- How to Save When You Live Paycheck to Paycheck
Retirement planning is a hot topic and the research suggests that Americans are overwhelmingly unprepared. According to the Employee Benefits Research Institute, only 22% of workers say they’re very confident about their ability to save enough for a comfortable retirement.… read more…
- The Best Cities for an Active Retirement in 2016
What’s your ideal retirement? For the couch potatoes among us, it probably involves lots of big books, television shows and classic movies. Beach bums might envision a spot in the sand with a cool drink and a bit of shade. Others prefer the purpose (and income) provided by entrepreneurship or a part-time job. For many,… read more…
- 3 Retirement Planning Rules Rich People Swear By
If retiring rich is one of your financial goals, one of the best ways to make that happen is to study the habits of wealthy savers. When it comes to money, the rich know a thing or two about growing… read more…
- How to Start Saving in an IRA
You probably understand that saving for retirement is important, but you might not know exactly how to get started. Whether you’re able to participate in an employer-sponsored plan or not, contributing to an individual retirement account (IRA) can be a… read more…
- How to Convince Your Employer to Add 401(k) Plans
Participating in a 401(k) plan is one of the simplest ways to start planning for retirement. Unfortunately, not all employers offer this tax-advantaged savings plan. If you don’t have the opportunity to invest in a 401(k), you may need to… read more…
- 3 Easy Ways to Boost Your Retirement Income
Saving for the future can be intimidating. But you don’t want to put it off or settle for strategies that save you very little. There are plenty of ways to take charge of your finances now in order to enjoy a big payoff later in retirement. So whether you’ve recently started your career or you’re… read more…
- 4 Ways You’re Putting Your 401(k) at Risk
A 401(k) account is one of the most powerful tools you can have when it comes to saving for retirement. If you’re not using yours wisely, however, you could be putting your savings in jeopardy. When you’re focused on creating sustainable,… read more…
- 5 Foolproof Ways to Build Wealth in Your 40s
Building wealth takes time. Your approach will depend in part on the stage of life you’re in. The way you handle your money as a 40-something is likely a bit different than the way you managed your finances in your 20s and your 30s.… read more…
- The Average Retirement Age in Every State in 2015
Choosing the right retirement age is as difficult as it is important. A premature retirement can also cost you a chunk of your annual Social Security income. Retiring too early could leave you short on savings years into your retirement. Regardless of when you retire, you’ll want to stick to a retirement budget to ensure your… read more…
- The Economics of Golf
When you think “golf” do you think of executives doing business on the links or wealthy retirees? If so, you might have a good reason for associating golf with money. The sport is big business, from the manicured courses to… read more…
- The Best States for an Early Retirement
Thinking about an early retirement? If so, you’ll need to plan carefully. There are a number of financial challenges for early retirees that those who wait until 65 or later don’t need to worry about. For instance, while you can start claiming Social Security benefits as early as 62, doing so will cut into the… read more…
- 4 Ways to Get Your Retirement on Track in Your 30s
It’s natural for your financial priorities to shift once you reach your 30s. Instead of living on a broke college student’s budget, you’re likely earning more. And if you haven’t done it already, now is the time to start building your nest egg. Even though your retirement is still decades away, there are some steps you’ll… read more…
- What Is a Stretch IRA?
A stretch IRA is a way to limit required distributions on an inherited IRA, avoiding a sizable tax bill in the process. Instead of naming his or her spouse as the IRA’s beneficiary, an account holder can name children, grandchildren… read more…
- Roth vs. Traditional IRAs
Saving for retirement is important, and if you don’t have access to a workplace savings account an individual retirement account (IRA) might be your best option. You may be considering, though, how to choose between traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA.… read more…
- How to Do a Roth IRA Conversion
Thinking of converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA? There are several reasons this might make sense. While you’ll have to pay income tax on the converted amount, a Roth IRA allows your money to grow tax-free and then… read more…
- Why Your Retirement Age Matters
Whether your dream is taking early retirement or working through your eighties, you should know why your retirement age matters. Choosing when to retire is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make for the rest of your life and it… read more…
- The Top 10 Cities for a Worktirement
It’s called a worktirement and it’s becoming increasingly common. Instead of leaving the workforce entirely sometime in their 60s, many seniors are continuing to work (at least part-time) well into their 70s and 80s. There are the obvious benefits to a worktirement like having an additional source of income to go along with Social Security… read more…
- IRA vs. 401(k)
In the showdown of IRA vs. 401(k), which wins? That depends on your retirement savings needs. Just because you have access to a 401(k) through work doesn’t mean you should necessarily max it out. Consider what a 401(k) and an IRA can do… read more…
- The Best Robo-Advisors of 2026
Robo-advisors are quite popular due to their low fees and simple, hands-off investment approach. But as more robo-advisors come about, the harder it becomes to figure out which one you should go with. To help you decide, SmartAsset created this… read more…
- 5 Things to Know About Splitting Up a 401(k) in a Divorce
One of the most difficult aspects of ending a relationship is often figuring out how to divide your assets. While splitting up a checking or savings account may be fairly straightforward, figuring out who gets what with regard to a… read more…
- Average Retirement Savings: How Do You Compare?
If you’re wondering what’s a normal amount of retirement savings, you’re probably one of the 60% of Americans who either don’t think their savings are on track or aren’t sure, according to the Federal Reserve’s “Report on the Economic Well-Being… read more…
- 3 Places to Save After Maxing Out Your 401(k)
Saving using your employer’s 401(k) plan is generally seen as a wise financial move in order to help you prepare for retirement. But believe it or not, it’s not your only avenue for growing a healthy retirement nest egg. If you’re… read more…
- Where You Need to Be a Millionaire to Retire – 2015 Edition
Do you have a cool million dollars sitting in your retirement account? If not, you probably need to keep saving if you’re planning on retiring in one of America’s largest cities. Thanks to the rising cost of living in urban areas across the country, retiring in a big city is more expensive than ever. In places… read more…
- Social Security Retirement Benefits
Are you factoring Social Security benefits in to your retirement planning? If so, you should know the basics of Social Security eligibility and payments. That way, you won’t get any unpleasant surprises when it comes time to claim your benefits after decades of hard work. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with our guide… read more…
- What Is a Profit-Sharing Plan?
A profit-sharing plan is a form of a Defined Contribution (DC) plan that relies on employer contributions to employees’ accounts. A business owner who wants to set up a profit-sharing plan for the benefit of herself and her employees may make generous… read more…