Saving for your golden years may not seem like a priority compared to daily expenses, debt repayment and short-term savings goals. Yet the sooner you start, the better you can leverage compounding interest and the more your money will grow. Getting an early start on retirement planning also provides some flexibility if you decide to tweak your strategy.If it seems overwhelming, remember that you don’t have to plan your retirement all on [...]

What would you do if you discovered a leak in your roof? Repair it as soon as possible or wait until it led to more costly, long-term damage? For most people, the answer is easy: repair it now. But what if you didn’t know about the leak until it was too late? The same thing can happen with your finances. You have a general idea of how much money is [...]

If you're fortunate enough to have access to a 401(k) through your employer, take full advantage of it. Only around 53% of workers over the age of 22 have access to a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), according to a Pew survey. Of those who have access to this type of plan, however, only 38% actually participate.

Nearly one-quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals' retirement plans and the realities of aging in the workforce. Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they'd like.

Palatine police Chief Alan Stoeckel offered thoughtful advice for young officers as he headed into retirement earlier this week. Stoeckel, 56, was feted by his colleagues in a retirement ceremony Monday at police headquarters. Police department veteran David Daigle took over as chief Tuesday. Before he headed out the door, Stoeckel touched on something he believes would be valuable for officers early in their careers.

As America’s workforce experiences a shift in the way jobs are structured — such as the advent of the gig economy, for example — the prospects for retirement are also changing. This has several implications for anyone thinking about life after work.