Married couples face some extra considerations when planning for their retirement years. Not only do you need to prepare for an income that supports both of you for the rest of your lives; you also must confront the reality that one of you will probably outlive the other. And while the widow or widower can [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If you’re like a lot of people, you can’t wait to retire! In fact, you might be analyzing your finances and running the numbers over and over, trying to decide if you can retire a few years earlier than planned. There’s no single retirement age that works perfectly for everyone. And [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: No one wants to face a healthcare crisis during their retirement years (or at any other time). We face many choices with regard to preventing serious illness, such as exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, or avoiding problematic behaviors like smoking. But despite healthy lifestyle choices, some things are still out [...]
Have you noticed that you’re paying more for certain items lately? Price hikes on many consumer goods tend to occur in the summer. Gas prices tend to spike, and that affects the cost of everything from your overall vacation budget to a simple gallon of milk. And, this year’s severe weather events have impacted farmers [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: They say hindsight is 20/20, meaning it is always easier to look back at the past and see things more clearly. Most of us have experienced situations in which life experience illuminates the reality of past mistakes. That’s why many retirees often preface statements with the words, ‘If I could do [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Back when you first started working for your current employer, you filled out a number of forms regarding taxes, insurance, and your retirement fund. Most likely, you established an automatic contribution to your retirement account. You chose a certain percentage of your paycheck to divert to savings, signed the form, and [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: At the end of May, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Secure Act (with a vote of 417-3) and sent the bill over to the Senate. If the bill is successful, it will become the first major overhaul to retirement planning since 2006. So, what could the Secure Act mean [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Ask ten people about their dreams for retirement, and you’re likely to receive ten different answers. However, one common theme might recur: Most of us would love to have our homes paid off before we retire. Is that possible? The most common mortgage repayment terms include a 30-year payment plan. We tend [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: You already know that because Social Security won’t provide enough income for most retirees to live comfortably, establishing your own retirement account is incredibly important. You took that step years ago, and have been saving faithfully ever since. On the flip side, many people never stop to think about how detrimental early [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many workers hope to retire around age 65, and expect that they will begin required minimum distributions from a retirement account at that time. However, some hope to continue working and saving a bit longer. Others go ahead and retire on time, but want to wait on those distributions for a few [...]