Retirement Archive

Having made it to a happy retirement, I think I may have some insight which will help others get there. Even during my working days, colleagues frequently asked me about investments and other personal finance …

I have always had to make my food bills as small as possible, while keeping nutrition at the top of my list. There are a few differences in budgeting for a family, to someone whom …

You may apply for Social Security benefits no more than four months in advance of when you want them to start.  The earliest you may start standard Social Security benefits is age 62.  (Other types …

In this day and age the addition of an investment adviser is vital to the success of a retirement plan. It may not seem like it but this is going to have to at the …

Retirement is that magical time that most people count on for most of their life. It is hoped to be a time when money is easy and work is optional. Unfortunately, for too many people …

How much income do you really need in retirement? Many financial planners will say (as a starting point) that the level of income you should aim for in retirement is approximately 70% of your current …

There are many advantages to moving to a retirement community. Likewise, there are several aspects to consider when selecting the community you choose to move to. When it comes to retirement communities, there are a …

Annuity providers tout Single Premium Immediate Annuities (SPIAs) as the solution to longevity risk. You can exchange a portion of your retirement savings for guaranteed lifetime income. When you have to give up something in …

The perception of retirement is changing. At one time it was popular to quietly accept the move from work life to a period when you are supposed to spend time cruising or bouncing grandkids on …

Retirement is within your grasp. What seemed so distant during your early years of employment is now looming on your immediate horizon. For many, how you spend the five years prior to finishing work will …

Many people think of the Social Security retirement age as 65.  Or maybe they have a vague idea that it’s been raised over the years, so now it’s even more. That’s sort of accurate and …

When people talk about early retirement, they tend to talk about it in a very idealized way, as if there could be absolutely no downside to it. But this is not the case. Even though …

A lost Social Security card can be used in identity theft. Someone can use your Social Security number to illegally apply for a job or open credit cards in your name for which you could …

I retired 16 years ago and haven’t looked back once to see if a “fowl” decision was chasing me. On the day after my company held a retirement ceremony for me … which I did …

The Social Security system has provided benefits to retired Americans since 1940.  During their working lives, workers have a certain amount of their earnings withheld as taxes to fund the Social Security benefits of those …

Under the heading of retirement this question seems rather ambiguous. Is it referring to saving up money before retirement or having a money plan once you are retired? I’m inclined to think it is the …

Are Employer Pensions Reliable? Pension plans have been the cornerstone of retirement income for many Americans. With a good pension plan, an employee does not need to worry about saving money or any other means …

When to Start Preparing for Retirement Planning for your retirement is apparently a good thought. The expression “the earlier, the better” explains what your plan should be for using in your change from a stressed …

How many of our retirees have no place to go? How many of you have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins who are senior citizens? Well it looks like more and more of them are losing …

IRA POP QUIZ answers posted at the bottom 1) True or False? IRA commonly stands for Individual Retirement Account. 2) True or False? The minimum amount I need to open an IRA is $4,000.00. 3) …

There are many types of IRAs. The two major types are traditional and Roth IRAs. A taxpayer can contribute up to $2000 to either a traditional or Roth IRA and their gains accumulate tax-free. With …

You don’t need to be nearing your retirement to be concerned about it. In fact, it’s better to start thinking about and planning for retirement as early as possible. The earlier you can begin putting …

You have considerable flexibility as to when to start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits.  You may start them as early as age 62, you may wait to start them until age 70, or you …

To borrow from your own 401 plan is essentially borrowing from yourself. So the question then becomes, should you make a loan to yourself? The answer is, of course! The fact is that the plan …

When you decide you are ready to apply for Social Security retirement benefits, there are multiple ways to do so. One way is to fill out the four page Social Security Benefit Application form online.  …

It’s simply a fact: most people wait way too long to start investing for retirement. It’s not that hard to see why either… people look at it, and figure they won’t retire for at least …

Guaranteed Lifetime Income (GLI) is a promise, typically made by an insurance company, to pay you an income for the rest of your life, no matter how long you live. With life expectancies increasing many …

It appears to have been forgotten that Australia’s development as a nation, the building of our nation’s reputation overseas and development of our trade partners is largely due to the efforts of those who have …

Retired military members receive a number of benefits for their time spent in the service. One of these benefits – one that often keeps military members fighting the fight (so to speak) in order to …

A 401(k) is a type of retirement plan sponsored by your employer. There are several key benefits to participating in a 401(k). First, money deposited into the account is taken directly out of your paycheck …