For Mark Roberts' Use: A survey of small-business owners revealed that two-thirds of them worry that they are not financially prepared for retirement*. Yet, despite these prevailing fears, about one-third of small-business owners have neglected to establish any type of personal or business-sponsored retirement plan. If you're a small-business owner or self-employed, and you're worried [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: One of the most common reasons people give for not saving for retirement is, “I don't have anything extra to save”. While this may be an unfortunate reality for some people, most of us really can manage to save for retirement, even if it's only a small amount at first. Almost [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We generally think of a last will and testament as something that only concerns elderly people. However, the reality is that anyone with children should have a legal will in place, no matter what their health or financial circumstances may be. While it is not likely your children will outlive you, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many companies offer profit-sharing plans to employees in order to generate a feeling of partnership and attract high-caliber workers. These plans give employees a portion of the company's profits each year, and can help fund their retirement plans. When money is contributed to a profit-sharing plan, it accumulates tax-deferred, just as [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When you decided to make certain tax-deferred retirement investments, you were likely informed of the penalties you could face by withdrawing the funds before age 59 ½. Generally, taking this action will result in a 10 percent federal income tax penalty. However, in certain situations you may be allowed to make [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If you're not sure whether you'll really have enough income to retire, you aren't alone: 38 percent of Americans* share your concern. What's truly surprising is that this figure represents individuals not just in lower income brackets, but in upper brackets as well. These worries likely stem from a variety of [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Have you ever considered what might happen if you were no longer able to work due to a sudden disability, such as an extended illness or serious injury? If your retirement planning revolves around the assumption that you'll be able to work until a certain age, you should probably create a [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: As adult children find jobs, move out of the family home, and begin building their own lives, parents often find themselves facing new opportunities. There are also numerous monthly budget items which can be re-examined after adult children leave the home. Empty nest couples may find themselves saving significant amounts by [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: With years of careful planning, many workers can be ready to retire by a pre-determined time. However, there are a few questions you should ask yourself along the way, which may prompt you to slow down and reassess your retirement plans. Retiring before you're really ready could lead to serious problems [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: In 2011, the Federal Trade Commission (www.tfc.gov) received nearly one million complaints of fraud from consumers. As the FTC scrambles to educate consumers about potential fraudulent schemes, con artists simply switch their tactics and come up with new, increasingly creative ways to swindle people out of their hard-earned money. Unfortunately, many [...]