Retirement Planning

Are governments making promises about pensions that they might not be able to keep? Today’s infographic comes to us from Raconteur, and it illuminates a growing problem attached to an aging population (and those that will be supporting it).

Cash is the snake oil of investing. It feels good for a while and it sounds like a reasonable fix, but it does absolutely nothing for you and, over time, it will give you one hell of a hangover. At best, it’s a false sense of security. As the volatility in the market pushes more people to sell, the amount we are holding is exploding and, as we age, this situation becomes increasingly threatening to our security.

Retiring abroad is a lifelong dream for many. If you’ve contributed enough to a retirement account for most of your working life, the dream can turn into reality. Before you get your passport in order and start packing, though, there’s a long road of preparation to see if moving abroad is the right decision for you. Here are some points to consider.

Many taxpayers may need to take out money early from their Individual Retirement Account or retirement plan. Doing so, however, can trigger an additional tax on early withdrawals. They would owe this tax on top of other income tax they may have to pay. Here are a few key points to know:

We asked financial advisers for some of the most important ideas they wish their clients understood when it comes to money, retirement, and the future [and here are 7 of the most important].

A study released by GoBankingRates reveals that older people planning their retirement have cause for concern. 42% of Americans are facing their golden years with less than $10,000 in savings.

The sad truth is that many Americans are vastly underprepared when it comes to retirement savings with a 2016 GoBankingRates survey revealing that 33% of Americans have nothing saved for retirement at all and, in total, 56% have less than $10,000 saved. [That begs the question] "How much money does it actually take to retire comfortably?" It seems like one million dollars is the magic number many people think of but is it really necessary? Could some people could get by in retirement on less? Let's explore all the different ways you could live a happy retirement even if you don’t amass a million-dollar nest egg.

In my view, most people who are selecting stocks for their retirement are doing it wrong. Most investors are picking “good companies,” stocks that have gone up a lot in the past, stocks of companies that are soon to release higher earnings, or stocks that have been selected because the technicals look good. All of these make for lousy long term investments. Here's a better path to retirement bliss, one that’s much more likely to work out if you are prepared to put just a little bit of time and effort into your portfolio.

If you've had your heart set on moving to Europe there are still history-steeped places there where you can experience old-world charm on a limited budget. Here are some of the cheapest cities you can settle down in across various European countries.

The Sustainable Withdrawal Rate (SWR) strategy is based on the work of William Bengen whose research revealed that the order of market losses is more important than the average return sequence of returns risk. With all due respect to Bengen, though, I consider this strategy irrational and believe that it probably makes sense only for households with so much savings that they don’t need it. This article substantiates my conclusion.