Browse Retirement and Retirement Planning

Brazil. Russia. India. China. These four nations have some of the fastest-growing economies on earth and are becoming drivers in the world economy. In the coming decades, they may command as much attention as the U.S., Japan and other “heavy hitters” … or more. The future aside, we know one thing about the BRIC nations and other emerging markets: collectively, stocks in these countries have outperformedU.S.

Confusing doesn’t even begin to describe it. Throughout the very long debate over health care reform, a great deal of misinformation (spurred by presumption or misunderstanding) was circulating. Additionally, many changes and alterations to the proposed law were made along the way. At this point, some of the arguments your friends, neighbors or co-workers continue to debate don’t even factor into the legislation signed by President Obama. So what’s the truth behind the Affordable Health Care for America Act? Q: Will I be forced to change insurance? A: No.

Retiring from ones job can be a stressful time but it doesn’t have to be. Realize that it’s natural to be nervous, anxious and/or confused when you’re going through a major life change. Your decision to retire is causing you to step outside your comfort zone and is forcing you to make many new decisions and learn new things. Most importantly, remember that you only get one shot at retirement and you don’t want to make any mistakes. So here are some of the more common mistakes people make when retiring and how you can avoid them. 1.

Do you see a warning light flashing? Americans with high net worth and high incomes are preparing for the likelihood of higher taxes in 2011 and subsequent years. High earners are almost certainly going to take the hit if the EGTRRA and JGTRRA cuts fade away at the end of 2010. Here’s a summary of what’s happening – and a look at what might happen. There are some developments you will want to remember, and some tax breaks you might very well want to exploit.

Question: This stock market is nuts! How am I supposed to protect my IRA and 401k from losing money when I’ve only got three years until I retire? Bonnie, Ohio Answer: A few years before retiring, if possible, you should begin to accumulate an amount of money that's equivalent to 2-5 years worth of cash withdrawals (based upon your expected income needs). This systematic accumulation of cash is done on purpose so that you have a "safe-money" source to pull from when the balance of your investment portfolio and the stock and bond markets may be declining in value.

Question: I plan on retiring in 15 years (at age 60) and currently have 85% of my money in stocks. I’ve been maxing out my 401(K) since I was 21, and in the last year, I have seen some frightening drops in my funds. Should I be making any kind of changes to prevent more losses? Larry, Texas Answer: Larry, you’re the poster child for retirement. Congratulations for maxing out your 401k since your first started work.

Question: I’m 55 and not really happy with my job any more. I’d like to retire but I’m not sure I have enough money. What should I do? Liz, New York Answer: Liz, realize that you’re not alone. Many baby boomers are tired and burnt, and no longer want to wake up to their alarm clock come Monday morning. Here are a couple of suggestions. Talk with your employer about a phased retirement. For some reason, people think they need to stop working altogether or keep working full-time.

Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from Retire in a Weekend! The Baby Boomers’ Guide to Making Work Optional. Catch a sneak peek of the authors DVD, The 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Retiring & How YOU Can Avoid Them at www.RetireinaWeekend.com.

Question: I’m turning 60 next year. While I don’t want to continue working full-time anymore, I don’t have the desire (or nest egg) to retire completely. What do you suggest? Doris, PA Answer: Doris, how about a phased retirement? Instead of working 40 hours per week, talk with your employer about a reduced workload with a corresponding pay cut. The result could be just the answer you’re looking for. Phased retirement is a new phrase being tossed around corporate America in recent years.

Question: My husband and I have made the decision to start working with a financial planner this year. The problem is there are so many to choose from. How do I know who I can trust and who is a good fit for me?

WHY ARE WE STILL talking about the murder of 14-year-old Emmett TilL some 50-plus years postmortem? I blogged on the topic last August upon the 56th anniversary of this young African American boy’s brutal death back in 1955. Now his name is frequently appearing as national and international reporters, civil rights observers and historians link some aspects of Till's Mississippi lynching to the recent killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida.

