Saving for Retirement

Articles

• The Importance of Saving - There are many things to consider when saving for the future. The most fundamental factors are to save early and save more.
• Fundamentals of Retirement Planning - Most people identify a financially secure retirement as one of their primary financial goals.
• Beginning to Think About Retirement Planning - Any discussion on retirement planning ultimately comes down to a few basic issues.
• Four Components of a Financially Secure Retirement - Most people identify a financially secure retirement as one of their primary financial goals.
• Do IRA and 401(k) Contributions Still Make Sense? - In almost every case, the answer is a resounding YES
• Reviewing Your Options for a Retirement Plan Distribution - If you are changing jobs, retiring or being terminated from a job, it is natural to undergo stress and anxiety. Usually, these changes are also accompanied by receiving a distribution from your employer's retirement plan.
• Rethinking Retirement - Several things to think about when it comes to retirement.
• Add $100,000 to Your Retirement Savings - How do you have an additional $100,000 accumlated by retirement age?
• Useful Income Tax and Retirement Planning Information - There have been several major tax law changes over the past few years with staggered effective dates.
• Seven Ways to Plan for Retirement - Accumulating the funds you will need for a financially secure retirement can be difficult.
• Retirement Planning Checklist - Make sure you go to the Human Resource Department or see the Business Manager to handle some of the financial details of your job.
• How Long Will My Money Last? - Most financial and retirement planning efforts focus on analyzing how much money you will need at retirement or want to accumulate by a particular date.

Podcasts

• Fundamentals of Retirement Planning

Calculators

• 401(k) Savings Calculator - A 401(k) can be one of your best tools for creating a secure retirement. Use this calculator to see why this is a retirement savings plan you cannot afford to pass up.
• 401(k) Savings with Profit Sharing - Use this calculator to show how a 401(k) with profit sharing plan can help you save for retirement.
• How long will my retirement savings last? - Use this calculator to see how long your retirement savings will last based on your retirement savings and your inflation adjusted withdrawals.
• Retirement Account Contribution Accelerator - Use this calculator to see how increasing your contributions to a qualified retirement plan can help save for your retirement.
• Retirement Nestegg Calculator - Do you know how much it takes to create a secure retirement? Use this calculator to help determine what size your retirement nestegg should be.

Calculators

• Roth IRA Conversion - This calculator will show the advantage, if any, of converting your IRA to a Roth.

Financial Tips

• Forget Returns - Focus on What You Can Control - There are two things that you can control: How much you save and how much risk you take.
• If You Want More Money for Retirement, Consider Downsizing Your Home - Downsizing your home can help you spend less on taxes and maintenance, which means more money to put into your retirement accounts.
• Consider Your Personal Inflation Rate - Keeping your personal inflation rate low will allow you to better estimate your retirement savings needs. Consider these tips.
• Plan to Withdraw Wisely - Getting the most from your retirement savings involves creating a spending plan.
• Should You Get a Reverse Mortgage? - Five Disadvantages of Reverse Mortgages.

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Articles

• An IRA Refresher - The almost-annual changes to the income tax laws have created confusion about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
• Maximize Your IRA - Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) continue to be one of the most powerful ways to accumulate funds for a financially secure retirement for a multitude of reasons.
• IRA or Roth IRA? - The Roth IRA offers some advantages over the traditional IRA but comes with some limitations.
• Is a Roth IRA Conversion Right For You? - Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are part of a financially secure retirement for many people.
• Good Retirement Planning News - Changing the Social Security program continues to be a hotly debated topic.
• Can $6,000 IRA Contributions Really Add Up? - It can be easy to put off or fail to make contributions to an IRA.
• Mistake to Avoid - Not Taking Full Advantage of Your Employer’s 401(k) Plan - Longer life spans, more active retirements, rising costs and uncertainty over Social Security make the need for a substantial retirement nest-egg greater than ever.
• New Roth IRA Conversion Opportunity - This is an important tax and estate planning opportunity that many may find attractive.
• Taking Advantage of Non-Deductible IRA Contributions and Roth Conversions - Learn the advantages and drawbacks of a Roth IRA.

Podcasts

• Handling Your First Retirement Plan Distribution When Changing Jobs

Financial Tips

• When Should You Roll Over a 401(k)? - Odds are that at some point you will have the option of rolling over your 401k. Here are two reasons you should.
• Required Retirement Plan Withdrawals - Your retirement plan has a required withdrawal date where you will start receiving payment.
• Build a Contribution Cushion - If you are undecided how much percentage to put away for your 401(k) plan, select the maximum if you can.
• Playing Catch Up - This article is takling about current catch-up contribution limits on all retirement plans.

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Articles

• Understanding Fixed Annuities - Consider using fixed annuities as part of your overall retirement plan strategy.
• Wise Retirement Investments - The funds you have saved for your retirement deserve special attention.
• IRAs for Teens - Few teenagers think much about retirement, but funding an Individual Retirement Account may be one of the best financial steps they will ever take.
• Funding Your IRA the Easy Way With an Automatic Savings Plan - Your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is one of the four main components of a financially secure retirement.

Financial Tips

• Stay on your Retirement Track with Target-Date Funds - The fund strategy is to gradually adjust the investment mix to correlate with your changing investment needs.
• Life Annuities Can Create a Hedge against Longevity - To offset at least a portion of longevity risk you may want to think about setting up a life annuity.
• Give Your Retirement Plan a Boost with Dividends - Here is why dividend stocks are essential for your retirement portfolio.
• Retirement Planning is More than Just Saving - There is much more to planning for retirement than just savings.

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Articles

• Understanding the Social Security System - The Social Security System has been a large and visible part of the American financial system since the 1930s.
• Review Your Social Security Record - Social Security benefits will probably be a major source of your retirement income.
• Retirement Benefits From Social Security - Social Security benefits will probably be an important source of income once you retire.
• When Should You Consider Starting to Take Social Security Retirement Benefits? - There are several factors you should consider before taking your Social Security Retirement Benefits.

Financial Tips

• Should I Wait to Take My Social Security Benefits? - Delaying the start of receiving benefits may increase the monthly amount you receive.
• Social Security - How Much Will You Receive? - The bigger question is how much will I receive when I am ready to take my benefits?
• Understand your Social Security Statement - It is good to understand your Social Security Statement.
• Give Yourselves a Social Security Income Bonus - Learn about your social security options as part of your retirement planning.

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Articles

• Taking Money Out of Your IRA - Here are some general rules on how funds coming out of a traditional IRA accounts are treated for income tax purposes.
• Handling Your First Retirement Plan Distribution When Changing Jobs - What you do with your lump sum distribution funds and how you handle the it is important.
• Do Not Ignore IRA Opportunities - Your Individual Retirement Account can be part of the foundation of a financially secure retirement.

Financial Tips

• Should You Borrow from Your 401k? - If you have a 401k plan, you may be able to become a lender and borrower, but you should proceed with caution.
• Your Home May Not be the Asset You Think - If your retirement plan includes money you can draw from your home, falling prices can dramatically impact your retirement.
• Should You Take Social Security Benefits Early? - Delaying the start of receiving benefits may increase the monthly amount you receive.
• Live Like a Retiree - Consider downsizing now before your retirement.

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