retirement mistakes

Are you on the right financial path to retire with dignity -- or are you more likely to run out of money and spend your "golden years" dependent on family or the government to cover monthly expenses? A "Monte Carlo analysis" can help you determine how much money you may need, and how much you should save.

Although you contribute after-tax money to a Roth, the withdrawals are tax-free, giving Roths an advantage over traditional IRAs. And from now till year-end, several unique conditions apply that make converting to a Roth even more advantageous.

How much can you afford to contribute to your kid's education? A rule of thumb to help you decide: Please make sure that your own oxygen mask is secured and fastened before assisting your child.

U.S. News & World Report, recently listed the 10 ways to ruin a retirement. Among them, thinking you're not going to live as long as you actually do, not factoring in inflation, retiring too young and failing to save enough (duh). I won't bore you with all 10, because the truth of the matter...

If you're among the newly reported 43% of American workers who do not have more than $10,000 in retirement savings, you better keep reading. WalletPop has immediate tips to get you on the right track toward life after work. The first piece of advice: Don't panic. "Many people have been forced...

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's first family of personal finance, answer your questions every Friday. Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question. In a recent survey, more than 50% of Baby Boomers believe they haven't saved enough for retirement. The good news is it's never too late! Today...

About 74% of women say it's very important for their kids to go to college and get a degree, according to a new OppenheimerFunds Inc. survey. But in many cases, women spend a lot more time preparing their children to get into college than figuring out how to pay for it. According to the poll,...

Retirement mistake #10 is taking Social Security too soon. You can start receiving your Social Security benefits once you've celebrated your 62nd birthday. Just contact the Social Security office. For many men, this is a no-brainer. The money is there. Why not take it? Sometimes you have no choice....

Retirement mistake #9 is getting married a second time without a prenuptial agreement. If your first marriage ended in divorce, I suspect I'm preaching to the choir. You now know that you should have had a prenuptial agreement in place for that marriage. A "prenup" is even more important the second...

Retirement mistake #8 (see all 10) is not having a current will. Many Americans are deeply concerned about the possibility of government interference with their health care. How would you feel about government officials making critical decisions about every aspect of your estate, which could...