'It's just a stage you're going through...' - how many times have well-meaning friends and family members said that to you over the course of your lifetime? And don't expect them to stop now, because, as far as retirement is conce ed, there are six identified stages that most retirees go through to varying degrees. In this article I take a look at Stage 4 - The Disenchantment stage. The Disenchantment stage is where letdown - a feeling of disappointment or uncertainty - can occur.

Your life after retirement must be a new beginning. Most people come to the realization that when they reach retirement age that they have no plan for their retired lives. Many folks have a plan in place for their lives, including investing time at college to find a suitable career, setting career goals, then getting into a house and beginning the family. Your retirement plan should be as well thought out as your career. You should work to have the most enjoyable fulfillment

Two of the potential pitfalls of the 'Routine' stage of retirement are becoming set in your ways by having too rigid a routine and leaving no time or scope for fun and spontaneity in your life. With that in mind, here are my top ten ideas for bringing more everyday 'adventures' into your life: 1. Start by being open to new ideas and opportunities. Look out for them. Write them down in a diary or journal so that they don't evaporate into the ether. 2. Do your very best to try something new every day...

Many Baby Boomers are literally built to last 100 years. In fact, the CDC estimates at least one million boomers to achieve that goal. Will you become a member of this one-in-a-million longevity club? Could be. Afterall, living a long time takes more than smart-genes and dumb-luck. Eighty ...

'It's just a stage you're going through...' how many times have well-meaning friends and family members said that to you over the course of your lifetime? And don't expect them to stop now, because, as far as retirement is conce ed, there are six identified stages that most retirees go through to varying degrees. Stage 6 - and the final stage of the retirement process is the Routine phase. Routine comes when you've sorted out all your 'issues'.

Retirement planning means far more than addressing money issues, Jane C told me. The retired nurse expected to feel happy upon retirement, but found herself, instead, "just miserable nearly every day." Sitting at her kitchen table, drinking a cool ice tea, Jane told me her story. As a medical professional, Jane knew that her own loneliness, sadness, loss of sleep and other symptoms are often described as depression, so she set out to fix the problem by discovering a proactive approach to retirement - finding something worthwhile to do while adding to her retirement income base.r

'Retirement is often viewed as an 'event' when retirement is actually both a process (requiring planning and adjustment) and a life stage (lasting for multiple years.)'Christine A. Price, Ph.D rn'It's just a stage you're going through...' - how many times have well-meaning friends and family members said that to you over the course of your lifetime? And don't expect them to stop now, because, as far as retirement is conce ed, there are six identified stages that most retirees go through to varying degrees. They are: 1. Pre-Retirement (the working years) 2.

'It's just a stage you're going through...' - how many times have well-meaning friends and family members said that to you over the course of your lifetime? And don't expect them to stop now, because, as far as retirement is conce ed, there are six identified stages that most retirees go through to varying degrees. Stage 3 of the retirement process is The Honeymoon phase. This is the time when many of the fun trips, projects and activities that you spent all those years planning are executed.

Retirement planning is one of the most important plans for the future an individual can have, because it will allow you to know how you will live during your retirement years. There are many things to consider during this process, including the future costs of daily living expenses, your ideal retirement age, and where your retirement funds will come from. For this reason, saving for retirement is an essential part of retirement planning. Many employers assist their employees

Just because you are retired, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t still capable of working, and that you don’t still have a lot to offer. A lot of retired persons are taking on flexible jobs that allow them to earn additional income without having to be stuck in a job that they hate, and working long hours when they should be enjoying their retirement. Today, we are going to take a look at some of the many benefits of flexible jobs for retirees. 1. Extra Income A lot of peo

We’ve all heard about the “new retirement”, the mix of work and play that many of us assume we will have in our lives one day. We do not expect “retirement” to be all leisure. While this is becoming a cultural assumption among baby boomers, it is interesting to see that certain financial assumptions haven’t really changed with the times.

About twenty years ago, I became incredibly curious about how the second half of one's life can develop. Some of this interest came from observing my family: when I was born, my grandparents were in their early forties, and I was fascinated with choices they made in life. We talked about their professional lives, their interests and hobbies at length, and it was only later in life that I came to fully understand and appreciate the value of the insights they gave me.

