http://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/Retirement_PlanningFind stories, videos, and photos about Retirement Planning from CNN.com.en-usCable News Network LP, LLLP.Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:43:43 GMT5http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/1.0/logo/cnn.logo.rss.gifhttp://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/Retirement_Planning14433Find stories, videos, and photos about Retirement Planning from CNN.com.http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/05/retirement/you_can_still_retire_rich.fortune/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/05/retirement/you_can_still_retire_rich.fortune/index.htmLeave it to one of the country's leading gerontologists to capture the gallows humor of planning for retirement in the post-2008 world. "The collapse of the economy has led me to drastically restructure my own retirement plan," says Dr. Richard Besdine, the 69-year-old director of the Brown University Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research. "It's a lot simpler now -- I'm just going to die in the office."Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:50:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/15/pf/expert/retirement_savings.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/15/pf/expert/retirement_savings.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: Should I contribute more to my 401(k) than I have to in order to get the company match? --Terry, Kennett, MissouriTue, 16 Jun 2009 17:39:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/15/retirement/has_401k_failed.fortune/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/15/retirement/has_401k_failed.fortune/index.htmMax. It. Out. Of all the personal finance rules -- diversify your portfolio, pay down high-interest debt first -- perhaps no single piece of advice has been so widely touted as this: The key to financial security is putting as much money as you can into your 401(k). After all, what other retirement savings vehicle is portable, benefits from an employer match, provides a tax deduction, and allows the average clock puncher over the course of a career to rack up a seven-figure nest egg?Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:22:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/11/magazines/moneymag/ownership_society.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/11/magazines/moneymag/ownership_society.moneymag/index.htmOld: The 1980s ushered in a lasting change: the systematic transfer of risk from the government and employers down to individuals. Tax cuts on income and capital gains, for example, were meant to encourage you to invest more in stocks, buy homes, and start up businesses. These activities became the pillars of what George W. Bush would later dub the "ownership society."Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:56:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/01/pf/expert/retirement_catch_up.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/06/01/pf/expert/retirement_catch_up.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm in my 50s and I got a late start on my 401(k) plan at work. All my contributions go into a balanced fund, but when I get my statement each quarter, it seems that I'm losing as much as I'm contributing. Should I leave my money where it is or should I switch to another fund? --Linda Mandrell, Tampa, FloridaTue, 02 Jun 2009 14:24:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/18/pf/expert/401k_rating.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/18/pf/expert/401k_rating.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: Is there a listing that would allow me to see how my 401(k) plan compares with other companies' 401(k)s? --Debbie W., Mount Laurel, New JerseyTue, 19 May 2009 08:12:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/07/pf/saving/updegrave_ira_withdrawal.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/07/pf/saving/updegrave_ira_withdrawal.moneymag/index.htmQ. I lost my job this year. Much of my savings is in a traditional IRA account. If I were forced to tap it, what would be the penalty for early withdrawal?Thu, 07 May 2009 15:55:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/14/pf/expert/IRA_anniversary.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/14/pf/expert/IRA_anniversary.moneymag/index.htmIt's official: 2009 marks the 35th anniversary of the individual retirement account. I will now pause for a moment as spontaneous celebrations break out across the land.Tue, 05 May 2009 19:00:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/04/pf/expert/financial_advisers.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/04/pf/expert/financial_advisers.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I was laid off recently and have been approached by several financial advisers who all want me to roll over my 401(k) into an IRA. Sometimes I feel like everyone is out to make a commission off my misfortune. Who do I trust? --Marcy, Hutchinson, MinnesotaTue, 05 May 2009 10:04:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/27/pf/expert/retirement_calculators.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/27/pf/expert/retirement_calculators.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 40 years old, and according to an online calculator I used recently, I should now have $900,000 saved to assure a comfortable retirement. I'm guessing I have only about $100,000 (I'm afraid to look). What is the best way of making up the $800,000 gap over the next 25 years? --Jeff, Canton, MichiganTue, 28 Apr 2009 10:33:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/20/pf/saving/401k_ending_willis.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/20/pf/saving/401k_ending_willis.moneymag/index.htmQ. My company just announced that it is suspending its 401(k) match. Is it still worth contributing?Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:10:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/retirement/retirement_rescue.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/retirement/retirement_rescue.moneymag/index.htmWill I ever be able to retire now? That's a question you're likely asking yourself these days. After a year in which your 401(k) has been hammered by the biggest stock losses since the Great Depression, your home equity has been whacked by the collapse of the real estate market and the specter of being laid off looms larger every day, no one can blame you for being skeptical.Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:09:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/06/pf/expert/retirement_strategy.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/04/06/pf/expert/retirement_strategy.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My wife and I hope to retire in five to seven years, but our retirement accounts got clobbered recently. We now have approximately $180,000 in cash that we need a game plan for. Can you help? --Pat C., York, PennsylvaniaTue, 07 Apr 2009 08:39:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/03/29/willis.helpdesk.jobs/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/03/29/willis.helpdesk.jobs/index.html#cnnSTCTextThe current stock market presents an opportunity for people who have time to watch their investments grow. Individual retirement accounts are one saving vehicle, but converting from one type of IRA to another involves careful consideration.Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:11:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/30/pf/expert/401k_bargains.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/30/pf/expert/401k_bargains.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've lost a lot of money during this financial mess and I'm wondering when I should go back to putting 15% of my salary into my 401(K)? --Michelle Bonds, Rocky Mount, N.C.Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:32:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/24/pf/expert/401k_losses.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/24/pf/expert/401k_losses.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: . I was laid off recently and want to roll over the substantial balance in my 401(k) into an IRA. But I don't know whether to do the rollover now and risk locking in losses or wait until the market recovers and then roll it over. What do you think? Steve, Wichita Falls, TexasTue, 24 Mar 2009 18:02:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/pf/saving/willis_credit_card_default/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/pf/saving/willis_credit_card_default/index.htmQuestion 1. If you have no credit card debt and have closed your credit card accounts, how can this hurt your credit score? - NathanFri, 20 Mar 2009 14:35:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/17/pf/expert/sticking_with_401k.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/17/pf/expert/sticking_with_401k.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm trying to decide whether to participate in my company's 401(k) plan. I'd like to start contributing to it, but given what's going on in the markets and economy, I'm afraid this is just not the right time. Or is it? --Rudy H., Pearland, TXWed, 18 Mar 2009 16:23:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/18/pf/saving/401k_willis/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/18/pf/saving/401k_willis/index.htmRetirement may seem like a fantasy if you watched your 401(k) crater over the last year. The average retirement portfolio lost 27% by the end of 2008.Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:43:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/17/pf/saving/catchup_401k.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/17/pf/saving/catchup_401k.moneymag/index.htmQ. I'm over 50, and I've taken a beating in the market. I'm maxing out my 401(k) and IRA. How can I get the 10% annual return I need to achieve a secure retirement without too much risk? - Matt, St. Louis A.Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:10:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/16/pf/Financial_security_rules.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/16/pf/Financial_security_rules.moneymag/index.htmJohn Maynard Keynes, the Depression-era economist who's having quite the comeback, once quipped when he was accused of inconsistency: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:15:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/02/pf/expert/retirement_losses.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/02/pf/expert/retirement_losses.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've just received the statement for my workplace retirement savings account -- 99% of which is invested in an S&P 500 index fund -- and it shows a loss of 37.5% for 2008. I'm 60, make about $100,000 and I was hoping to retire next year. What immediate next step should I be taking to recover my account value? --Benjamin, Albuquerque, New MexicoMon, 16 Mar 2009 10:45:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/09/pf/expert/401k_strategy.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/09/pf/expert/401k_strategy.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: Like many people, I've seen the value of my 401(k) drop considerably over the last year. I am invested for the long haul and am willing to ride out my current losses hoping for recovery. But I'm wondering whether I should re-direct my current and future contributions into my 401(k)'s money-market option until the economy settles. Do you think that's a smart move, or should I just continue investing my new contributions into my current fund allocations? --Mike, Baltimore, MarylandTue, 10 Mar 2009 09:56:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/06/pf/retirement/revell.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/06/pf/retirement/revell.moneymag/index.htmIn case you missed it, some bombshell news came out of the personal finance arena last week. No, I'm not referring to the Federal Reserve's rate cut or the record-breaking price of oil.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:51:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/05/pf/retirement/revell_rebalancing.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/05/pf/retirement/revell_rebalancing.moneymag/index.htmAs a current Supreme Court case shows, even investors with the best intentions can lose big when their 401(k) plans mess up. The lesson: You should take advantage of a host of new investments that make sure that never happens to you.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:50:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/04/25/pf/retirement/Roth_IRA.