More than 60 % of households are ‘at risk’ of being financially unprepared for retirement

The latest analysis of the National Retirement Risk Index [NRRI], released today by the CRR and underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, examines how not taking full advantage of housing equity affects the share of U.S. households ‘at risk.’ The result is a 10 percentage-point rise in the Index compared to just a seven-point increase [...]

How Much Will I Pay For Health Insurance In Retirement

An average couple in the U.S. will need to save up over $300,000 to have in reserve to be assured they could cover their health care costs when the retire. This figure is based on research by the “Employee Benefit Research Institute” and does not cover such possibilities as long-term care, acute care or prescription [...]

Different Financial Goals, Based on Age

It is tempting to categorize all “Baby Boomers” as facing similar challenges. Given that Boomers were born across 3 decades spanning 18 years, each group faces unique challenges that must be addressed.
Financial Goals for Age 40-50: The Issues
This group is challenged by the specter of simply not having enough money for retirement. Cautiously balancing the [...]

A banner year for hedge funds in 2009

It looks like risk is back. The hedge fund industry had a phenomenal 2009, with a return of 18.6 percent, for its greatest rebound in 15 years, says a report from industry research firm Credit Suisse Tremont.
Even though net asset flows for the year were negative, investors poured in $13.8 billion in new money in [...]

Tips to Slash Spending in Retirement

A regular paycheck, and the obligation to save as much as possible of it each month — often constrains budgets. By contrast, the newly retired can dip into a nest egg for the first time, and for some, it’s akin to winning the lottery, says Ken Eaton, a principal at financial planning firm Stepp & [...]

Obama’s Retirement Plan Fix Just Isn’t Enough

Obama wants to expand tax credits that reward retirement savers. He also wants to require all employers to provide workplace-based retirement savings plans (the so-called automatic IRA).
Many of the measures are based on sound research conducted by renowned behavioral finance experts, and they’ll help middle-class Americans, some experts say. But experts also say the measures [...]

Self-Employed? Early Retirement Planning Advice

When you are self-employed you are faced with a number of challenges compared to those individuals that work for someone.
- different tax considerations and liabilities
- certain insurance that you need to carry that regular employees do not
- different strategies for planning early retirement, especially if decided on self employment.
The scary part is that you [...]

If Retirement Savings Aren’t Enough

Many people that are close to retiring worry that the retirement savings they’ve built up are not going to be enough for their needs. By this late stage, however, further savings alone may not give a fast enough return. Are there other ways to improve retirement income later in life?
5 Ways to Improve Retirement Income
There [...]

Obama Administration considers forcing investors into Treasury debt

The Obama administration appears to have come up with a novel way of financing “trillion dollar” budget deficits – demanding IRA and 401(k) holders buy trillions of dollars in Treasury bonds.
With the Treasury needing this year to see another $1 trillion in debt to finance the anticipated federal budget deficit, and the Federal Reserve about [...]

Six Problems with Retirement Planning Software

Financial planning software can be a useful tool to create a retirement savings plan. But many computer programs fail to adequately account for several major retirement risks, according to a new review of 12 financial planning computer programs commonly used by consumers and financial professionals by the Society of Actuaries and the Actuarial Foundation. The [...]

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