At some point in life, we start noticing that all of our mistakes are just variations on half a dozen or so major mistakes. Have you ever noticed what yours are? In this article, I'll help you avoid some of the most common mistakes people make with their retirement finances, but you can apply these principles to your general financial affairs just as well.

With the current economic climate everyone is looking for money management tips that will help ensure financial security. We all want to save money and get the best value for our dollar, yet it often seems as if we struggle just to make ends meet, leaving little left at the end of each month. If you feel this way, then it may be time to step back and re-evaluate your finances, or adopt a different point of view with regards to your money and the way you spend it. 1.Don't pu

You have heard people say “It’s in my genes” or “It’s in my DNA” which basically means that it’s just the way it is so I can’t change it. “My parents, grandparents, great grandparents were all diabetic, or overweight or died of cancer. There is nothing I can do about it.” Sorry to take that excuse away from you but from what I have been hearing and reading there actually are things we can do to basically change our DNA. Your genes are not your destiny. You actually can do things to change them.

What’s your retirement style? I've identified four different types of retiree - Activists, Individualists, Specialists and Traditionalists. I think of Individualists as the self-actualisers of the second half of life - they have the need to fulfil their potential and be all that they can be, and their ideal retirement would be a portfolio of activities which combines: • meaningful work, • learning, • personal development, and • community and/or voluntary activity.

ARE YOU A retiree who is looking for something intriguing and fun to do, while making extra money? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. In fact, most older employees (65 percent) recently told researchers they would like to have some form of work in their retirement, according to a 2011 Harris Interactive survey of 1,001 people age 55 and older commissioned by Sun America.

'It's just a stage you're going through...' - how many times have well-meaning friends and family members said that to you over the course of your lifetime? And don't expect them to stop now, because, as far as retirement is conce ed, there are six identified stages that most retirees go through to varying degrees. Stage 5 of the retirement process is the Reorientation phase. After the honeymoon and the subsequent letdown of the disenchantment stage, Reorientation is the process of adjustment and adaptation to the reality of retirement.

It's summer. It's hot. People are on vacation it seems all the time. No one is signing up for your teleclasses or any other of the wonderful things you are offering. How are you supposed to grow your business at this rate? Well, maybe there are other things you can do instead of feeling badly or twiddling your thumbs. Let's take a look and see! 1. How does your office look?r

That is the question being contemplated by millions of American’s and their tax preparers. In case you haven’t heard, beginning January 1, 2010, any investor may convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Unlike prior years where where there were income limitations, no IRS income limits will apply or stand in the way of the conversion starting in 2010. So why is this a big deal and should you convert?

Every day, people draw on money they don’t actually have – via credit cards, payday loans, home equity lines of credit, and even their 401(k)s. Many of them end up making minimum payments on these high-interest loans – a sure way to stay indebted forever. If this is your situation, you may be wondering: how do I get out of debt? Let me give you some ideas. 1) Make a budget. “Where does all the money go?” If you are asking that question, here is where you learn the answer. You might find that you’re spending $80 a month on energy drinks, or $100 a week on lousy movies.

'It's just a stage you're going through...' - how many times have well-meaning friends and family members said that to you over the course of your lifetime? And don't expect them to stop now that you're about to retire, because, as far as retirement is conce ed, there are six identified stages that most retirees go through to varying degrees. In this article I take a look at Stage 2 - The Retirement Event. Stage 2 of the retirement process is The Retirement Event (otherwise known as 'the big day').

What’s your retirement style? I've identified four different types of retiree - Activists, Individualists, Specialists and Traditionalists. Specialists are the enthusiasts, the devotees, the people who have a continuing (often lifelong) passion for their work - they love what they do so much that they'll never retire and they'll just keep on working until they drop.

What’s your retirement style? I've identified four different types of retiree - Activists, Individualists, Specialists and Traditionalists. Activists are the movers and shakers in retirement, the trailblazers - the ones who start new charities and foundations. They are the ones who fight for their rights and the right of others. Activists have a determination to make life better for somebody, somewhere, and their cause can be the environment, health, education or community.