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/04/25/pf/retirement/Roth_IRA.moneymag/index.htmYou might be listening to the symphony of financial experts extolling the virtues of a 401(k) plan, often touted as the best way to save for your golden years. But that's not necessarily the case.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:49:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/05/08/pf/retirement/revell_taxes.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/05/08/pf/retirement/revell_taxes.moneymag/index.htmLast week, the federal government began sending out more than $100 billion in "tax rebates" to millions of Americans in an effort to stimulate the sluggish economy.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:48:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/05/19/pf/retirement/West_virginia_pensions.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/05/19/pf/retirement/West_virginia_pensions.moneymag/index.htmLast week's West Virginia election should frighten you.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:47:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/13/retirement/do_over.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/13/retirement/do_over.moneymag/index.htmI may write about retirement for a living, but that doesn't mean I like seeing my 401(k) crater any more than you do. Given what's been happening in the market, I sometimes catch myself thinking how great it would be if my financial future weren't tied to something as volatile as Wall Street's mood.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:43:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/03/06/rs.money.missteps/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/03/06/rs.money.missteps/index.html#cnnSTCTextAll money missteps matter, but there are ways to keep your financial foibles from costing you big bucks.Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:03:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/17/pf/expert/20_something_saver.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/17/pf/expert/20_something_saver.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My wife and I are 27 years old and have contributed to a Roth IRA the past two years. Our money is in a 2040 target-date retirement fund that has about 90% of its assets invested in stocks and the rest in bonds and money-market funds. Should we continue to contribute the maximum to our Roth IRA if this is our only retirement vehicle? And is a portfolio mix of 90% stocks and 10% bonds and cash right for this volatile market? Joe, Lancaster, OhioWed, 04 Mar 2009 19:25:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/03/pf/expert/save_more.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/03/pf/expert/save_more.moneymag/index.htmGiven the havoc the market has wreaked on your 401(k) over the past year, you may be wondering what you might have done differently to stay in better shape for retirement.Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:14:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/26/pf/saving/toptips_personalsavings_willis/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/26/pf/saving/toptips_personalsavings_willis/index.htmThe personal savings rate has been rising: In the last three months of 2008, it hit its highest level in six years.Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:34:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/25/pf/expert/save_more_401k.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/25/pf/expert/save_more_401k.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 25 and currently contribute 8% of my salary to my 401(k) since that percentage assures I get the full employer match. But since stocks are so cheap right now, I'm considering bumping up my contribution for a few months. I won't miss the extra amount coming out of my paycheck, so do you think I should go through with this plan? --Mike, Houston, TexasThu, 26 Feb 2009 11:24:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/retirement/Wang_fix401k.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/retirement/Wang_fix401k.moneymag/index.htmAlicia Munnell is a Harvard-trained economist. She served as an assistant secretary of the Treasury and is regarded as one of America's foremost experts on 401(k)s. You'd think she'd be terrific at managing her own retirement, but even she has to fess up to some mistakes. "When my son got married, I took some money out of my plan to help," says Munnell, who heads Boston College's Center for Retirement Research (CRR). "And I ended up paying a 10% penalty and taxes."Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/02/pf/expert/parents_retirement_help.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/02/pf/expert/parents_retirement_help.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My mother is 50 years old and has no 401(k), IRA or any type of retirement account that she can rely on when she is no longer able to work. What type of plan can I set up for her so she can start saving money? --L.K., Lancaster, PennsylvaniaThu, 12 Feb 2009 17:28:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/05/pf/expert/401k_strategy.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/05/pf/expert/401k_strategy.moneymag/index.htmQuestions: I currently contribute 10% of pay to my company retirement savings plan -- my employer matches half of that amount -- and I'm heavily invested in both domestic and foreign stock index funds. I plan to retire in 16 years. Should I continue to ride out this market with risky funds or should I think about cutting back my losses? --Mike, Washington, DCFri, 06 Feb 2009 10:16:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/29/retirement/tax_advantaged_retirement.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/29/retirement/tax_advantaged_retirement.moneymag/index.htmMark Vilrokx, 37, and Carine Beysen, 35, ought to ace retirement. The San Mateo, Calif. couple have great jobs - he's a manager at Oracle, she's a research director for a biotech company - and they earn a combined $210,000 a year. They have no mortgage, no student loans, no car loans, no credit-card debt. They're also diligent savers who put away a hefty chunk of their income every year for retirement.Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:12:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/20/pf/expert/expert_RMD.