Across all generations, Americans tend to steer away from risk, and they have become even more risk-averse since the height of the financial crisis. That spans all areas of their lives. In fact, compared with fall 2008, a new study finds: One third (32%) of Americans are less comfortable today taking risk with their finances,…
Retirement Savings and Investments News, Information and Guidance
In today’s uncertain economic climate, many new retirees are worried about outliving their pensions and retirement plans. In fact, 46% of investors in the United States are worried of running out of money in retirement, according to a Wells Fargo/Gallup survey from 2014. In light of an uncertain Social Security system, changing industries, and roller…
Your retirement goals aren’t like anyone else’s, but you can still use guidelines to help find the right plan. We all know that saving is important, whether we’re just starting out or growing close to retirement age. What a lot of us don’t know is “how much do I need for retirement.” Is my plan…
Even if your earnings aren’t what you’d like, you can still save toward a healthy retirement. Planning for retirement isn’t a luxury that only the wealthy can afford. In fact, the less we earn the more important our retirement savings becomes to our futures. While we need our income now for day-to-day essentials, we’ll need…
Remember your 20s, when it was understandable to be broke, live with Mom and Dad and not think too far into the future? Well, that time has passed, and now that you’re in your 30s, you need to think about how you will survive during retirement. The good news is, you’re still young enough to…
Using tools like your employer’s 401(k) or automatically taking money out of your paycheck are tried-and-true methods for successful retirement planning. But if you can look for less obvious ways in your life to bolster your retirement savings, you’ll inevitably reach your long-term goals much quicker. Here are some “little,” yet highly effective, ways to…
For better or worse (or a little bit of both), the economic climate has irrevocably shifted in the last 15 years, and it’s not likely to stop anytime soon. The average employee tenure for a position is 4.6 years, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics’s January 2014 report, instead of working for the same…
Sometimes simpler is better. While we may appreciate complexity in our sports cars, our flavor palates, even our stock portfolios, understanding those portfolios should not be complicated. This is the main premise that inspired Jon Petersen to start the blog Novel Investor, where he investigate the nuanced, intricate world of finances and reports on his…
Joshua Rodriguez, partner at CNA Finance, says the most common question he gets about retirement is, “When is the best time to start investing?” “The best answer I can give to that is the first day you get an allowance from your parents; so, if you haven’t started already…you’re a bit late!” he says. On…
Bonds can be a valuable part of your retirement savings. Before investing in bonds, it is important to understand what they are and how they work so that you can make informed decisions while planning for retirement. Below, we discuss what bonds are and the advantages of adding them to your retirement portfolio. …
The term “fixed income” can be confusing. Many adults of all ages have a reasonably steady income, whether from a salaried work position or dependable work at an hourly job. But a fixed income, at least as it applies to budgeting and investing for retirement, is something different. Another confusing thing is the idea that…
The best way to retire the way you want to is to educate yourself. Jaime Raskulinecz of Next Generation Trust Services says individuals should take advantage of retirement professionals who are trained to help people from all backgrounds retire the way they want to. Here, Raskulinecz shares some tips about self-directed retirement for those interested…
Many people ask about HOW MUCH they need to save for retirement. Not as many people ask, WHEN to START saving for retirement. However, when you start has a big impact on how much you need to save each month. The good news is that it really never is too late or too early to…
As a certified financial planner and finance expert with Burgeonvest Bick, John DeGoey has spent decades working with everyday people to figure out how to retire with a nest egg that’ll cover their needs. John was kind enough to share some insights with us about retiring – and how to do it right. What’s the…
Ten years ago, most people wouldn’t have thought to question stock market investing as a form of retirement. However, in 2008 and 2009, we watched as good people lost their retirements to bad investments. Since then, the market has recovered quite a bit, but it’s still a volatile place, leading to concerns for investors with…
As you approach retirement, you are often faced with difficult financial decisions that may affect your nest egg. For those retirees and soon to be retirees with children or grandchildren, you may find yourself having to choose between contributing to your own retirement account or paying for your child’s college tuition. If you have found…
Employer-Sponsored retirement savings plans, such as a 401(K) or IRA, help you prepare for the future. But are you using yours as effectively as you could? Saving less than you’re allowed or not taking full advantage of a 401k employer match plan at all could leave you unprepared once retirement rolls around. The good news…
Generating enough retirement income is a top concern for many Americans. In fact, the number of Baby Boomers who are confident in their efforts to prepare financially for retirement has dropped nine percentage points, from 44% in 2011 to 35% in 2014, according to the Insured Retirement Institute’s fourth annual report on retirement preparedness of…
Early retirement might seem like a dream. But it’s one that you can achieve if you plan early and set goals as if your life depends on it. In fact, it does. So, ask yourself: how much do I need to retire early? At age 60? At 55? 50? Examining different possible scenarios can give…
It seems that time goes by faster as the years march ahead. For people who haven’t yet started saving for retirement, or who haven’t stayed committed to saving, the future can arrive even faster and a bit more unsteady. But fortunately, it’s almost never too late to get on the right track. At LearnVest, retiree…
NBC Today Show’s financial editor, Jean Chatzky, knows how to break down complex financial topics so that everyone can put them into action. And for 2015, she’s shared a handful of creative ways to save more money. Better yet, they’re nearly foolproof. Saving can be difficult, or it can be easy. Here are 5 ways…
Are you saving enough for your retirement? Maybe. Maybe not. Clark Howard, a financial expert whose nationally syndicated radio show helps people manage their money, recently commented on how much he believes you should be saving, and why. The Clark Howard retirement calculations suggest that even if your current plans are not perfect, if you…
