Know your full retirement age, coordinate the timing of benefit claims with your spouse, and weigh the advantages of delaying your Social Security benefits. Social Security benefits have long been a critical part of Americans’ retirement income plans. After all, the...

Even in light of an all-consuming pandemic, there are some mega-trends that continue their powerful and profound impact on global society. One such trend is global aging, which has led to a reimagining and a reframing of the relationship between age and health,...

With COVID-19 making headlines around the world, it’s normal to feel uncertain about many aspects of life right now, including your finances. Even if you don’t catch COVID-19, you could be financially impacted by the fallout. Throughout this tumultuous period, your...

KEY POINTS The economic downturn prompted by the coronavirus comes at a particularly bad time for older workers. New research takes a look at how well those individuals may fare when it comes to working from home or finding new employment. Results are so-so.  Older...

They face particular challenges brought on by Covid-19 — issues, experts say, that could lead to retirement earlier than planned. Dorian Mintzer loves her work. A 74-year-old psychologist, coach and author, she has no plan to retire, and has continued to work during...

Recovery is starting quickly as states reopen, but the journey gets bumpier from here, Kelly and fellow strategist David Lebovitz warn. There is still a long way to go before the United States has a full economic recovery and it is therefore wise for investors to be...

Now that we’ve entered a bear market for the first time since 2009, many pre-retirees are likely asking questions about the impact on their retirement savings. Will the stock market sell-off wipe out years of growth in their 401(k)s? Are there any steps that can be...

Americans without retirement savings are increasingly moving in with their millennial children. Sian-Pierre Regis, 35, is used to living with roommates. For the past 10 years, he has split the rent on his apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan with two (in...

The economic gut punch of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt by retirees. Even those who have savings and other resources now fear that the financial stability they had envisioned for their post-working years is gone. With the U.S. economy staring at a recession and...

Right now, spending habits are changing, for better or worse. With unemployment at an all-time high and many people working from home, your budget could be totally different from usual. You may be tight on money or have a little extra cash in your pocket. Regardless...

The Washington Post spoke to six Americans who have come to the end of their work lives with no financial cushion, no nest egg. The coronavirus pandemic has scrambled many Americans’ financial futures, but some baby boomers have found surprising ways to cope with the...

KEY POINTS About half of Americans retired earlier than they expected, according to a recent survey. Less control over your retirement date could become more prevalent in a post-coronavirus economy. Based on your work prospects, you may retire either much earlier or...

As a licensed fiduciary for over 15 years and spending most of that time with retirees, I’ve heard the same desires and concerns repeatedly: They want a retirement product that will offer them safety, income, and growth. My clients fear a repeat of 2000 or 2008, are...

“Jobs Friday” is usually a nerdy day for financial types and economists only. But everyone was watching the most recent jobs report. I had a big drink and told my family to remember May 8. For labor economists, it will be a day to remember. For the first time, even...

By the time most of us reach retirement age, we feel as if we don’t have enough money to live the life we envisioned. Our feelings aren’t wrong: a 2019 analysis from the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that over 40% of American households in which the...

Here's how the ongoing crisis could wreck your long-term plans -- and what you can do to prevent that from happening. COVID-19 has turned the U.S. economy on its head, battering the stock market and forcing millions of workers into unemployment. But while the crisis...

Now that we’ve entered a bear market for the first time since 2009, many pre-retirees are likely asking questions about the impact on their retirement savings. Will the stock market sell-off wipe out years of growth in their 401(k)s? Are there any steps that can be...

The COVID-19 pandemic could upend retirement planning, jeopardizing financial security for the next generation of retirees. Experience from the 2007–08 financial crisis and Great Recession that followed suggests the current crisis could wipe out existing retirement...

This lesser-known rule could potentially save you a bundle of cash. Millions of Americans have been directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, from both a health and financial perspective. With thousands of businesses shuttering to slow the spread of the virus,...

Dick has worked as a hospital administrator for 30-plus years. He was planning to retire in a few months. COVID-19 just delayed his plans for many months, or perhaps for years. Reflecting on what the market decline has done to his retirement savings, he conceals his...

Dick has worked as a hospital administrator for 30-plus years. He was planning to retire in a few months. COVID-19 just delayed his plans for many months, or perhaps for years. Reflecting on what the market decline has done to his retirement savings, he conceals his...

With all that is going on in the market with the Coronavirus, we have received many requests to give our opinion on how long it will take for a retirement savings to get back to the level it was before the virus took its toll on the market. Understanding that no one...

Everything these days seems to be about coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus. Especially when you have a family, these can be scary times. So, first and foremost: Chances are that you will be OK. The novel coronavirus seems to mostly spare young kids, and if you’re a...

