What is a 401(k)? Have one? Here’s how to take advantage of it. A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan provided by an employer and allows you to save and invest a portion of your paycheck before taxes (the tax-advantage). The money in a 401(k) has the potential to grow tax free. In retirement, withdrawals…
What is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)? After you turn 70½, the IRS requires you withdraw a portion of the money in your retirement savings accounts each year (except for Roth accounts1). This is called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Many of you who are enjoying your 2nd Half are approaching or have reached 70…
Not making a move may not be the best move to make. A decision not made may have financial consequences. There is an old belief that women are more cautious about money than men, and whether you believe that or not, both women and men may fall prey to a kind of money paralysis as…
It is only wise to consider what Medicare won’t cover in the future. As you save for retirement, you also recognize the possibility of having to pay major health care costs in the future. Is there some way to plan for these expenses years in advance? Just how great might those expenses be? There’s no rote answer,…
Where do things proceed from that point? Every day, people die intestate. In legalese, that means without a will. This opens the door for the courts to decide what happens with their estates. When no valid will exists, state intestacy laws dictate how assets are distributed. These laws divide an estate evenly (or equitably)…
Who should inherit your IRA or 401(k)? See that they do. Here’s a simple financial question: who is the beneficiary of your IRA? How about your 401(k), life insurance policy, or savings account? You may be able to answer such a question quickly and easily. Or you may be saying, “You know… I’m not…
How do you claim them? How much can you receive? About 5 million widowed Americans get Social Security survivor benefits. If your spouse has passed, you may be eligible to collect them. This means that you could receive as much as 100% of your late spouse’s Social Security income.1,2 Some widows and widowers aren’t aware…
Wise moves to make before things are finalized. Before your divorce goes through, it will be wise to check up on financial matters. It will be better to assess the state of your financial life before the split rather than after. You may also find this article on divorce helpful. Find out where you stand financially. Beyond…
The Five Phases of Life After 50 and the Considerations That Accompany Them. The journey to and through retirement occurs gradually, like successive chapters in a book. Each chapter has its own things to consider. Chapter 1 (the fifties). At this stage of life, retirement becomes less like a far-off dream and more like a…
Why you should refrain from making this move. Thinking about borrowing money from your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 account? Think twice about that. These loans are risky and could be injurious to your retirement planning. A loan of this kind damages your retirement savings prospects. A 401(k), 403(b), or 457 should never be viewed like…