article observes, “the same forces that are fueling retirement confidence have the potential to work against new retirees in the years ahead–especially higher stock-market valuations.” While retirees have no control over the type of market environment that will prevail over their early…
When it comes to your retirement account, if you just set it and forget it, you could well lose it…to escheatment. As today’s article explains, escheatment is the process whereby firms that manage retirement accounts are required to turn over to the states any accounts that are seemingly not being actively managed. What happens to your retirement account (and related…
Americans on the whole are underprepared for retirement. This is especially true for women over 50, with today’s article noting that “they fall way behind men when it comes to retirement preparedness.” While there are multiples reasons for this reality (including an acceleration in the divorce rate for this group), what can women do to prevent against the prospect of…
When it comes to amassing enough wealth to be able to fund the retirement lifestyle of your choosing, there are a number of potential sources to consider beyond a 401(k), including Social Security, pensions…and employee stock options. In regards to the latter, how can employee stock options be best incorporated into one’s overall retirement plan? Acknowledging that “the answer can…
The expectation in some circles is that emerging markets will be the only category of equities that will generate a significant return above inflation over the next 7 to 10 years. Given this, retirees may be tempted to allocate a sizable chunk of their portfolio to emerging market equities. Today’s article, however, outlines why retirees may be well-served to reconsider…
“There are factors threatening your plans for lifetime income security,” cautions the author of today’s article, who further observes that, while some of these factors are nothing new, “others are relatively new, or are becoming more significant.” He proceeds to detail the five trends and factors that he sees as the “paramount threats” to the income security of those in…
Spring cleaning need not – and perhaps should not – be limited to your home. Rather, you might be well-served to extend your spring cleaning into your financial life. The author of today’s article identifies seven areas of your financial life to consider including in such an undertaking (including estate planning, investments, debts, and old retirement accounts), tasks to complete…
How can you earn $100,000 in retirement and only pay an effective tax rate of less than 3%? The author of today’s article outlines how, noting that “When it comes to your income, the government doesn’t tax every dollar equally. In fact, some dollars don’t get taxed at all. If you know the rules and are able to structure your…