As we progress through life, we find there are certain things we can control and others we cannot. However, even with the things we can’t control, we can exercise good judgement based on facts, due diligence, historical patterns and a risk/reward calculation. These...

Taking these steps before you begin claiming can ensure you're receiving as much money as possible. The majority of retirees will depend on their Social Security benefits for at least a significant portion of their income. In fact, half of married couples and nearly...

Going through her mail, Kendra slices open an envelope from her preferred airline. Inside she finds a hefty gray card with her name etched on it. The 36-year old reads the enclosed letter informing her of her “achievement.” She has reached Platinum status as a...

New federal legislation made sweeping changes in retirement plans. Here's what you need to know. The new year has brought a number of changes in financial rules affecting consumers. Many of them are in new federal legislation called the Secure Act, which mostly...

For many people, retirement is a key reward for decades of daily work—a time to relax, explore, and have fun unburdened by the daily grind. For others, though, retirement is a frustrating period marked by declining health and increasing limitations. For years,...

Among the various kinds of annuities, which are contracts you sign with an insurance company to pay a premium for guaranteed income later, two of the most common are fixed and fixed indexed annuities. The former offers a fixed rate of return; the latter ties your rate...

From retirement plans to health care, things are changing A new year and a new decade begin next week. Whether you’re retired or still working, many changes are coming that could affect you—for better and/or worse. Here’s our breakdown of what you need to know in...

Every day, 10,000 or so baby boomers are turning 65. Some of you have probably already retired. Many are likely counting the days until they can leave the full-time workforce.  For many of you, Social Security will be a major part of your retirement income.  With that...

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO retire, there are certain basic things you should do before you leave the comfort and security of your old job. You need to make final adjustments to your financial plan and make important decisions about Social Security and health insurance....

Both annuities and life insurance should be considered in your long-term financial plan. While both include death benefits, you buy life insurance in the event you die too soon and an annuity in case you live too long. In other words, life insurance provides economic...

The new Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, just signed by President Trump, is the broadest piece of retirement legislation passed in 13 years. Ultimately, the law focuses on retirement planning in three key areas: 1) modifying required...

Retirement isn’t what it used to be. Today, not only are people working, traveling and living dynamic lives well past the previous generation’s retirement age of 65, but saving for retirement requires a different mindset than your parents may have had. “In the past,...

As 2019 comes to an end, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect back on what took place in the retirement landscape during the past 12 months and how it could affect those preparing for life after work. In recent years, the United States has witnessed a shift from...

The Internal Revenue Service announced on Wednesday, November 6, that several contribution limits in qualified retirement plans will increase next year. The IRS announced the increases as part of an annual adjustment for cost-of-living increases as provided in the...

You definitely want to avoid these at all costs. Millions of seniors today regard Social Security as a critical source of income. But if you're not careful, you could wind up losing out on some of that money and struggling during retirement as a result. Here are a few...

Everyone’s idea of the “perfect retirement” is different. Some of us plan to travel the world, while others hope to move to a new location, perhaps with a warmer climate. Still others might wish to live frugally so they have a sizable nest egg they can pass on to...

The holidays are just around the corner, meaning it’s almost time to prepare for parties, travel, gift-giving and more. But what’s good for the spirit can be hard on the wallet. Without a proper plan in place, it can be easy to lose track of how much you’ve spent,...

How to find coverage that meets your needs and budget Life insurance can form a vital part of your family’s financial stability and well-being but, if you’re like most people, you may find the thought of shopping for the right type of coverage a little daunting....

Are you on track for retirement? These customizable calculators will allow you to run different scenarios and discover how small adjustments could make a big difference for your retirement future. Am I saving enough to retire? Will your current savings strategy lead...

Earlier this month, the United States celebrated Grandparent’s Day, which serves as a reminder to appreciate the hard work and dedication of generations before us (regardless of our current age). However, as Intergenerational Month, September also marks a time to...

Since 1971, the United States has celebrated Women’s Equality Day on August 26. Although the occasion originally commemorated the passage of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, today it recognizes and encourages people and organizations to promote...

Nearly three in four affluent respondents to an Allianz Life survey said they'd be willing to give up some gains for protection. Second-quarter market volatility is making Americans increasingly worried about their finances and retirement savings, with only 31% in a...

August is an exciting time of year. As the start of a new semester approaches, families across the country begin to pull themselves out of vacation mode and think more critically about the future. A spirit of learning is in the air, which makes things just a little...

LONDON — In this city known for grumps and complainers, the happiest people are those with a pension and those too young to understand how a pension works, according to Britain’s first-ever national happiness survey, out last week. Results further show that people...