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/20/pf/expert/expert_RMD.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've reached the age where I've got to start taking mandatory withdrawals from my retirement accounts. I don't need the money, so I'm wondering where I can stash it to earn more gains and possibly get some tax advantages as well. Any suggestions? --Joe, Redondo Beach, Calif.Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:37:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/pf/expert/401k_match.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/pf/expert/401k_match.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My company has suspended matching contributions in my 401(k). I'm unsure what to do, but I'm thinking of rolling my 401(k) into an IRA account. Is that a good idea? --Brian, Taylor, MichiganThu, 15 Jan 2009 11:53:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/12/pf/expert/target_date_funds.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/12/pf/expert/target_date_funds.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: Since I'm getting close to retirement, I've moved my money into the target-date retirement fund offered in my company's 401(k). Do you think these funds are good investments? --Lucia Cannon, Johnson City, New YorkTue, 13 Jan 2009 11:36:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/08/pf/expert/Roth_recharacterization.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/08/pf/expert/Roth_recharacterization.moneymag/index.htmEver made a financial decision you wish you hadn't, like buying a mutual fund that turned out to be a dog? Wouldn't it be neat if you could simply act as if it had never happened? Well, you have that choice when you convert a 401(k) or traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. That's right: Change your mind and you may be able to get a do-over.Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:39:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/07/pf/expert/company_stock.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/07/pf/expert/company_stock.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 48 years old and have about 90% of my 401(k) invested in my company's stock and the rest in an international equity fund. I want to diversify further, but don't know where to turn. Any suggestions? --J.D., Glenville, New YorkThu, 08 Jan 2009 12:26:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/22/retirement/retirement_policy.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/22/retirement/retirement_policy.moneymag/index.htmWhen it comes to retirement, I've got a whole laundry list of issues I wish President-elect Barack Obama and his counterparts in Congress would tackle as soon as they are sworn in this month. But the U.S. deficit has hit record levels, so I'm trying to be realistic about what we can afford. With that in mind, I'm paring down my retirement wish list to three things that can make a big impact - without blowing a hole in the nation's finances.Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:02:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/05/pf/expert/retirement_resolutions.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/05/pf/expert/retirement_resolutions.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've lost money in my 401(k) and I'm not interested in losing any more. So I'm thinking of moving my money into more secure investments. I know I can always change my allocations later, but what's the best way to keep my 401(k) stable until this roller coaster ride is over? --Michelle, Moravian Falls, North CarolinaTue, 06 Jan 2009 21:23:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/16/pf/expert/expert_IRA_fees.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/16/pf/expert/expert_IRA_fees.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My adviser charges me between 5% and 6% of what I invest in the mutual funds for my IRA. He says this fee is extremely fair to me. But I previously had an IRA for which I paid only $20 a year. What is an acceptable fee for an IRA? --Teresa Nagengast, Deptford, New JerseyTue, 16 Dec 2008 20:02:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/08/pf/expert/Ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/08/pf/expert/Ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 60 years old and in good health. I can afford to put off drawing Social Security until after age 62 to get a higher monthly check, but I'm not sure if I should. What factors should I consider when deciding whether I should hold off collecting Social Security? Robert Walker, Austin, TexasTue, 09 Dec 2008 19:24:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/08/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/08/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmThe news on the economic front is grim. But there are strategies you can do now to help make the best out of a bad year.Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:57:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/04/news/economy/retirement_survey/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/12/04/news/economy/retirement_survey/index.htmAs the economic crisis continues to hammer Americans, many are turning to desperate measures by dipping into their retirement funds to make ends meet, according to a survey released Thursday.Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:58:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/11/28/smallbusiness/roth_return.fsb/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/11/28/smallbusiness/roth_return.fsb/index.htmPaul Heck owns EveryHome, A successful real estate brokerage in suburban Philadelphia. The 53-year-old never considered making a Roth IRA part of his retirement plan. While Heck understands the substantial tax advantages of a Roth, he makes too much money to qualify. Recently, however, he got a tip from his financial planner about an upcoming change in the tax law that will allow Heck - and many other business owners - to seize a back-door opportunity to open a Roth.Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:25:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/11/06/pf/expert/save_retirement.