Retirement

Investors who take steps now can shield themselves from the coming challenges thrust upon retirees.

Are you a portfolio hoarder, hanging on to poor performers and investments that no longer match your objectives? It's time to purge those investments and put that money to use to match today’s needs.

For Canadian RRSP accounts, washing same-day trades and using money market funds to bridge the gap over a multi-day trading period saves investors the exchange fee and will help their bottom line while rebalancing securities. Read on to find out how to wash your trade.

In today’s near-zero percent interest rate environment the old ways of investing for retirement no longer apply. Learn the sober reality of the fundamental changes we all need to make to ensure we don’t run out of money during retirement.

Because most states protect life insurance policies from creditors, most buyer questions come from the confusion created with ownership and beneficiary designations because of tax treatment. This is a rather complicated issue when it comes to life insurance proceeds, because there are two tax issues ...

Sometimes, landing free money is as easy as asking. Find out how to get the most out of your 401(k) retirement plan.

Your reasons for investing are bound to change as you go through the ups and downs of life. Setting goals is the first step in determining which investment vehicles are right for you.

In the past few years reverse mortgages have been heavily marketed as the way to become debt, and worry, free. For some seniors a reverse mortgage makes sense, for other though this dream product can quickly become a nightmare.

The trouble with gold is that even as stocks are going up and the gold price is hurting, investors and central banks are loading up on gold and silver like never before. There’s a disconnect here and one of these sides is right and one is wrong.

Although the increasing accessibility of independent contracting has created job opportunities, it is important to remember that this method of working also has considerable disadvantages in comparison with traditional employment.

It's high time investors heed the yellow caution flags waving in front of their margin accounts. Much like the NASCAR driver who pumps his brakes to avoid disaster when he sees the caution flag, it's time for us to slow down.

If bank rates follow the pattern that yields in the bond market have already begun to set, CD rates may be the first deposit rates to benefit from rising interest rates.

Pension maximization can be an effective solution to the single versus joint life payout dilemma that many retirees face. But, there are several factors, such as tax and investment matters, that will decide if this strategy is right for you.

Many retirees work during retirement, some by choice following a passion and others by necessity to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Increasingly it’s the latter group that is growing faster. Preparing now, even if you are retired, by making the right investments and saving more than ...

This plan has become one of the most popular retirement options. Find out why.

While the biggest factor in deciding when to retire is whether you still need or want to work, there are many other variables to consider to ensure a comfortable and secure life after work.

Fees associated with many mutual funds looks small. Some are barely over 1% or even lower. But over time those fees erode the overall value of your portfolio. And even in the near term, as in the example used in this article, you could end up paying nearly 20% of your gains just for the privilege of ...

It seems many investors these days, particularly seniors, either go it alone with no outside guidance or they completely abdicate responsibility to a financial advisor who may or may not have their best interests in mind. In this article we’ve tapped Jeff White, founder and president of American Financial ...

Here are some tips for retirement goals, general investing rules and what to focus on while saving.

Hyperinflation can destroy your life savings in a matter of months or less. We’ve seen again and again throughout history…Germany in the 1920s, Hungary in the 1940s, Yugoslavia in the 1990s and Zimbabwe just a few short years ago. Hardest hit are seniors who generally don’t have many employment options ...

Use these three tips to help put your financial situation into perspective. It turns out, organizing your finances isn't nearly as hard as you thought.

Unless you are a government employee, you’ve likely never heard of the Federal Employees Retirement System, but if you work in the public sector or plan to in the near future, FERS is an acronym you will soon know well.

Even though Dennis Miller spent well over three decades writing books and teaching the subject of negotiations, some of the best lessons he learned on the subject came from luck.

Learn about the conspicuously disclosed fees that lurk within your 401(k) investments.

These certifications can lead to a promising career, but is estate planning for you?

There is money to be made in mutual funds, but investors fall into several pitfalls that keep them from maximizing their profits. Read these tips to take the uncertainty out of investing in mutual funds and find out if mutual funds are a good fit for your portfolio.

For many cash strapped seniors an annuity sounds like the perfect solution. And it can be if you think you’ll outlive your mortality date. The only trouble is that the insurance companies offering annuities have perfected estimating your mortality date based on factors like gender, birth year, where ...

Understanding the various retirement investments - from annuities to 401(k)s and everything in between - is crucial to reaching your retirement goals. Here, we examined many of the popular investments that you might consider as part of your retirement plan.

Being a landlord sounds like the path to riches: you buy some property, rent it out and watch the checks come in every month. The reality is that it’s a young man’s game. There’s just too much hassle, full time commitment, and risk associated with rental properties to be worthwhile for most retirees.

In this time of fiscal uncertainty, there are many financial decisions that can make or break you during your formative years.

The scale of the pension crisis in the U.S. cannot be denied, and there's a growing movement that supports the mandatory pension system that's been created in Australia and other parts of the world. But can the millions of working poor in America afford such a system?

Learn the key investment and savings tips you need to ensure your retirement savings last as long as you do.

Most people, depending on which side of retirement they’re on, feel they either won’t ever be able to retire or stay retired once they are. Many of us watched our parent’s generation put their retirement savings into CDs paying 6%+ and just living off the interest.

A second career can provide opportunities whether you are worried about outliving your retirement savings, or you want to stay productive and do something meaningful later in life.

If you establish these money-saving habits and patiently allow your wealth to build, you will be taking some huge steps forward in making your financial future more secure.

Learn more about this popular defined-contribution retirement plan that many business owners, proprietors, and self-employed people can benefit from.

One type of security pensions tend to invest in is sovereign debt, or debt issued by a government.

Annuities are complicated products that require some basic homework to be done before requesting quotes. Retirees will want to think about how they envisage their lifestyle and even their potential mortality to come up with an annuity product that’s right for them, or not even buy one at all.

CDs may look safe and attractive but considering most pay a rate that is less than the rate of inflation seniors today risk actually losing money with CDs. We need to be our own money managers now and do the research that’s required. Much of that research is already done and can be purchased through ...

Learn why this one particular REIT is a better investment than holding physical property in your retirement portfolio.

Leaving the workforce isn't always an easy decision. Are you ready to take the leap?

Learn the ways in which inflation nibbles away at your retirement income, especially in light of the President’s proposal for Chained CPI adjustments to Social Security.

Generation X and Generation Y still have many lessons to learn from their elders, including how to make the most of retirement in the 21st century. Find out what retirement trends baby boomers are setting for younger generations.

Our retirement goals have not changed. We still want enough money to not have to worry about it. How we go about getting there, however, has been changed dramatically.

This year, find out how to stretch your tax refund further to strengthen your future.

ETFs can be a good alternative to traditional retirement fund options because of their low cost, superior performance and liquidity.

Staggering retirement can have both financial and emotional benefits for married couples.