One of the reasons that many Americans get up and go to work every day is to put some money away for retirement. While Social Security payments can be a helpful financial foundation in retirement, it is often not enough to cover anything but the most basic expenditures, especially in the uncertain financial times wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Based on average annual spending for American seniors and the national average life expectancy [...]

You’ve heard it over and over again: Start saving for retirement as soon as possible. But how exactly do you do that? Here are seven strategies to get you started on your retirement investing journey—including pitfalls to watch out for and links to help you learn more about each approach. 1. Invest for Retirement in Tax-Advantaged Accounts Not all investment accounts are created equal. Online brokerage accounts offer flexibility but no tax [...]

Most of us are looking forward to retirement, though it's also likely that we're at least a little worried about our income in retirement. We can probably count on some Social Security, but it was never designed to replace all our income. Thus, it's up to us to make sure we have sufficient income streams to support ourselves in retirement. I've written before about sources of retirement income, such as fixed [...]

Almost everyone faces economic trouble over the course of their career, and you can't let these tough times affect your future as a retiree. Fortunately, you don't have to. There are five simple steps to take throughout your life to help ensure you're well prepared for your later years. You can take all five of these steps now. But if you're out of work due to the coronavirus and can't [...]

There tends to be a lot of excitement in the air as one approaches retirement. Contemplating how to spend one’s golden years represents the culmination of decades of hard work and the ability to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. While the enthusiasm is warranted, it’s also crucial to make some important financial planning decisions before the fun begins. Many of these decisions are uncomfortable as they involve changing aspects [...]

Millennials now comprise the largest living demographic group in the U.S. Thanks to innovation and advances in technology, this first generation of digital natives has enjoyed opportunities that were unimaginable a few decades ago. Their demand for transparency, relevance and authenticity in the way they interact with service providers has been the driver of unprecedented change across industries, including — and perhaps especially — financial services. The millennial cohort, which [...]