retirement

Watch: A Publisher's Clearing House Winner Thinks About the Future

For a Louisiana couple, a Feb. 28 visit from the Publishers Clearing House van carried with it an instant transformation from penny pinchers to millionaires. In an exclusive interview with DailyFinance, Elise Gutierrez laid out some of her savings plans for the future.

The Impending Economic Cliff Almost Nobody's Talking About

The Washington Post's Michelle Singletary calls it the "caregiver cliff." It's what will happen to the U.S. economy as a result of millions of caregivers "taking time off from work, and thus risking their jobs, or tapping into their limited resources to provide care."

Americans Still Aren't Saving Enough

Many Americans are still failing to sock away enough money to pay for retirement -- or emergencies for that matter, according to a survey. Only half of respondents reported good savings habits, including having a spending and/or saving plan in place.

3 Social Security Shockers From the CBO's Latest Report

The Congressional Budget Office has updated its projections for the Social Security Trust Fund, and the news isn't good. If you're still working, and expect Social Security to cover a major portion of your retirement needs, you'll want to see these numbers.

Don't Make These Five 401(k) Excuses

You can put off cleaning the bathroom or mowing the lawn without severe problems. But waiting to increase your retirement account contributions could have serious consequences. Don'€™t let these excuses keep you from upping your 401(k) contributions now.

Why Aren't You Raising Your Financial IQ?

In the game of life, education is by far the most important variable dividing those who play well from those who don't. And that applies to financial literacy too: The more you know, the better your money and investing decisions, and the more wealth you'll accumulate.

Fiscal Cliff Deal Hides a 401(k) Bonus

Buried deep in the American Taxpayer Relief act is a provision that will let a lot more workers convert their traditional 401(k) savings account into a Roth 401(k). Here's why doing that might be a good deal for you in the long term -- and why it might not.

7 Alternatives to Investing in the Stock Market

The stock market is a great investment if you have a long time horizon. But should you stick with stocks once you retire? Most financial advisers recommend cutting back on equities as you get older -- but that money has to go somewhere productive. Here are seven investment alternatives.

7 Tips for People Who Will Retire in 2013

The oldest baby boomers will turn 67 in 2013. Many of this first wave have already retired, while others may be contemplating taking the plunge this year. Here are some tips for those planning to retire in 2013:

What History Predicts for Stocks in 2013

The race doesn't always go to the swift, goes the old saying. But that's the way to bet it, replies the savvy gambler. So it is with the old saying about the stock market. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. But it still makes sense to look at historical data - because that's the way to bet it.

Here's How Washington Is Likely to Trim Our Social Security Benefits

When Congress and President Obama make a budget deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, they're likely to use something called "chained CPI" to tweak how Social Security calculates cost of living adjustments. Here's a plain English explanation of what that means, and how it will effect your retirement.

Year-End Review: Your 3-Step Workplace Benefits Check-Up

As the end of the year approaches, it's important to make sure you're not leaving any money on the table when it comes to your workplace benefits. If you don't take the right steps now, you could lose your chance to maximize your savings, so run through this list of must-do tips before Dec. 31.

Year-End Review: Five 401(k) Must-Dos Before 2013

The end of the year is fast approaching, so you've only got a few days left to make changes to your 401(k) for 2012. These five tips will help you make the most of that limited time, and put you on track in your efforts to make your golden years as comfortable as possible.

5 Sensible Ways to Combat Inflation in Retirement

Inflation may not feel like much when you are working, but it can have a significant impact on the buying power of your retirement savings. These adjustments can help you to minimize inflation's bite.

Why Retirement Is Like Winning the Lottery

The new retiree has a lot in common with a lottery winner. But there is at least one major difference. If you buy a lottery ticket, you have a miniscule chance of winning. If you contribute to your retirement account, you're bound to win.

Retirees: Don't Miss Deadline for Required IRA, 401(k) Distributions

Smart retirees have done everything they could lately to stretch their retirement accounts, but taking too little out of them will get you into big trouble with the IRS. Fail to withdraw your full required minimum distribution, and the penalty you pay to the tax man will be severe.

Younger Workers' Biggest Worry for Retirement: All of the Above

What has young and middle-aged workers most worried about their retirement prospects? Essentially, everything -- from health care costs to tax rates to being able to afford to pay for a roof overhead -- according to a recent survey from T. Rowe Price and Harris Interactive.

In Retirement Planning, Don't Forget to Do the Emotional Math, Too

Many financial advisors might make retirement planning out to be an exact science. Their financial calculators will spit out hard numbers, detailing almost to the day when you can quit working. Reality, however, isn't So exact, and those calculators miss a host of subjective emotional factors that you shouldn't ignore.

Mom, Money and Alzheimer's

When a parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, it's up to the adult children to protect their finances, by getting power of attorney, monitoring accounts, and using other tactics. Here's how Cameron Huddleston of Kiplinger did it.

Year-End Tips to Trim Your 2012 Tax Tab

Year-end tax planning is trickier this time around: Unless Congress compromises, all the Bush tax cuts will expire when 2013 arrives, and many popular tax breaks that expired at the end of 2011 may not get revived. Here's how you can lower what you owe the IRS, regardless of what happens in Washington next month.

The 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees

When deciding where to live in retirement, people usually consider climate, cost of living, and proximity to friends, family, and their favorite activities. Well, state and local taxes should play a role in the choice to, because they'll surely have an impact on your finances.

The Best U.S. Cities for Retirees

When choosing where to retire, there are lots of factors to consider beyond fun in the sun. Good health care, cost of living, low crime rates, and a host of cultural aspects come into play. So where should you set your sights? Kiplinger and the Martin Prosperity Institute pick out some winners.

Even the Rich Can't Retire When They Planned to Anymore

The long recession and slow recovery have forced millions of average Americans to give up their dreams of retiring at 65. But you might be surprised to learn than even among those who have quite a bit of money stashed away for retirement, the majority are planning to work longer, too.

How to Ruin Your Retirement in 3 Steps

A successful, prosperous retirement is a common goal for most of us, but it's remarkably easy to wreck your golden years if you're not being careful. Here are three steps you could be taking right now to ruin your retirement.

One Year From Retirement? Prepare to Make the Break

With one year left until retirement, you're in the final stretch. It's time to prepare for the transition, so give your budget a stress test, reallocate your assets and income sources, and take action on health insurance. Here are six helpful guidelines:

You've Retired! Now Put Your Plan to the Test

Welcome to your first year of retirement. You made it! Hard work and diligent saving have paid off. Your financial plan should practically run itself at this point. Still, aim to check in periodically. Here are a few things to remember.

Financial Planning for Same-Sex Couples: 5 Tips You Can't Ignore

Though same-sex marriage and gay civil unions are legal in 13 U.S. states, the federal rights that traditional married couples enjoy still don%u2019t apply to such unions. That means that it's critical for same-sex couples to get their paperwork and plans in order.

What Will $1 Million Get You in Retirement?

This is an interesting question because many people believe that $1 million is a comfortable amount to meet their retirement goals. We can also look at the different ways in which a couple can use this $1 million without running out of money.