What's your retirement style? I've identified four different types of retiree - Activists, Individualists, Specialists and Traditionalists. Traditionalists want a traditional 'rest and relaxation', 'pottering about' type of retirement. They don't want to change the world, or even themselves. They don't particularly want to work part-time or get a retirement career or start a retirement business... They worked all their lives and they're done with work.

In retirement planning, your age determines the specific actions you may be able to take. Your age dictates, for example, when you can take part in a retirement plan, make contributions to IRAs, and take money from your plan. Below are 10 significant ages you should plan for: Age 21 A retirement plan sponsored by an employer may be allowed to exclude employees who are younger than age 21, but must sponsor the retirement plan of all employees who are 21 and over. Age 50 Ma

The rising number of elderly will likely have a great impact on the increasing number of the facilities of retirement living in Ontario. As a plethora of people near retirement age, they will likely alter the definition of what it means to be retired. Most of the senior citizens today are looking for a more active lifestyle. Many of these elderly don't really want to retire actually, and some will work part-time for the rest of their lives. There is also a group of elderly wh

No one disagrees that retirement planning is a good thing yet many people fail to take time to plan. If there is a retirement plan in place, it has often been left till the last minute, maybe even just a few years before retirement. This article offers an outlook on retirement planning that may shock some of you. If you love doing what you’re doing you’ll most likely never want to retire. It’s often said that most of the wealthiest people in the world still work in their own

Employer-sponsored 401(k) plans may have various loan provisions allowing participants to take loans against their retirement savings or take withdrawals in times of hardship. But before you consider borrowing money from your 401(k) plan, you will need to understand how your loans and withdrawals will affect your retirement goals and savings and what tax consequences you may trigger. Many 401(k) participants make the mistake of tapping into their retirement savings when they

With just some basic preparation you and your financial planner could have your retirement fund trained to overcome obstacles with the grace of a champion pedigree.nnIs it possible to train your retirement plan? We think so.nnMaybe you’re about to change jobs, change companies, or change your career completely. Whatever change is afoot, we don’t have to remind you how important it is to keep an eye on your retirement funds during tumultuous times. Assets for your retireme

Since the advent of 401k plans in 1981 making mistakes in 401k plans have become commonplace. Let's take a look at four common mistakes we can avoid. #1 Chasing Returns Chasing returns is as common as trying to keep up with the Jones’. Chasing returns means looking at your yearend statement only to realize your mutual fund only gained 5% when other funds gained 25%. The logical step would be to move all your money into the mutual funds which gained 25%. Unfortunately going

The stock market is unsettled … and perhaps its fluctuations are unsettling you. It’s a stressful time for the economy and Wall Street, and you may be conce ed about your portfolio given what’s going on with oil prices, the real estate market, and rising unemployment figures. It may be a good time to review how your assets are invested. Is your portfolio balanced? A balanced portfolio may help you ride out stock market turbulence.

In 2010, 43% of the workforce have no more than $10,000 in retirement savings. People are claiming to have valid arguments for not having a sufficient amount of retirement savings. There are some who are saying they are still eliminating personal financial debt with high interest rates; others say that they are dealing with house payments or the kids are still in the university or college. There isn't any limit to what excises they claim to have. However, no matter how reason

Question: In a recent post you had strategies for strengthening your retirement picture for people in their 50’s and 60’s. What about those of us in our 20’s to 40’s? Maxine, Tenafly, NJ Answer: Maxine, I didn’t mean to leave you and the other youngsters out. Here’s a checklist to get you on track in 2010 as well! 1. If you haven't started already, open an IRA and/or fund a 401k.

What should you do with your old 401k retirement plan if you change jobs? Uncertainty and inaccurate advice can cause anxiety and catastrophic financial consequences. As you may know, a 401k or other defined contribution plan is an excellent retirement savings vehicle. You can accumulate a substantial amount of money over many decades providing you let the money grow. With a traditional 401k, you also get the additional benefit of tax-deferred growth. With a Roth 401k, you forego the pre-tax advantage for tax-free withdrawals later in life when you take your money out.

