The retirement planning rule book is under siege. And if you haven't examined your retirement plan lately, it's likely hopelessly out-of-date. Why? America has a retirement crisis — and a budget crisis. And lawmakers are cooking up solutions to fix both problems, but with conflicting results. And that's putting retirement rules in play, threatening to foil many retirees' plans. Or at least change them. The result? Uncertainty. "People hate uncertainty [...]

When someone approaching retirement comes to me, almost ready to begin living off the hard-earned savings they have accumulated over 30-plus years, I’m reminded of an intriguing factoid that the Discovery Channel never tires of sharing: More people die descending Mount Everest than on the ascent. Spending down your retirement accounts is similar in that it involves more risk than the trek up the savings mountain. How much can you afford to [...]

Though not every worker has access to a 401(k) plan, those who are eligible to participate in one would be wise to capitalize on that option -- especially as retirement nears. But in a recent survey by Principal Financial Group, roughly 16% of pre-retirees earning $100,000 or more per year are not participating in a 401(k). And that's a mistake they might really regret. Personal savings are a must for [...]

Though not every worker has access to a 401(k) plan, those who are eligible to participate in one would be wise to capitalize on that option -- especially as retirement nears. But in a recent survey by Principal Financial Group, roughly 16% of pre-retirees earning $100,000 or more per year are not participating in a 401(k). And that's a mistake they might really regret. Personal savings are a must for [...]

When it comes to retirement, it’s no secret that women face an uphill battle financially. And while women’s retirement readiness is improving, there’s room for much more, according to new research from the Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement. Women around the world share the same three career challenges: a gender pay gap, time away from their careers, often due to caregiving responsibilities, and a lack of compensation for those [...]

ORLANDO, Florida — Police pension board members voted unanimously Thursday to grant disability retirement and a lifelong pension to Orlando police Officer Alison Clarke, who developed post-traumatic stress disorder following the Pulse massacre. Clarke cried as she embraced her wife and friends after the hearing. Clarke’s wife, fellow OPD officer Kate Graumann, let out a deep breath as tears welled in her eyes after the vote. “Now I feel like [...]