pension

One in five Americans plans to retire before age 65, according to a new study, and they're not just the ultra-wealthy. There's hope for everyone to bail out of the daily grind before age 65, if they adopt the behaviors and attitudes of these savers.

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.

We are witnessing what could be a watershed moment when it comes to planning for a secure retirement. Millions of Americans were already alarmingly ill-prepared for their so-called "golden" years when the stock market crashed and the housing market melted down. Now, just as many people are finally...

As wages and benefits shrink, state workers are retiring in droves. On top of all the layoffs, these retirements amount to a huge brain drain, and the problem will only get worse given the yawning budget gaps of states from coast to coast.

Lots of folks have reached retirement by surprise, thanks to the Great Recession. So, if you're scrambling to come up with a Plan B and plug the financial gap created by an unexpectedly early end to your career, here are some good ideas.

France's Parliament voted to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 in a move supporters say may preserve the country's pension system. Yet the proposal has also caused nationwide strikes.

Thirty out of 49 major developed countries could see their credit ratings plummet to junk status if they don't make changes soon, says a Standard & Poor's study. The biggest problem is health care spending on the elderly, particularly for long-term care.

The Postal Service may be in deep financial trouble, but it won't mean consumers will have to pay two-cents more for a stamp come January. The Postal Regulatory Commission today rejected the Postal Service's request for a 5.6% rate increase. The commission's action wasn't a complete surprise. The...

Ford earnings are expected to be weaker next year due to higher costs for pensions and materials, according to a research note released Wednesday by Credit Suisse Securities. Forecasts call for pretax income from Ford's North America operations to fall to $4.2 billion in 2011 from $4.8 billion this year.

Given the choice, should a soon-to-be-retiree take the monthly company pension or the whole pension amount at once – known as "the lump?" Entire taverns can be polarized by this question. The guys down at Buster's Hideaway are staunch in their belief that taking the lump will separate them...