Question: I’m getting closer to retiring and everything I read says I should get more defensive in my portfolio. Does this make sense for me? Answer: It depends. How is your portfolio allocated now? Do you own mostly stocks or do you have a lot of money in bonds and CDs? What’s your current asset mix or asset allocation? Do you know what your portfolios expected return is? Can you quantify how much risk you’re taking with your current portfolio? Are you comfortable with the risk?

Question: My husband and I (age 62 and 57) want to make some resolutions to sure up our retirement picture in 2010. Any thoughts you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Bea, Stamford, CT Answer: Bea, here’s a checklist to get you on track in 2010! 1. If you haven’t maxed out your 401k/403b contributions at work, you are eligible to take advantage of what is known as the catch-up provision.

People often think about the place where they would like to spend rest of their post retirement life. A place where they live near nature, breathe fresh air and enjoy sports in an excellent weather condition. Altos de Maria is one such panama gated mountain community where individuals can enjoy all such benefits. Located not far away from Panama City and Pacific coast beaches, this place is a dream come true for an individual, who is search of peace, serenity and natural beau

Whether you are between jobs, wish you were in a different job, or just want to experience more satisfaction in your current job, a Career Coach is there to help you. A coach will enable you to make some important discoveries about yourself and the work environment in which you can be your best self. These discoveries are translated into concrete career choices that, perhaps for the first time in your life, will satisfy you at a deep level.

Always the feisty ones, you boomers aren’t going to let the economy slow you down! If you have retired already or have been laid off you may have a desire to get back into the employment seen. Well, hate to tell you this, but that may be easier said than done. So what? You’re resilient and flexible. What’s your Plan B? Maybe it’s time to look at something new. Companies are doing more laying off than hiring. Often times when you change jobs or re-career you receive less pay and fewer benefits.

Ethical Wills have been around for many generations but seem to be regaining their strength. That may be simply because many of you are getting to the stage in life where you begin thinking about what you are passing along to your children or other loved ones. Another term for Ethical Wills might be a “Values and Vision Statement.” In a nutshell, it is a tool for passing your memories, values and traditions to your loved ones and future generations. Keep in mind that an Ethical Will is not a legal document.

Preparing for your retirement is a task that should never be ignored. While most people would like to "deal with it later", saving early for this soon-to-be stage of your life can make a huge difference in the future, particularly if you desire to quit your job and enjoy life sooner. Investing to retire early will help you not experience as much anxiety and worry later in your life knowing that you have taken care of it before time. Early Retirement Planning Here are a few ti

How do you know when it's time to retire? Try some of the following on for size... 1. Work has begun to interfere with all the many other things you want to do - fitting them all into weekends and holidays is becoming more impossible or unpalatable. 2. Life just seems too short to carry on working. 3. You crave your freedom. 4. You want to have control over your time. 5. You want to retire while you have the health and strength to do everything that you enjoy. 6. You have a sense that you would regret continuing to work full time if you did it for much longer. 7.

On the occasion of my 62nd birthday - well, actually, the two weeks prior to the event - I decided it was time for a short depression. I earned it. I was entitled. And I was going to wallow a bit. This was followed by a two-week celebration, so it all balanced out, and the whole experience is ...

I had some real plans for how to spend my less busy time during the holidays. From December 19th to January 1st I only had 1 client each week. Wow. Certainly different than my usual week! Here are some of the things I accomplished and feel really good about. If any of these actions look like something that you need to do to start the year out fresh then keep reading.

Question: This stock market is nuts! How am I supposed to protect my IRA from losing money when I’ve only got three years until I retire? Joan, NY Answer: Joan, as I mentioned in my last post, a few years before retiring you should begin to accumulate an amount of money that's equivalent to 2-5 years worth of cash withdrawals (based upon your expected income needs).

