Advice on Retirement Planning
Articles Covering How to Plan and Save for Retirement
Planning for retirement is a life long process that gets more and more difficult as you approach retirement age and have to make timely decisions about your investments and your future expenses.
We've thought about what it takes to plan for retirement, and hopefully even retire early and we've written the following articles and filled them with charts and tables that can help you save for and plan your retirement.
Free Retirement Planning CalculatorDownload our free retirement planning spreadsheet in either Excel or OpenOffice format. A simple way to estimate the amount of money you need to retire. |
Compare your Retirement Savings to OthersSee how your retirement savings compare to others in your age and income range. Make sure you're on course for your retirement. |
Some Basic 401k Plan AdviceLearn how to maximize your long term 401k value by utilizing tax advantages and the long term compounding effect of money. |
Advice on Whether You Should Take a 401k LoanAre you or have you considered taking a loan against your 401k? Here are some pros and cons of taking a 401k loan that can help you decide. |
The 401k Withdrawal RulesAn overview of the different ways to withdraw from your retirement account. Whether its voluntary, mandatory, an early withdrawal or a loan, make sure you know the rules. |
How to Withdraw Money From Your 401KOnce you've actually saved for retirement and have your 401k fully vested, how do you go about taking the money out? There are some withdrawal rules you'll need to know. |
Should You Make an Early 401K Withdrawal?Some reasons why you should and shouldn't make an early withdrawal from your retirement account, including how to calculate the penalty. |
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire Early?Calculating how much money you'll need for retirement is not easy, but these tables make it easy to get an estimate of about how much that magic number may be. |
Should You Pay Down Debt or Save Your Money?What should you do with any leftover money each month? Pay down your debt or use it to save for retirement? Here are some guidelines that should help you decide. |
Help finding the Right Tax-Free AccountThere are many tax- free accounts for many different types of savings. Use this advice on which tax-free accounts are right for you. |
Calculate How Much Money Do You Need to Retire Using the 4% Rule?The 4% rule states that you should withdraw about 4% of your retirement savings each year during retirement. Here's how to use this rule to calculate how much money you'll need to retire. |
Are You Ready to Retire at 50?Would you like to retire at 50? Factors such as income, life expectancy, interest rates and inflation will determine whether you'll be ready to retire when you want. |
Do You Need Life Insurance?Whether you need it or not, a lot of people are going to try to sell you life insurance. Here are some factors that can help you decide if life insurance is right for you. |
Do You Need Long Term Care Insurance?Ever wonder who will take care of you late in retirement? Long term care insurance can help cover these costs. We can help you decide if you need it. |
Planning for Early Retirement - Are You Ready?Even if you have the money to retire, are you really ready to retire? Here are some things to think about before you make your decision. |
A Look at Required Minimum DistributionsWhen you turn 70 1/2 you are required to start taking distributions from your retirement account. Here is some insight into those distributions. |
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Retirement Trust FundsA retirement trust fund can offer several tax advantages but it often means you'll lose control of your retirement assets. Here are the pros and cons of such trust funds. |
How to Manage Your Employer Retirement AccountsMaximize your retirement savings by taking advantage of your employers retirement options and making smart retirement investing decisions. |
Benefits of Consolidating Retirement AccountsIt's important that you don't leave old retirement accounts behind. Consolidating them into one brokerage or account can help grow your retirement nest egg. |
Four Ways You Could Lose Your PensionWays you could lose your pension and how to get financial advice on your pension. |
