-
5 Ways to Tell if You are Ready to Retire
Tweet Share on Facebook December 15, 2010 Comment (6)Perhaps you love your job. You appreciate the mental stimulation, you like the people you work with, and you enjoy having the structure that a job creates. If you are contemplating retirement with some trepidation, don’t rush it. If you are enjoying your life the way it is, don’t retire just because you have reached a certain age or a certain retirement account balance. But if you feel like work is getting in the way of your enjoyment of life, and you think your finances are on track, here are a few tips to get past those retirement jitters.
-
What Happens to My Pension if My Company Goes Bankrupt?
Tweet Share on Facebook December 14, 2010 Comment (1)You served your company faithfully for a couple of decades and as a reward for your hard work, your company gave you a pension. Congratulations, you achieved part of the American dream. But what happens if the company providing your pension goes bankrupt?
-
How to Retire On Less Money in Brazil
Tweet Share on Facebook December 13, 2010 Comment (7)Rodney Beatin and his wife, a couple of 60-somethings, divide their time between Columbus, Ohio, and Brazil, spending six months a year in each place. One of the reasons for their move was to live in a place with a low cost of living that is easier on their retirement budget.
-
When to Include Taxable Accounts in a Retirement Plan
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2010 Comment (1)We are bombarded with tax-advantaged choices in which to do our retirement saving, including 401(k)s and IRAs. However, there are several situations in which it makes sense to invest for retirement elsewhere, like in a taxable brokerage account. Here are a few valid reasons you might want to do some of your retirement saving outside of the traditional tax-sheltered accounts.
-
A Retirement Readiness Financial Checklist
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2010 CommentUnless retirement is forced on you by bad health or employer downsizing, you should be able to financially assess your retirement readiness. For some, that assessment is as simple as knowing when you will become eligible for a generous pension. For others, Social Security and personal savings will provide most of your retirement income.
-
5 Reasons Your Retirement Will Include Work
Tweet Share on Facebook December 8, 2010 CommentI had lunch with a friend last week. She asked me why today’s retirees keep retiring, un-retiring, retiring, and then un-retiring again. She met a woman last weekend that retired from her dental practice in her early 50’s only to be lured back to work at a non-profit AIDS clinic several years later. My aunt retired from her high school teaching job, only to return to it a few years later as well. And after nearly three years of full-time retirement, I was enticed to dabble in a part-time consulting job in my old field.
-
6 Ways to Bulletproof Your Retirement Plan
Tweet Share on Facebook December 8, 2010 Comment (1)Most of us already know that we should become more conservative with our investments as we age, and gradually allocate more of our portfolio to bonds and other safer investments. Here are six other ways you can reduce your risk as you age and as your retirement assets grow larger.
-
The Risks of Contributing Too Much to a 401(k) or IRA
Tweet Share on Facebook December 7, 2010 CommentThere are many ways to save for retirement. You can open a Roth IRA with a financial institution, contribute to a 401(k) or Thrift Savings Plan account through your employer, make contributions to a self-employed retirement plan, or use some combination of these accounts. Having several retirement accounts to choose from offers you flexibility when planning your retirement, but it can also open the door for making honest mistakes such as exceeding the annual contribution limits. Once you reach your contribution limits, you must stop making deposits into the account. Here’s a look at the consequences of contributing too much money to your retirement accounts.
-
How to Buy Real Estate in a Foreign Country
Tweet Share on Facebook December 6, 2010 Comment (1)You want to be sober when considering property purchase options in whatever foreign land you’re looking at for your retirement. The trouble is, in these lands of mananas and fiestas, the rum flows, and so do the promises. But rum and real estate don’t mix, especially in a foreign country. The key to success navigating the purchase of a piece of real estate overseas, especially in developing-world markets, is to avoid the liquor and to turn a deaf ear to the assurances.
-
Boost Retirement Savings by Avoiding Car Payments
Tweet Share on Facebook December 2, 2010 Comment (1)Monthly loan payments can be a retirement killer. Vehicle loan expenses may be the worst of all because you are paying for a depreciating asset. Americans have become so accustomed to making car payments that they don’t know how to stop. When their once-new vehicle shows signs of age, they trade it for something newer and the payment cycle continues. Vehicle payments become a permanent part of their financial life. That’s almost certainly going to delay your retirement or make your retirement lifestyle less comfortable.