The Best Estate Planning Tip: Don’t put it off. The best estate planning tip is to have one. Take the time now while you are clear and competent to consider the elements of your overall plan for the management of your assets and your care in the event of misfortune to avoid having a court or the state step in and do it for you. A will is not enough: A will, is a ticket to probate, probate is court and courts take atto eys fees, and court costs. It doesn’t avoid probate of you

Do you believe you are financially comfortable? Possibly more than comfortable? You were able to work less or not work at all while you raised families or cared for an aging parent. That was then, this is now. This is the New Environment. You may not realize it but 78% of the job lay offs have been men. So, what does that mean for you? It means you are returning to the work force in droves.

We all tend to invest in companies which are earning good profits and have a good future earning potential but how many of us tend to care about what the company tends to do with these profits. Very few retail investors tend to look into whether the company intends to re-invest the past profits or does it tend to distribute this profit among the shareholders as dividends. Some analysts prefer high dividend paying companies and other analysts prefer companies which tend to re-

According to statistics compiled by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, between 10,000 and 15,000 Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are currently in technical default. Some lenders have even foreclosed on seniors who could not arrange a payment plan or otherwise get their loan of out default. Initially, this may come as a shock. With an HECM, borrowers are not required to make monthly payments. Still, it is possible to default on the loan agreement, and

Thousands of people tu 55 each day in Canada. Most of them will retire for the first time, unsuccessfully, at age 57. Why “unsuccessfully”? Because while many pre-retirees plan and calculate their financial resources to ensure an adequate nest egg to fund their retirement, almost none of them invest time and energy planning the non-financial aspects of retiring. For example: • When is the right time for me to retire? • Do I expect retirement to consist of full-time leisure? How do I know that will be satisfying for me?

You go to school, you get your education, you get your experience and your working world should be in pretty good shape right? While that may be true for many of you I’ll bet my bottom dollar it’s not true for each of you. Would you like this to be true for you? Heck Yes! Why wouldn’t you? What would you need to change to make this career of yours sing for you?

Whether you are already in a transition or just exploring some new options, you have the opportunity to examine whether a change of job or career is appropriate - and any perceived barriers to making that needed change. It takes courage to face what isn’t working in our lives – but the wonderful consequence of taking that courageous step is often a major leap forward in our personal growth. Rather than facing the need for change, many of us prefer to stick our heads in the sand. We want to avoid looking at our needs and challenges directly.

Question: As a self-employed empty nester, what advice can you give to starting our retirement nest egg at this late date? My husband and I are both in our early 50’s. We would like something simple that we can contribute small ($50) amounts to at a time. Joy, PA Answer: Joy, I did some digging for you but the challenge was in finding mutual fund families that have low minimums or no minimum investments required that can accommodate beginning investors.

If so, you are certainly not alone. Also, women are more apt to extend this date then men. Women earning $75,000.00 or more have a six out of ten chance of delaying retirement. Those are high numbers and now there is even a term for this. If you are one of the six, you are part of the Threshold Generation, a term coined by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. Are you one of the women on the ‘threshold’ of retirement?

Savings is very important in retirement planning. This is what you are going to spend during your retirement period. Do you have enough savings to cover you for your retirement? Saving is not easy, especially when you have a lot of expenses to pay, like monthly bills, food and emergencies. These are ways that will help you save enough money for your retirement. First, calculate how much money you need. Then calculate how much money you have to save every year. Only a few peop

Hardly a week goes by without a personal finance magazine commenting in one way or anotherrnthat Americans are ill-prepared for retirement. Yet, in spite of these alarming and repetitive warnings, we Americans and specifically we Iowans appear to be in denial that the post World War II affluence we’ve enjoyed could evaporate during our expected “golden years.” It’s news we don’t want to hear. We are in denial – and its time for us to find a road to recovery right

The Perfect Retirement Investment A perfect retirement investment would look something like this -rn* You can't lose money. Safety guaranteed.rn* Your payouts can only go up. Never down. No matter what happens. This retirement investment exists: variable annuities. Competition has made them better. Take a second look now, if you passed on them before. There's one type of variable annuity that has what you want. Don't confuse it with the many other annuities out there. Here's

Here we are, where we were last year and the year before and where we will be next year. I know that's a mouthful but it's true! Every year at this time we take a look back to the past year and see how we can make this year better. Even if last year was a great year, we can also do it better this year. Or different anyway. I want to share with you some simple daily strategies that you can use starting right now to get your business off on the right foot this year. Don't over complicate it. Keep it simple.

