The polls are clear and dismaying. Just 13% of Americans are “very confident” in their retirement planning, while 38% are “somewhat confident,” the Employee Benefit Research Institute found in a 2013 poll. That means … Read more →

Time is money, according to the business dictum. When it comes to retirement, it’s literally true. Most savers believe that their retirement will grow more if they save more, which … Read more →

One of the most confusing aspects of retirement saving is the proliferation of tax-deferred retirement accounts. There are specialized health and education accounts, individual retirement accounts of various flavors, then … Read more →

People invest for many reasons. As a hobby, for their ego’s sake or to meet a medium-term goal, such as paying for college. All are reasonable choices, as far as that … Read more →

If you are a typical salaried or hourly full-time employee in the United States, you’ve probably heard about your 401(k) plan. Fifty-two million Americans use them. Such plans held $3.5 … Read more →

Saving enough for retirement can be a struggle. Many people work hard only to find they have too much month and not enough money. If you qualify for a workplace … Read more →

Most people look at retirement as the finish line, the point after which financial planning and investing become moot. The reality is far different. Forty percent of baby boomers expect to work until they … Read more →

By now, you’ve probably heard all about the “latte effect.” It works like this: You head down to Starbucks or some other corner coffee shop and plunk down about $2, which is close … Read more →

The fundamental question when it comes to financial planning in your 60s has nothing to do with the markets. It’s really all about your work life. If you plan to … Read more →

Retirees, understandably, are concerned with largely two things: safety and income. Retirement investments often combine these features, but at a cost. Because you’ll live longer in retirement than you expect, often the best investments … Read more →