Planning

Many times we race through the details of our finances and just do what we need to do month to month.  It is easy to forget to focus on the important long term concerns such as saving for retirement. Here is easy retirement planning advice for all phases of life.  Make sure to have a…

As you approach retirement, the financial decisions you make now could mean the difference between comfort and stress as you age. Luckily, financial advisors are available to help ensure that you make the right decisions to enjoy your retirement days. Here are 4 ways a financial advisor can help you effectively plan for retirement. Do…

Financial advisers are everywhere, but some stand out as gurus. These men and women have years of experience, and make their careers from guiding clients, readers and listeners toward sound practices that will help them eliminate debt, build wealth and secure a comfortable retirement. Some of these experts have achieved veritable star status, and that…

Retirement can sneak up faster than you think. It’s understandable: Life happens, years go by, and then suddenly you realize retirement is a lot closer than it seemed just a year or two ago. Although most financial advisers recommend at least starting a modest retirement plan as early as in your 20s, that doesn’t always happen.…

Three in four middle-class Americans will eventually run out of money during retirement, research shows. And when nursing home and home health care costs are factored into retirement spending, the number of people projected to run out of money is staggering. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s (EBRI) study on retirement shortfalls, by the…

Baby boomers are a a generation of firsts. You were the first to attend integrated schools, the first to take birth control pills and the first to bring feminism to the cultural forefront. You are also the first modern generation to largely manage your own retirement investments and the first generation without widespread access to pensions.…

Most retirement experts advise that retirees plan on securing 100 percent of their pre retirement income for retirement — though annual spending may decrease as retirees age. However, many pre-retirees are not nearly as prepared for retirement as they had hoped—and by no fault of their own. The economic crisis, housing crash and market downturn…

The 2008 recession and financial crisis deteriorated American baby boomers’ confidence in retirement planning, spurring a shift in their financial goals related to their later years. And while the ability for baby boomers to reach their goals should improve with the recovering economy, not everyone is confident about realizing their priorities in retirement. Only one-third,…

You want to plan your retirement, but you are probably having some trouble getting started. Here are 4 reasons why an online retirement calculator is a great way to get off the dime and make a better future for yourself: 1. No Judgements, No Negative Feedback When you use an online retirement calculator, no one…

  It is not like you don’t WANT to plan for retirement, right? There are real reasons that make planning for retirement difficult. Taking the first step toward retirement planning might seem like pursuing a major lifestyle change — it sounds intimidating, and you may not know where to start. But there are easy first…

Veterans and service-members approaching retirement age may need to take a slightly different strategy to financial planning relative to their civilian counterparts, factoring in time spent in the service, pensions, and other available benefits. Career military servicemembers who serve 20 or more years are eligible for a pension that includes annual cost of living adjustments…

More than half of all Americans worry they won’t have enough money during retirement, but women are more at risk of this than men. More than half (52.6%) of women age 65 and older are considered “economically vulnerable” compared to 41.9% of men in the same age group, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s 2013…

Have you recently retired without a comprehensive financial plan to take you through the coming years? It’s not too late to make one. A December 2013 survey from Fidelity found that more than half of Americans are at risk of not covering their essential expenses in retirement. PwC reported similar findings on its 2013 survey…

Many people have a countdown to the official retirement age of 65 — or whatever age you might be targeting.  However, many of us are looking for ways to retire even earlier.  Here are a few good ways to reduce your spending in such a way that you can knock a few years off your…

If you’re approaching retirement age, you’re in good company—millions of boomers are right there with you. In the next few decades, one out of every five Americans will have reached or surpassed Social Security’s “full retirement age” of 65, according to the most recent U.S. Census data release. “Between 2012 and 2050, the United States…

Falling interest rates can often signal a negative impact on a long-term retirement portfolio, as a lower rate environment means less money saved for retirement. But low rates can also have a silver lining for retirees, especially when it comes to reverse mortgages. The Federal Reserve has been keeping downward pressure on interest rates post-recession in…