10,000 simulations highlight impact of guaranteed income for retirees “If the hard numbers and math don’t convince you, then take it right from the source. Retirees who had purchased an annuity are more confident than those without one” The research looked at how...

Get tips on what to do if you're 10, 5 or 1 year out from retirement. What is your current retirement outlook? If you’re 10 years or less from retirement, does getting everything in order seem like too much to process? Do you know where to even start? According to a...

March celebrates National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a time to help people understand their consumer rights and make well-informed decisions about money and saving for their retirement. No matter your age, some of the most important financial decisions relate to...

Women’s History Month is a time to look back at the vital role women have played throughout history. In every industry, women are natural leaders and change makers – from Congress to financial services. In addition to driving change around women’s rights, many women...

Both annuities and life insurance should be considered in your long-term financial plan. While both include death benefits, you buy life insurance in the event you die too soon and an annuity in case you live too long. In other words, life insurance provides economic...

“Your article on annuities [Does An Annuity Belong In Your Retirement Plan?] did not demonstrate that an annuity always improves a retirement plan.” True, Warren Buffet’s retirement plan would not be improved by an annuity because he will not face the mortality and...

Tax season has officially started and if you’re an early bird looking ahead to April, you might have already started filing your 2018 taxes. Regardless where you are in the process, here are a few tips to keep in mind for tax season this year. Taxes in retirement are...

In case you didn't know, there is such a thing as a lifetime income club. Of course, it goes by another name: annuities. To an economist, an annuity is the most sensible way to provide safe income in retirement. In fact, economists spend more time researching why more...

Annuities are getting more and more popular among seniors, and for good reason. Annuities are not right for everyone but are a real blessing for many seniors. Annuities are a popular choice for investors who want to receive a steady stream of income in retirement. The...

If you work while collecting Social Security benefits, you can get hit with hefty benefit reductions. Here are the earnings limits for this year. Can you work and collect Social Security at the same time? The short answer is yes, it's possible. However, if you haven't...

Sarah O'Brien While some people might have been saving and planning for decades for retirement, others might not have given much thought to their life after full-time work. If you plan to continue working in some capacity, keep in mind the effect it could have on your...

Patrick J. Skerrett Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health For many people, retirement is a key reward for decades of daily work—a time to relax, explore, and have fun unburdened by the daily grind. For others, though, retirement is a frustrating period marked by...

Every New Year we think about our resolutions, which typically includes some promise to better ourselves. Pledging to go the gym more, eat healthier, be more active, spend additional time with friends and family, and decrease our social media intake, are a few that...

By Emily Brandon, Staff Writer Workers with an older retirement age get smaller Social Security payments throughout retirement. WHILE YOU CAN START Social Security payments at age 62, your monthly checks are reduced if you begin collecting benefits at this age. To...

What’s on your loved one’s gift wish list? Are they asking for the latest technology? Fashionable apparel? A must-have toy? No matter the buzz-worthy item, what they may want consider is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Remember, it is just a matter of time before a new...

Discover our most frequently asked questions about fixed indexed annuities (FIAs). Get the answers you need to help calculate your path to retirement. What is an annuity? In the most basic sense, an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that says...

Coming to you from the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) is a new recipe to add to your Thanksgiving menu. We all have our Thanksgiving favorites, from turkey to stuffing, to sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more. But as you sit around your table reflecting on...

YOU CAN PLAN FOR IT, dream about it and try to visualize it, but there's no way to tell for sure what retirement will be like for you until after you've actually pulled the trigger and left the job. As you contemplate this major life change, remember to prepare for...

Americans are living longer into retirement, but the financial solutions needed to support them have not kept pace with their needs. With a number of bipartisan proposals currently under consideration, the U.S. Congress has the opportunity to take significant steps...

Halloween might get less scary as we age, but there are a lot of frightening aspects of retirement in 2018. In fact, recent data on the state of America’s workforce shows just how underprepared for retirement many Americans are. While running out of money, drastic...

With just a few months left in the year, National Financial Planning Month is a great time to take charge of your retirement saving strategy. Some of the most important things you can do are to make sure you’re creating a diverse portfolio that will protect your...

October marks National Financial Planning Month, a time when Americans can look at how they are saving, their retirement goals, and how they can create a tailored approach that works for them. October is the perfect time of the year to plan, with summer winding down...

Think about your retirement dreams and realities to set a savings goal for the future. By Rachel Hartman, Contributor IN THE PAST, saving $1 million for retirement was considered a benchmark to help you enter retirement comfortably. But times have changed, and that...

Teachers are among the hardest working professionals and have the unique responsibility to prepare our younger generations for the future. And, as educators across the country are participating in another back-to-school season, it is a good time to highlight how these...