Retirement Planning

Watch Out for These Land Mines
Retirement Accounts

Watch Out for These Land Mines

Ed Slott, CPA | April 5, 2024

Inheriting an individual retirement account (IRA) from a loved one can be a windfall—but it also can be one of…

Retirement Calculators
Retirement Planning

Retirement Calculators

Christine Benz | March 13, 2024

Whether you’re in the dark about your retirement savings or want to double-check your strategy, there are dozens of free…

Don’t Get Hit With This Medicare Surcharge
Social Security

Don’t Get Hit With This Medicare Surcharge

Heather Schreiber, RICP, NSSA | March 12, 2024

Most higher-earning seniors know they have to pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. But they may not know that…

The Hidden Risks Facing Retirees Today
Retirement Planning

The Hidden Risks Facing Retirees Today

Lane Martinsen | January 19, 2024

Are you worried about outliving your retirement savings? Or a long costly stay in a long-term-care facility? Or concerned that…

Planning to Work Forever?
Retirement Accounts

Planning to Work Forever?

Keven DuComb, JD | December 14, 2023

No one on their deathbed says, “I wish I had worked more”…right? That may have been true in the past,…

How to Protect Your Credit Score After You Retire
Retirement Planning

How to Protect Your Credit Score After You Retire

John ­Ulzheimer | December 12, 2023

Our credit scores typically get higher as we get older…but some of us unintentionally allow our scores to take a…

When Should Your Retirement Plan Include an Annuity?
Retirement Planning

When Should Your Retirement Plan Include an Annuity?

Walter Pardo, CWS | December 10, 2023

Annuities—insurance products that provide guaranteed regular income in exchange for a lump-sum payment upfront—are booming in popularity. Total sales hit…

Avoid These Mistakes When Drawing on Retirement Savings
Retirement Planning

Avoid These Mistakes When Drawing on Retirement Savings

Robert Williams, CFP | December 9, 2023

Whatever strategy you use to withdraw money from your retirement portfolio, beware of the following landmines…   Mistake #1: Thinking…

When – and How Much – Should You Withdraw from Your Retirement Accounts?
Retirement Accounts

When – and How Much – Should You Withdraw from Your Retirement Accounts?

December 8, 2023

The big question: Once you retire, how do you begin drawing down your nest egg so that your money lasts…

IRA Contributions After 72
Retirement Accounts

IRA Contributions After 72

Marianela Collado, CPA/PFS, CFP | November 6, 2023

As long as you continue to work—regardless of your age—you can continue to contribute to an IRA even though you…

3 Ways Your IRA Can Get Taxed…Even a Roth!
Retirement Accounts

3 Ways Your IRA Can Get Taxed…Even a Roth!

Ed Slott, CPA | October 21, 2023

The upside of traditional IRAs is that income taxes aren’t due until money is withdrawn…and with Roth IRAs, investment profits…

Navigating Retirement in the 2020s
Retirement Accounts

Navigating Retirement in the 2020s

Robert Carlson | September 13, 2023

For the past four decades, retirees have enjoyed low prices on goods and services and long bull markets in both…

The Social Security Lump-Sum Option Has a Big Gotcha
Social Security

The Social Security Lump-Sum Option Has a Big Gotcha

Martha Shedden, CRPC, RSSA | August 22, 2023

If you claim Social Security benefits after you reach full retirement age, you’ll be offered an up-front payout equal to…

Protect Your Retirement
Retirement Planning

Protect Your Retirement

Mark D. Lowe, CFP | August 18, 2023

The 60/40 portfolio has always been considered a safe, conservative strategy for retirees seeking stability, not big returns. But that…

Annuities in 401(k)s
Retirement Accounts

Annuities in 401(k)s

David Blanchett, PhD, CFP, CFA | July 20, 2023

Millions of Americans soon may have access to annuities in their 401(k)s. Currently, only 13% of retirement plans offer these…