How Early Retirement Could Mean Higher Medical Bills
July 28, 2014
Many of us like the idea of early retirement. We have visions of relaxing on a beach somewhere, enjoying our money. However, this might not be the case when you retire early. In fact, early retirement could actually result in higher medical bills. According to a recent study reported on CNN Money, retiring at age […]
An Argument Against Early Retirement
June 30, 2014
It sometimes seems as if everyone wants to retire early, or maybe it just seems that way on financial blogs. Most people seem to agree that it’s a good thing to do, but we’re going to be contrary today and consider reasons why you might not. In fact, there are arguments against early retirement, solid ones at that. 1. Early retirement […]
Vesting: The Achilles Heal of 401(k) Plans
February 7, 2014
Employer matching contributions are one of the biggest benefits of 401(k) plans. You put money in out of your own paycheck to fund the plan, and your employer offers at least a partial match. The catch is that the employer match usually comes with a vesting provision. That’s a period of time – up to five […]
What If You – Won’t – Have a Fat 401(k)?
February 5, 2014
In the financial world it’s generally assumed that you – and just about everyone else – will have a fat 401(k) plan by the time you retire. That plan will be the bedrock of your entire retirement strategy. But let’s play devil’s advocate here for a minute: What if you won’t have a fat 401(k) plan? […]
Should You Save for Retirement or Pay Off Debt?
January 10, 2014
Should you save for retirement, or pay off debt? Tough question. Living in the shadow of debt can be frustrating and difficult. As a result, many are anxious to get rid of debt as quickly as possible, choosing to tackle the debt before they start saving for retirement. This might help you feel better, but […]
How to Build Tax Diversification into Your Retirement Investments
December 23, 2013
You probably understand the importance of investment diversification – spreading your portfolio across various mutually exclusive asset classes. But when you are investing for your retirement, it’s also important that you build tax diversification into your portfolio as well. This balance is much more important than most retirement investors realize. You can build tax diversification into […]
Side Businesses: The Best Way to Prepare for Retirement?
December 13, 2013
We often think of starting or having a side business as either an opportunity to earn more money, or as a bridge into full-time self-employment. Both of those possibilities are certainly there, but a side business can also be the best way to prepare for retirement. Consider what you can accomplish by having a side […]
3 Non-Financial Factors That Make a Better Retirement
November 28, 2013
When we think of retirement, we often think of money. It’s important to save enough now, and invest it prudently, if you want to be able to live the life you want later. However, it’s important not to get so caught up in the financial aspects of retirement that you forget about other aspects of […]
How to Sell Your Skills as an Older Worker
July 12, 2013
Every week it seems as if we are being treated to yet another story or report saying that Americans aren’t saving enough money for retirement. The statistics seem consistent with the claim, no matter what the source. But if people aren’t saving enough for retirement, what options will they have when the time comes? For […]
Reverse Mortgages 101
June 27, 2013
Reverse mortgages have gained popularity in recent years among people in the retirement phase of their life. Reverse mortgages are attractive to retirees living on fixed incomes because they don’t have to make any payments while they’re living in their house. However, it is important to remember that although you’re not making payments, a reverse mortgage is […]