Half a percentage point. That is what one assessment suggests to expect return-wise from a balanced U.S. stock and bond portfolio over the next 10 years (before fees and taxes!). So what would the effects of an era of “persistently low returns” be on retirement strategizing? Today’s article examines the implications for 401(k)s, annuities, Social Security, medical care, alternative investments…
“Today, we are at peak FIRE, perhaps similar to peak crypto reached in December 2017. Unfortunately, when you’re at the peak, there’s usually nowhere to go but down,” laments the author of today’s article, who warns that the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement “is in for a rude awakening” — and poised to be overtaken by a new retirement…
How do you calculate how much income you will need in retirement (and how much you need to save for retirement given that figure)? What kind of retirement account is right for you? What makes a good 401(k) plan (and how can you make the most of your 401(k) plan)? What about fees, asset allocation, and retirement income streams? And…
How do you keep your retirement from becoming compromised due to a decline in the stock market close to your retirement? This is the question the author of today’s article gave some thought to after his uncle, who is planning on retiring in 2019, lost around 30% of the value of his portfolio in a matter of weeks thanks to…
If you want to arrive safely at your destination, you need to check your blind spots along the way – and this remains true even when the “destination” in question is financial independence. In today’s article, the author outlines several common “financial blind spots” he has observed which can, if not checked, have significant repercussions for your journey to financial…
In regards to the FIRE (financial independence/retire early) movement, the author of today’s article notes that while “there are lots of moving parts…one crucial step toward achieving that coveted status is as easy to understand as it is difficult to execute” – and that crucial step is depicted in chart form in the article. For what this step is –…
The average household run by a retirement-age person (someone 65 or older) spends only $1,000 less each month than the average U.S. household. Surprised spending does not decrease more in retirement? In order to help you better plan your retirement finances today’s article breaks down the monthly spending of the average household run by a retirement-age person into seven categories.…
As the House of Representatives prepares to change hands in the new year, both the outgoing Republican chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and the presumed incoming Democratic chairman of the committee are proposing changes to retirement regulations – including changes pertaining to the risk of retirees outliving their savings. For more on these potential changes, how they could…
“The challenging task of getting decades’ worth of savings to last a lifetime can be made more manageable with a single product: an income annuity,” notes the author of today’s article. However, despite this, income annuities have yet to really catch on with investors. Given this, the author proceeds to outline who may benefit from an income annuity (and who…
“The American dream of a modest retirement after a lifetime of work now is a middle-class nightmare.” So concludes the author of a recent report from the National Institute on Retirement Security – and the author of today’s article expands on this conclusion, looking at just how retirement in America has gotten to this unfortunately place and how, “If the…