Those of us in the boomer generation may remember a television show called “The Millionaire” where an anonymous philanthropistrngave unsuspecting ordinary Joe citizens a check for $1,000,000 and watched how their lives were vastly changed by the ability to buy virtually anything they wanted in life. Today, a million dollars just doesn’t buy what it used to. A modest three bedroom home in L.A. or a $40,000 annual retirement income. Do you feel like a millionaire when you

Has your work ever interfered with your ‘other life?’ That ‘real’ life that does not include work, even if it’s work you love? What I mean is true leisure. Not thinking about, planning about or doing anything even close to work. I am talking especially for those of you entrepreneurial types.

Dear Bill: I’m 60 years old, divorced, and was forced into early retirement two weeks ago. My 401(k) is still down 25% from its all-time high and I’m real nervous. Now that I don’t have a paycheck and since I won’t become eligible for Social Security for two more years, I have to live on this! How should my account be allocated? What’s an appropriate allocation for someone in my situation? I was also wondering what you think about the possibility of another market freefall?

The answer is probably a resounding “No.” Or maybe you’re not even sure what that Crucial Conversation is. This conversation is about how you are going to live the rest of your lives together as a couple. On one hand, this may sound pretty simple but when you really dig in and start talking, you may be in for some big surprises. Or you may think it’s just not all that important. But you are wrong. It is very important.

Question: What are some things I should keep in mind if I want to reach the goal of retirement within three years? Thanks in advance for your response. Lorri, MA Answer: Lorri, whether your goal is retirement in 3 years, a new car in 5 years, or college education in eighteen years, in order to reach your goal a savings/investment plan has to have four distinct yet interrelated factors, each of which contributes to the success or failure of your plan. Factor #1: Your contribution amount. How much are you saving every paycheck now?

According to researchers at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, in upcoming years, reverse mortgages will an important tool used by baby boomers to help them afford expenses during retirement. The continued popularity of these loans leaves many seniors asking, “What is a reverse mortgage, and what can it do for me?” rnWhat Is a Reverse Mortgage? What to Expect From a Loan Of the different types of reverse mortgages, the great majority of borrowers choose

Question: My company recently sent out a memo saying they were going to suspend their matching 401k contributions for the rest of 2009 and maybe 2010 as well. This could dramatically affect my ability to retire. Are they allowed to do this? Christine, New York, NY Answer: Christine, each company has their own 401k plan document which contains its own set of rules that normally allow for the suspension, reduction, increase or termination of matching contributions.

Retiring from ones employment can be a stressful time but it doesn’t have to be. Realize that it’s natural to be nervous, anxious and/or confused when you’re going through a major life change. Your decision to retire is causing you to step outside your comfort zone and is forcing you to make many new decisions and learn new things. Most importantly, remember that you only get one shot at retirement and you don’t want to make any mistakes. So here are some of the more common mistakes people make when retiring and how you can avoid them. 1.

I've been thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of downsizing to a smaller home after retirement. This is what I've come up with so far... Advantages The first and most obvious advantage is that, if your existing home is worth a lot of money because of its location and size, and/or you have a lot of equity in it, the sale of the home could give you a cushion of money to make life in retirement a little easier and fund some of those 'bucket list' adventures.

Want tonn... jump-start your life, a quick-fix of new energy and purpose? n... stop running in five directions at once? n... get in sync with your mate? n... find some life balance, harmony, and meaning?nnMaybe it's time to take control. nnLike making a no-nonsense plan for the rest of your life. nSomewhere between about 45 and 60, we must take inventory. (Although it's never too soon to start banking that 401k.) nnBy 50, nature is through with us. We're on borrowed time. We'