When it comes to retirement planning, the author of today’s article notes that “What’s been missing for most people is a simple way to calculate the level of spending that can be generated from a given savings amount, that takes into account realistic assumptions about a retiree’s longevity as well as a forecast for market returns.” However, there is a…
With almost half of retirement savers having their entire account invested in a single target-date fund last year, the author of today’s article acknowledges that “Target-date funds are taking over retirement accounts” – and this may not be a good thing. He proceeds to explain how a combination of issues with target-date funds “could easily add up to 1 percent…
When it comes to your retirement account, if you just set it and forget it, you could well lose it…to escheatment. As today’s article explains, escheatment is the process whereby firms that manage retirement accounts are required to turn over to the states any accounts that are seemingly not being actively managed. What happens to your retirement account (and related…
Achieving alpha in the financial markets is no easy feat. As such, the author of today’s article advocates that, in seeking alpha, “all of us need to look in our backyards, where all our personal financial decisions are waiting to be optimized.” How? He outlines a number of strategies pertaining to Social Security benefits, retirement accounts and taxes which, combined,…
Among the myriad of potential issues to contend with in a divorce is the splitting of qualified retirement accounts between you and your ex – a transaction that the author of today’s article cautions, if done without the proper due diligence, can result in a very expensive tax trap: “You can divide up tax-favored retirement account money the tax-smart way…
According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, there are approximately 25 million orphaned retirement accounts – i.e. accounts left with former employers – in existence today. If one (or more) of these accounts belongs to you, what’s the best way of handling these abandoned funds? Today’s article looks at the pros and cons of three options – keeping the 401(k) with…
“It’s nothing less than a war they’re waging on retirement – and it’s going to cost you,” cautions the author of today’s article in regards to the shelving of the Department of Labor’s “Best Interest” rule, which aims to protect retirement savers and their nest eggs from shifty agents and unnecessary fees (to the tune of $17 billion) by requiring…
In this case a race to the bottom is a good thing: In an effort to attract new customers and increase market share in an extremely competitive business, mutual fund companies are battling it out for who can offer the lowest-cost ETF – and the resultant rock-bottom fees are great news for retirement savers. The author of today’s article highlights…
From real estate to hedge funds to precious metals and more, at least half a million retirement accounts hold unconventional assets – and today’s article focuses on a new report from the Government Accountability Office which warns that “retirement savers choosing these unconventional assets in self-directed individual retirement accounts and solo 401(k)s face big risks….” How might investing in unconventional…
Much has been written over the last several weeks about the big change in the world of retirement planning – the fiduciary standard which will require financial advisors making retirement investment recommendations to act in their clients’ best interests. However today’s article points out that, in addition to this new standard, “there have been several other tweaks to [retirement] accounts…