TIAA-CREF

A tsunami of money -- $2 trillion within the next decade -- is flowing into target date funds, a type of retirement account that's supposed to make investing for our post-work years simple. But the way those funds are run isn't always in our best interest. Laura Rowley explains.

People nearing retirement now face a volatile stock market on the one hand and weak returns on their savings on the other. Fixed annuities offer a guaranteed stream of income, but there are downsides. Economist Brett Hammond of TIAA-CREF discusses how an annuity can fit into your portfolio, and some pitfalls to avoid.

Like a tree laden with ripe summer fruit, plump 401(k) accounts can appear as tempting sources for an easy loan, especially when other financial resources have dried up. And more people than ever have been plucking from that tree. It's not always the wrong move, but here's why it should be a last resort.

Roger Ferguson Jr., TIAA-CREF's president and CEO, says Americans' retirement savings are too low and discusses how we can be smarter about growing our nest eggs in these times of volatile markets.

Retirement mistake #6 is ignoring immediate annuities. For most retirees, variable annuities and equity-indexed annuities are poor investments. Because of the poor reputation of these products, retirees have shunned immediate annuities. This can be a big mistake. Immediate annuities are simple to...