Sometimes it’s hard to know who to trust in the world of finance. You don’t know whose hands are in whose pockets, or if the financial advisor even has a vested interest in your portfolio. It can be difficult to get an unbiased, expert opinion. That’s where Colorado’s Bason Asset Management comes in. Bason Asset…
Hidden fees are like a hairline fracture in your retirement plan – undetectable at first, but able to grow and spread to undermine all of your financial preparations. FeeX began when co-founder Uri Levine detected $230 in hidden fees on his credit card statement. He went after these fees with a vengeance in the vein…
We asked financial advisor Ryan Monette what the biggest mistakes Americans make when saving for their retirement were, and he told us it’s listening to whoever said to save 8 percent to 10 percent of your wages right away. He’s joking a little. Saving something is better than saving nothing, of course. But Ryan doesn’t…
There’s a peace of mind that comes from knowing where you are and where you’re going. The Big Takeaways… There’s no single amount that people need to retire comfortably, and it’s important to consider the lifestyle you want in retirement versus what you need to get by. The earlier you calculate what you have (and…
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…
Jeff Helms, founder and managing partner with First Coast Wealth Advisors, LLC, said of all the customers he has ever helped, no one has ever come to him and said they saved too much for retirement. In fact, many people worry that they haven’t saved enough. At least not enough to maintain the lifestyle they…
We’re guessing there might be one or two readers out there who are overwhelmed about the amount of money they need to save to retire comfortably. But there’s no need to panic, says Robert Henderson, president of Landsdowne Wealth Management in Mystic, Conn. “It’s one step at a time,” he says. “There are options to…
When it comes to retirement planning, men and women exhibit some stark differences. At most income levels, women are more likely to participate in their employer retirement plans, yet women’s account balances tend to be lower, according to recent research by The Vanguard Group, Inc. Women contribute more And not only do women participate more…
Rick Pendykoski, founder of Self Directed Retirement Plans LLC, doesn’t think retirement savings will look all that different in the future than it does now. But he hopes there’s a big difference in how children are educated about money management in the coming years. “If only high school students were taught how interest works, compound…
Toronto Star columnist Ellen Roseman has made it her job to understand the ins and outs of personal finance and consumer affairs. Which is why we checked in with her to ask about the most common consumer problems seniors and retirees are facing today. Her response? Fraud. Scam artists are savvy about finding new easy…
Today, Americans look at retirement as an entitlement – a reward for a lifetime of hard work – but that wasn’t always the case, says CFA Charles Lewis Sizemore, principal of Sizemore Capital Management. “Workers started getting retired during the industrial age as a way of avoiding industrial accidents and to make way for younger workers…
The grass might be greener on the other side of town, but then again it might not. This is as true with your retirement plan as it is with anything else. If you’re leaving one job and moving to another, or if you’ve lost or quit a job, there’s a decision to make. Should you…
Reassess, review and reallocate for the best retirement plans. The fourth quarter is upon us, which marks the ideal time to start coming up with year-end retirement saving and planning strategies to help beef up your accounts. The best retirement plans are made with the benefit of time and careful consideration. While there are plenty…
It’s no secret how crucial investing in retirement savings is in order to live a comfortable life in your Golden Years. While such savings accounts are extremely helpful in building a financial cushion for later in life, an important retirement planning question you should be asking is, “How much is my retirement savings accounts costing…
A majority of Americans have changed how they manage their money as a result of the Great Recession, says Philip Taylor, founder of PTMoney.com. On the positive side, we’re saving more and have less interest in taking on a lot of debt. But on the other hand, we’re more reluctant to become home owners and…
As the Budget Blonde, Catherine Alford is all about saving and keeping your finances in good shape, and that includes retirement planning. She spoke to us about how younger workers should fit retirement into their sometimes tight budgets. What are some common misconceptions you’ve seen about saving for retirement? Many people believe that retirement is…
The importance of saving up for retirement goes without saying, but sometimes the task can seem daunting. You need the discipline to set aside money every month, but you also need to know how to invest it. Luckily, there are financial experts available who can offer sound advice when it comes to retirement investments. While…
Americans fear running out of funds in retirement even more than public speaking, suggests a recent report. So, how to overcome that fear? Should you imagine yourself in an old folks home with everyone else in their underwear (like pretending your audience is naked when you are making a speech)? Um… no. Those images probably…
Jason Fieber is a man with a goal: He wants to retire at 40. Just how he’s making that happen is the thrust of his site, Dividend Mantra. He spoke with us about making the goal and making it work. It’s a goal of yours to retire at 40. What are the strategies you use…
Christopher Holdheide knows from personal experience how tough it can be to handle your finances; he was inspired to become a financial services expert and found his personal finance blog Stumble Forward thanks to buying a time share he just couldn’t get rid of. Personal experience informs his perspective, and he was happy to share…
Don’t let a rainy day dampen your retirement plans. Saving for a rainy day and saving for retirement aren’t the same thing at all. In fact, if you want to keep your retirement safe and sound, the two should never meet. According to State Farm, over half of Americans don’t have any emergency savings to…
While a hard and maybe scary question, it is critical for those approaching retirement to get a really good answer: How much should I save for retirement? With healthcare costs expected to be over $200,000 for the average 65-year-old couple retiring this year throughout their retirement, it’s important that consumers come up with a concrete…
What will your retirement fund look like when it’s time to leave the work force? Will you have enough money saved up for the golden years? How much should you be saving each month to ensure that you’ve got a nice financial cushion at retirement? Answering these questions can be done easily with the use of…
Selling bogus investment products to older Americans is big business, with an estimated $2.9 billion worth of retirement investing losses being attributed to financial elder abuse annually. It’s a common scenario: You receive an email, letter or phone call promising easy money or dire consequences. If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because…
