Whether retirement is in the near or distant future for you, it’s a sure bet that you look forward to not only seeing the day when you can make work optional, but also to a very happy retirement with minimal worries. Settling into your dream home on a quiet mountainside. Playing hide-and-seek in a household [...]

When it comes to preparing for the needs of the future, it is never too late or even too early to start. Today’s economy is uncertain in spite of signs of improvement and the options for safeguarding income and assets change regularly. No matter what the current state an individual’s financial matters are in, the [...]

TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS INSIGHTS:   After years of saving and planning for retirement, you may be relieved and excited to realize you can fi nally afford to stop working. Careful planning in the months leading up to retirement can help you ensure a smooth transition from employee to retiree. If you have decided to retire, you [...]

1) Contribute the Maximum to Retirement Accounts Although the elective deferral limit for 401(k) and similar plans was increased to $17,000 for 2012, IRA contribution limits remain the same as 2011, at $5,000. IRA owners 50 or older by December 31, 2012 can contribute an extra $1,000 for a total of $6,000 and plan participants [...]

Here’s a simple approach: work just a few years longer. By accumulating more savings and shortening your withdrawal period, you’ll reduce the lump sum needed to generate the necessary income at retirement.  Surveys show that most baby boomers plan to work in some capacity during their retirement years. The question is, should you keep working [...]

Every year has its ups and downs, but 2011 seemed to have more than most, creating unusual volatility in the financial markets, with wild swings that had many investors gasping for breath. In a two-week period from July 25 through August 8, the S&P 500 lost almost 17% of its value. Late in the fall, [...]