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An annuity is an insurance product that you can purchase from a financial institution—usually an insurance company—that is designed to accept, grow and eventually pay out funds over a period of time. Because annuities can provide you with a steady source of income, they are commonly used as retirement planning tools by individuals who want…

It’s a whole new year for a whole new retirement planning attitude. Ringing in the new year with a host of resolutions? Then you’re in good company. Or maybe you gave up on the idea of making sweeping changes years ago, in favor of taking things as they come. However you approach it, every turn…

Don’t let financial planners intimidate you. They’re there to help, and most of them do a great job. The question isn’t really whether financial planners are worth what they earn; it’s more about whether it’s the best choice for you. If you’re on the fence about hiring a planner to handle your wealth, or prospective…

All things considered, the average woman has a longer retirement than the average man. It’s fairly well documented that women tend to live longer. Couple that with the trend of women leaving the workforce at a younger age, and you’ve got more retirement income years to think about than you might have realized. A longer…

A lot of retirement advice skews toward married couples, but what about those who are single? Many retirees today are divorced, widowed or never married. This means they are doing their planning for one, instead of for two, and that they’re relying on their own sources of retirement income, rather than those of a spouse.…

Old or young, it’s never too late or too early to prepare for the future, or just to practice healthy financial habits – to have more while spending less. Deacon Hayes and his wife were drowning in debt. They set out to learn how successful people handled their money and discovered they were doing it…

Anyone with a multi employer pension is at risk of cut benefits. You’ve probably seen it in the movies. A worker reaches retirement and the company presents him or her with a gold watch and a nice, comfortable pension. That kind of security makes devoting years of your work life to a single company or…

What could be better than income you can depend on throughout your retirement? That’s why annuities were born, and why so many people have chosen to invest their money in these low-risk insurance products. But a funny thing happened on the way to the bank a few years ago. A zero interest rate policy (ZIRP)…

Slow and steady wins the race. That’s the lesson from The Tortoise and the Hare, and it applies to financial planning, too. People begin saving for retirement at all different ages. But which idea sounds more appealing: Working extra hard later in life, and hoping you’ve saved enough to retire when the time comes? Or…

Ever wonder how you can use a reverse mortgage to improve your quality of life? This video explores and explains the many ways you can use the money from your reverse mortgage loan. While there are many pros and cons to reverse mortgages, the most important consideration for you is probably whether or not you…

More than half of Americans (52%) aren’t financially prepared for retirement, lacking the necessary income to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living. In fact, Americans’ financial preparedness has improved only slightly since 2010, despite gains in the economy, according to a recent report by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. That study, based…

Preparing for retirement is not as simple as it used to be. A number of seismic shifts in the prevailing culture are affecting the way we perceive, and prepare for, the future. With people shifting jobs more regularly, as well as uncertainty about what the state of the economy will be when the time comes…

Working with a credit counselor is something people of all ages can benefit from. These trained professionals help individuals reduce debt, save more, and reach financial goals. Lauralynn Schueckler of Advantage Credit Counseling Service understands that money worries are a common occurrence in individuals just starting out and in retirees, but she knows that credit…

If you are like most people facing the prospect of retirement, you are probably figuring out how to generate enough income for retirement that it will last as long as you need it to.  This article will talk about two of the biggest strategies you have for generating retirement income: when and how you should…

A well-appointed retirement portfolio isn’t dependent on one source of income to sustain you. A much safer approach is diversification. That way, if one source falls flat you’re not left high and dry. Annuities are one way to diversify, but they should be approached with a lot of caution. With an annuity calculator, you can…

There are plenty of personal finance sites out there that tell us how to save, spend, borrow and invest money, but Ray Advani says there aren’t too many that discuss how these things are impacted by relationships. That’s why he started Tie the Money Knot back in 2012. He wanted to start a conversation about…

Preparing for retirement begins much earlier than one’s twilight years. In fact, most retirement professionals recommend planning for retirement as soon as possible. Art Koff from RetiredBrains.com understands that retirement is a major life change, but knows that with proper planning, retirement is something to enjoy. Retirement can be a scary situation for many. What…

It’s no surprise that paying for health care expenses — Americans’ greatest financial concern — can quickly deplete retirement savings. Today, health care costs for retirees average more than $9,000 annually, according to CNN Money. Based on the average life expectancy in the U.S. (78.8 years), that means you could pay more than $124,000 in…

Miron Lulic always thinks ahead. On his blog SuperMoney, he’s constantly on the cutting edge of retirement planning, among other financial topics. He laid out for us how to plan for your retirement while balancing your other financial needs. What are some mistaken beliefs about retirement planning you often see? Probably the most common misconception…

President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” And if you consider retiring in your golden years a goal worth having, well then you better be prepared to work for it, says best-selling author Kurt Rosentreter, senior financial advisor for Manulife Securities.…

If you contribute regularly to a 401(k) plan, you’ve already begun to take control over your retirement. Each contribution adds up. And with interest, you could increase your retirement income substantially by the time you’re ready to use it. But because few things in life are free, 401(k) fees could take a bigger bite out…

Personal finance expert Laura D. Adams knows about money. She’s been featured in dozens of magazines and on several television programs where she discusses financial practices that help people of all backgrounds. Adams helps individuals to better understand money without the fear that comes along with worries about debt, bills, and having enough money to…

Investing can be confusing business, especially when you’re just starting out. But the good news is that if you’re starting early and have a long-term investment strategy you’ve got time on your side. With a direct stock purchase plan, your investment dollars can go a lot further. First, the sooner you begin the more time…

Saving for retirement sometimes takes a bit of creativity. This is especially true if you’ve spent some time with a devil-may-care attitude and are just now getting down to business. You’re not alone, if that’s the case. More often than not, you’ll look for ways to boost savings rather than sit comfortably with what you’ve…