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/11/06/pf/expert/save_retirement.moneymag/index.htmWithout a doubt, the past few months have ranked as the most tumultuous - and scariest - times that I've seen in the more than 20 years I've been at Money magazine. We've witnessed events that up to now had been almost unimaginable: the stock market fluctuating wildly and governments around the globe taking extraordinary steps to unlock frozen credit markets. And it's still unclear when the economy and the markets will hit bottom.Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:35:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/22/pf/expert/ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/22/pf/expert/ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmIt's one of the most widely accepted benchmarks in retirement planning: You'll need just 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income to maintain the same standard of living when you leave work behind. This rule of thumb can be traced to the replacement-ratio studies done for 20 years by Aon Consulting and Georgia State University. The idea is that since you'll no longer have to plow money into 401(k)s and other accounts and your expenses and taxes are likely to drop, you'll be able to live well on less.Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:40:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/retirement/retirement_firstaid.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/retirement/retirement_firstaid.moneymag/index.htmLawrence Ferreira, 56, has become bear-market road kill. The New York City attorney's 401(k) plan, which is split between four stock funds, is down 35% this year, erasing tens of thousands of dollars in retirement assets.Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:09:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/09/09/retirement/retirement_danger.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/09/09/retirement/retirement_danger.moneymag/index.htmThe decade before you quit the work force, along with the five years immediately after, is the most sensitive period in an entire lifetime of retirement planning. The saving, investment and career decisions you make during this time will dictate in a major way whether you'll spend the next 30 to 40 years enjoying the life you've always looked forward to or eating the early-bird special at Denny's.Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:10:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/06/16/news/economy/retirement_savings/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/06/16/news/economy/retirement_savings/index.htmWith most Americans doing a lousy job saving for their Golden Years, Barack Obama says the government has to step in.Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:29:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/04/09/pf/retirement/ebri_retirement/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/04/09/pf/retirement/ebri_retirement/index.htmAmericans are becoming increasingly worried about saving for their retirement as the nation's economic outlook continues to darken, according to a new survey of workers and retirees released Wednesday.Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:47:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/02/28/pf/expert/ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/02/28/pf/expert/ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm looking to retire in the near future and want to know how an "everyday" investor like me can develop a good strategy for taking income from my savings. Any advice? --Nate, Carbondale, IllinoisThu, 28 Feb 2008 20:13:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/02/13/pf/expert/ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/02/13/pf/expert/ask_the_expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've been contributing 15% of my salary and bonus to my 401(k), as well as investing in a Roth IRA and other accounts. With everyone so sure we're headed for a recession, I'm wondering whether I should move my money into more stable investments to avoid losses as some people suggest or whether I should just view this time as an opportunity to buy in at cheaper prices. What do you think? --Sandy R., Los Angeles, Calif.Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:09:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/02/13/pf/expert/ask_the_expert_IRA.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/02/13/pf/expert/ask_the_expert_IRA.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: It's my understanding that starting in 2010 the rule that prohibits you from converting from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (for modified adjusted gross incomes over $100,000) will be eliminated. If that's the case, can I convert all types of IRAs - deductible IRAs, nondeductible and even rollover IRAs that contain money moved from a 401(k) plan? How long do I have to do this? Do the new conversion rules expire at some point? --Hussam, Bergenfield, New JerseyFri, 15 Feb 2008 16:24:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/22/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/22/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'd like to reduce my tax liability for 2007. Can I still make a contribution to my 401(k) or to an IRA and have it count toward the 2007 tax year? Or is too late for me to do that now? --J. ScottWed, 23 Jan 2008 22:42:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/14/pf/expert/expertb.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/14/pf/expert/expertb.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 24 and my employer matches up to 5 percent of my salary in my 401(k) plan. If I want to save, say, 8 percent of my salary, would I be better off putting it all in the 401(k), or limiting my 401(k) contribution to 5 percent of pay and putting the rest in a Roth IRA? -Dave Meyer, Corpus Christi, TexasSun, 20 Jan 2008 20:02:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I pay $300 a month on my credit-card balance of roughly $11,000. I have an extra $350 a month that I can use to further reduce my credit-card balance, or that I can invest in a Roth IRA. Which will give me the biggest bang for my buck? - William Scott, Spotsylvania, VirginiaThu, 17 Jan 2008 21:33:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/27/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/27/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 46 and have about $350,000 set aside in my workplace retirement savings plan in what I would call a moderately aggressive mix of stock and bonds funds. I contribute the maximum every year to this plan, and my wife and I also contribute to Roth IRAs (although not the max).Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:20:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/31/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/31/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 46 and have about $350,000 set aside in my workplace retirement savings plan in what I would call a moderately aggressive mix of stock and bonds funds.Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:22:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/18/pf/expert/expert3.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/18/pf/expert/expert3.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've been out of college a year and I want to be sure I'm on the right track to retire early. I currently contribute 5 percent of my salary to my 401(k), which is matched in full by my employer, plus I invest $200 a month in a stock fund. I just got a raise and am now trying to decide whether I should consider putting some of that money into an IRA or boost my investment in the stock fund. What do you suggest?Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:28:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/11/pf/right_call.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/11/pf/right_call.moneymag/index.htmAs you invest your money, shop for a home or tackle any one of the many financial decisions you have to make over your lifetime, do you sometimes wish you'd paid more attention in math class? Do you find yourself having to "run the numbers" and wondering how?Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:19:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/30/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/30/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I have a chance to pick up two ocean-front condos on the east coast of Florida for about $85,000. I was thinking of buying them in an all-cash deal with my IRA account, but I'm not sure whether you're allowed to own real estate inside an IRA. Can I do this? - Bernard Grossman, Hallendale Beach, FloridaMon, 03 Dec 2007 17:09:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/19/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/19/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 59 years old, earn $125,000 a year and plan on working until I am eligible for full Social Security benefits. I have about $1.6 million that's invested in a number of retirement accounts (mostly tax-deferred, but I have a Roth IRA too) and I own an investment property worth about $390,000.Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:24:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/16/pf/taxes/tax_savings_yearend/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/16/pf/taxes/tax_savings_yearend/index.htmYou probably don't know what your federal tax liability will be for 2007, and Congress certainly isn't helping. Lawmakers have yet to pass a temporary fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax, to prevent 21 million of us from having to pay the so-called wealth tax.Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:20:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/12/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/12/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My employer offers a 401(k), but no match. Given that I'm already maxing out my Roth IRA, would I be better off investing in a taxable account rather than contributing to my no-match 401(k)? - Luis Gonzalez, Denver, ColoradoTue, 13 Nov 2007 20:47:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/25/pf/ask_the_mole.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/25/pf/ask_the_mole.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I have a company managing my IRA, they charge a high fee - up to 2.5 percent depending on the account. I see in their quarterly report that they often don't beat the Lipper averages for certain sectors. With such a management fee, should I expect to consistently beat the averages?Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:51:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My father-in-law is 58 years old and has about $300,000 saved for retirement. He plans to retire with this amount plus whatever he can save in the next seven years. I expect he will qualify for only a little in the way of Social Security. I've read that retirees shouldn't withdraw more than 4 percent to 4.5 percent of their nest egg annually in retirement. But my father-in-law claims he can easily get a double-A or triple-A rated bond that will pay 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent, so a higher withdrawal rate should be no problem. Am I right to be concerned about his retirement security? - J. JordanThu, 08 Nov 2007 15:51:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/06/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/06/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I have a modest salary and can set aside only $50 a month toward my nine-year-old son's college fund. My problem is that the 529 college-savings account I would like to open requires a minimum of $1,000. I don't want to raid my savings account to open this fund, so what I should do to begin saving for my son's future college expenses? - Shelly Losoya, Sacramento, CaliforniaWed, 07 Nov 2007 15:23:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/11/12/100954546/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/11/12/100954546/index.htmTarget-date funds are the rare eat-your-vegetables financial product that have actually caught on with investors. These funds hold a mix of stocks and bonds that changes as an investor's anticipated retirement year approaches. For instance, the equity allocation of the Fidelity Freedom 2045 shrinks from 90% in 2005 to 40% by 2045.Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:15:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/04/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/04/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I want to estimate the effect inflation will have on my retirement income. For example, if I have a retirement income of $60,000 a year and inflation runs 3 percent a year, how much will inflation affect my buying power in say, 10 or 20 years? How do I do this? Is there some sort of formula I can use? - Carl Willis, Atlanta, GeorgiaFri, 02 Nov 2007 20:56:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/25/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/25/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I contribute 15 percent of my salary to my 401(k) and put money into an IRA and a taxable investment account, but I don't have much investing experience. I've heard that I should rebalance my portfolio each year, but I'm not sure how to do that.Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:27:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/22/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/22/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 30 years old and invest regularly in my 401(k). So far, my account has been doing well, but I wonder whether that might change when retiring baby boomers stop making investment contributions and begin taking money out of their retirement accounts. Are we in for a bump down the road when the boomers retire? - Jason, Salt Lake City, UtahWed, 24 Oct 2007 13:40:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/22/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/22/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmThe Dow Jones had its third worst day of the year on Friday. Add to that worries about the economy and estimates that by 2017, Social Security will start paying out more in benefits than it collects every year in taxes.Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:38:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/11/smbusiness/withdraw_IRA_funds.fsb/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/11/smbusiness/withdraw_IRA_funds.fsb/index.htmDear FSB: I'm thinking of withdrawing funds from my IRA early to invest in building the next phase of our guest ranch - Mongolian-style yurts - on the land we own. My partners and I expect the expansion to generate solid revenues. Should we consider using retirement savings as a source of capital?Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:26:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: An adviser helped us set up an IRA account and on his recommendation we began investing in a target-date retirement fund that charges a 6.5 percent sales fee. We've asked him to switch us to another target-date fund that has no sales fee and invests in low-cost index funds, but he says the fund we're in now has a shot at better returns because it's actively managed. Do you think we should stay with the fund our adviser recommended? - Dinh HoTue, 16 Oct 2007 10:16:00 EDThttp://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/10/09/o.money.maturity/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/personal/10/09/o.money.maturity/index.html#cnnSTCTextTo everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season (turn, turn, turn) ... a time to enroll in a retirement plan and a time to withdraw, a time to put your money in savings and a time to transfer it to a money market account. Decade by decade, financial freedom can be yours -- Suze Orman swears it's not too late.Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:44:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/10/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/10/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 44, and after maxing out my 401(k) and Roth IRA, I still have about $400 a month I'd like to invest outside these accounts for early retirement. Would you suggest I invest this money in an annuity? - Angie Tyrie, Hinton, West VirginiaThu, 11 Oct 2007 13:23:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/05/pf/retirement/cash_it_in.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/05/pf/retirement/cash_it_in.moneymag/index.htmWhy spend decades carefully cultivating your 401(k) plan, only to fritter away your hard-earned investment gains through taxes or penalties when you change jobs or retire?Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:37:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/08/pf/expert/expert1.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/08/pf/expert/expert1.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: If you contribute to a traditional IRA, after many years most of your account value will be in the form of investment earnings, which are taxable when you withdraw them. With a Roth, on the other hand, your balance will be tax-free. So it seems to me that the advantage of tax-free withdrawals from the Roth in the future greatly outweighs any tax-deduction benefit you get from a traditional IRA. Doesn't that make the Roth a better deal? - Daniel SirokyMon, 08 Oct 2007 20:12:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/02/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/02/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 25 years old and I would like to retire in my 50's. I already contribute to my 401(k), but I'd like to fund an IRA as well. How do I do that? - Steve Henry, Lakeland, FloridaSat, 06 Oct 2007 16:35:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/18/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/18/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My daughter is 16 and has earned about $2,000. I'm trying to convince her to put some or all of it into a Roth IRA. If I'm able to convince her, what investments would you recommend for her since this is money she won't touch for 40 or 50 years. - Marianne Morris, Santa Barbara, Calif.Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:49:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/20/news/economy/biden.ap/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/20/news/economy/biden.ap/index.htmDemocratic presidential candidate Joe Biden released a plan Wednesday to protect Americans' retirement savings and even help children begin to sock away money.Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:11:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/12/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/12/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: Our granddaughter fully funds her 401(k). But to give her an incentive to save even more, we give her $2,000 a year to invest in a Roth IRA, provided she invests $2,000 of her own money first. She recently married, however, and now her and her spouse's combined income make her ineligible to fund a Roth. We'd like to continue our matching-fund arrangement with a non-deductible IRA. Is that possible? - Lauri ShaferFri, 14 Sep 2007 01:21:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/12/real_estate/countrywide_employee_suit.ap/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/12/real_estate/countrywide_employee_suit.ap/index.htmSome Countrywide Financial Corp. employees sued the mortgage lender Wednesday, claiming they suffered heavy losses in their 401k retirement accounts after the company failed to warn them about the depth of its financial troubles.Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:43:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/29/pf/expert/expert_thursday.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/29/pf/expert/expert_thursday.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 34 and am concerned about how to invest my retirement savings in this market. I currently have 100 percent of my portfolio in a mix of funds that invest in large-to-small-cap stocks as well as international funds. But I'm wondering how much I should change that mix given these turbulent times. What do you suggest? - Brian, Mitchell, South DakotaThu, 30 Aug 2007 10:42:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/22/pf/makeover.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/22/pf/makeover.moneymag/index.htmLike most 19-year-olds, Jennifer Leon took a job to help save extra money for a secret splurge. Unlike her peers, though, her splurge was retirement. "I could already see myself older, stepping out of my beach house and right onto the sand," says Jennifer, who worked as a bank teller back then.Fri, 24 Aug 2007 02:14:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/21/pf/expert/expert_tuesday.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/21/pf/expert/expert_tuesday.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 65 and my husband is 70. We're both retired and receiving Social Security and pensions. We have about $150,000 in traditional IRAs, but we don't want to take money from these accounts for another 10 years, unless we're forced to. We're also wondering how our IRA funds should be invested. We're thinking 80 percent in stocks and 20 percent in bonds. Does that make sense to you? - Dana Chaoxia, San Francisco, CaliforniaWed, 22 Aug 2007 01:13:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/13/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/13/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've read that if I withdraw roughly 4 percent of my retirement savings each year to live on, my money will last virtually forever. But does this 4 percent include the money my portfolio already kicks off in dividends and interest? Or is the 4 percent withdrawal on top of that? - Doug Martin, Syracuse, New YorkThu, 16 Aug 2007 08:15:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/30/pf/expert/expert2.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/30/pf/expert/expert2.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've contributed to a Roth IRA in the past and plan to do so again this year. My wife isn't employed, but I was wondering whether I can make a Roth IRA contribution for her too. If so, can we have a joint account or do we need two separate IRA accounts? - Raj, Edison, N.J.Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:42:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/30/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/30/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My company 401(k) plan has no match. So I'm debating whether I'd be better off contributing to the plan or instead just buying index funds on a monthly basis. What do you think? - MatthewTue, 31 Jul 2007 02:29:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/23/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/23/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: My wife and I are in our 30's and have $380,000 invested in three annuities and $166,000 invested in 401(k)s, one of which I'm still funding with 6 percent of my paycheck. Do you think it makes sense to have so much invested in annuities at our age? - Craig, Clinton, MichiganFri, 27 Jul 2007 08:17:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/09/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/09/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm in my early 30s and have yet to save for retirement. Unfortunately, my job doesn't provide a pension or a 401(k), so I need to rely on myself to save money. Can you give me some advice on how I can get started? - Annette, Ewing, New JerseyTue, 10 Jul 2007 01:49:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/03/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/03/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 25, make about $50,000 a year and invest $150 a month in an insurance policy for retirement. I do plan on contributing to my workplace retirement savings plan soon and also hope to open a Roth IRA, but in the meantime my adviser has suggested I increase my investment in the insurance policy to $300 a month. What do you think I should do? - RobThu, 05 Jul 2007 02:03:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/06/28/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/06/28/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I contribute to my 401(k), but a firm that doesn't offer a 401(k) recently bought my wife's company. We both contribute the maximum to Roth IRAs, but I'm wondering what we can do to make up for the loss of her 401(k). Since she no longer has a retirement plan at work can she now also contribute to a traditional IRA as well as a Roth? - Chris, Austin, TexasSun, 01 Jul 2007 06:40:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/07/01/100116646/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/07/01/100116646/index.htmANNE SCHUETTE, SADLY, WAS NOT SURPRISED WHEN HER mother Dorothy died in 2003 after years of battling cancer. But discovering that her mother had left her and her two siblings $400,000 each was a shock. "I had no idea she had that much money," says Anne, 48, who described the revelation as "bittersweet." Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:00:00 EDT