If you’re working a regular 9-to-5 job with good benefits, you probably have access to an employer-sponsored investment account such as a 401(k). While it’s not always a guarantee these days, your employer may also match your contributions to such an account as an added boost. However, if you’re a business owner or a freelancer, [...]
When you’re young and working, retirement planning isn’t always a top priority. Many people defer that kind of thinking until well into their middle years when genuine fears sink in about their readiness for retirement. Retirement years should be something to look forward to—but they only will be if you have prepared. Check out these [...]
We have all heard the warnings: There is a good chance that Social Security will not be available by the time members of Generation X are ready for retirement. I know I’m not counting on it! And if you are even younger? Forget about it. So what are younger workers supposed to live on after they [...]
With the recession dragging into its fifth year, many people are seeing little to smile about when it comes to their retirement savings. Year after year, the money they invested in the hope that it would grow into a nice nest egg has remained stagnant—or even dropped in value. As a result, some investors are [...]
If your retirement strategy includes a 401(k), you need to understand the specifics of your plan’s vesting schedule. If you leave your current job to pursue new career opportunities, you still have the right to access your 401(k). However, the vesting schedule may sway your decision based on the potential for a reduction of or [...]
If you are searching for guidance after maxing out your 401(k), that means you are doing some wise investing. Once you have contributed the annual maximum amount of $17,000 ($22,500 for people 50 and older), you may be looking for alternative ways to make the most of your savings and polish up your investment strategy. [...]
Investing is one of the most efficient ways to save for retirement; Social Security benefits are not enough to cover all of your living expenses, especially when you consider inflation. People most often seek retirement advice about whether they and their spouse should share a retirement account or if it’s best for them to open [...]
I recently read a report suggesting that if you are not saving at least 10 percent of your gross income, then your chances of outliving your nest egg in retirement are great—very great. What does this mean for your retirement strategy? When your employer offers a matching contribution to your retirement fund, you have an [...]
When it comes to money, some people are savers and some are investors. (Then there also are some who are neither, but that is another post.) If you have always been a saver, becoming an investor can be a scary proposition. The first step in this process is to flip that switch from saving money [...]
