While the broad stock markets have performed really well in 2013, you still might not be entirely comfortable with your current level of retirement savings, and your overall retirement plan. Perhaps you’re a bit reluctant to fully commit to a retirement savings plan because you’re still feeling the effects of the significant market declines of 2008 and 2009. But staying away from investing often leads some individuals not to save any money at all. And the most valuable factor you have in being able to save enough for your retirement is giving your savings time to grow. Here is some retirement...

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Planning and saving for retirement is one of the longest term tasks any of us will ever undertake during our lives. For example, if you start thinking about retirement when you get your first real job where your employer will offer participation in a 401(k) or other retirement plan, then you’ll have several decades to determine the best approach to saving, and a target date for when you want to retire. But like many things in life, things don’t always work out that way. Sometimes we aren’t in control over when we retire, and it comes a bit early, and...

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The concept of “downsizing” or living a simpler life is becoming more popular across different segments of American society. More people are realizing that the satisfaction they get from always having the biggest and newest consumer items is often outweighed by the additional time they need to work in order to afford that lifestyle of conspicuous consumption. The same downsizing concepts have also become popular with individuals who have already retired or are about to do so. Remember that by “downsizing” what we’re really referring to is financial downsizing; that is, lowering monthly expenses. With that in mind, here...

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There’s a common misconception that the estate planning process is only relevant for wealthy individuals and families. That simply isn’t true, and neglecting to come up with your own estate plan can prove to be a mistake with significant financial and personal consequences. Proper estate planning can save you and your family headaches and heartaches down the road. A well considered estate plan makes sure that your family is taken care of and your financial goals are met after you die. This is true regardless of whether you consider yourself to be wealthy or not. An estate plan is generally comprised...

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If you’ve taken charge of your retirement future then you’ll spend thirty or forty years saving money for that wonderful day when you stop working. Once you retire you’re done saving, right? All you need to do now is sit back and enjoy your golden years. While it’s certainly a good idea to enjoy the rest of your life, it’s also generally important to continue trying to save money and budget your finances during retirement. It’s important because you don’t know how long you’re going to live, or how health care expenses are going to impact your retirement nest egg. Here’s...

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You’ve worked hard all your life and put plenty of money away for retirement. Good for you. But when it comes time to quit work and enjoy your golden years, you don’t get a free pass to go on a perpetual spending spree. Even if you’ve saved up a large nest egg it’s important to budget carefully, because you never know exactly how long you’ll have to live on it. There are certain expenses that often get lower or disappear altogether when you’re retired. But it’s always a good idea to save money anywhere you can when you’re no longer...

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If someone walked up and asked you how your retirement planning was going, how would you answer? If you’re like the average person, you might not know how to respond. If you’re a bit savvier, you might quote the amount you’ve saved up so far. But do you really know if you’re in a position to retire on schedule? If not, then you’re certainly not alone. Many of us have no clue how much money we need to retire comfortably, much less whether or not we’ll have it when we reach retirement age. Here is some retirement advice and tips...

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Maybe you got a late start on your retirement savings. Maybe your retirement fund took a hit courtesy of the recession. Or maybe you’ve just decided that you’d like to have more money when you retire. Whatever the reason may be, if you’re looking for ways to give your retirement savings a boost, you’re not the only one. Winning the lottery would be a wonderful solution, but unfortunately the odds aren’t in your favor. The good news is that there are lots of ways to put some extra money in your retirement fund that are pretty painless. Here is some...

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You probably already know that starting to focus on your retirement savings plan in earnest when you’re 45 or 50 years old means that you’ll likely have a difficult time being able to retire with a high standard of living when you’re 60 or 65. So it’s therefore clearly possible to start saving too late in order to meet certain goals. But what about the opposite consideration – how early it is too early to start saving for retirement? In short, the answer to the question is an easy one; it’s never too early to start saving for retirement. Here...

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If the balances in your IRA and 401(k) accounts are less than they were five or six years ago, you’re not alone. Many Americans are still suffering from lower investment savings and a loss of confidence in the concept of retirement planning as a whole. But you can’t just throw in the towel and give up with your retirement savings. Yes, suffering a savings setback can be emotionally devastating, and it will certainly provide you with an additional level of challenge in reaching a financially secure retirement. But if you follow the following retirement advice and tips you’ll have...

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