Retirement planning — 401(k), IRA, Social Security, and financial advice for your later years.
8 Signs You’ll Thrive in Retirement (Even If You're Afraid to Make the Leap)
# Are You Ready to Retire? Eight Signs Point to Yes Retirement anxiety affects millions of workers approaching their final paychecks. The Kiplinger a…
Traditional and Roth IRA Income Limits for 2026
The IRS has set 2026 income limits that determine who can contribute to Traditional and Roth IRAs, with different thresholds based on filing status an…
Your 401(k) Looks Big. Your Spendable Retirement Income May Be Much Smaller
# Your 401(k) Looks Big. Your Spendable Retirement Income May Be Much Smaller A large 401(k) balance at retirement doesn't guarantee comfortable spen…
#736: Q&A: Would You Spend $60,000 on a Wedding Knowing It Could Be $800,000 Someday?
A couple wrestling with wedding costs faces a bigger question: how much can they afford to spend today without derailing long-term financial goals. T…
A Financial Checklist for Your 50s
By your 50s, retirement planning shifts from theoretical to urgent. You have one to two decades before you stop working, and that timeline requires co…
High Earners’ Catch-Up Contributions Are Headed to Roth — Why 2027 Planning Starts Now
Starting January 1, 2027, high-earning workers will face a major shift in how they save for retirement. The IRS finalized rules under the SECURE 2.0 A…
Power Pellets for Gen X Portfolios: These Are the Defensive Plays the Pac-Man Generation Needs for Retirement
Gen X faces a retirement crisis that demands defensive investment strategies. This generation, now in their late 50s and early 60s, started saving lat…
States With No Retirement Tax Ranked by Medical Care
# States With No Retirement Tax Ranked by Medical Care Nine states levy no income tax on retirement income, creating an appealing financial picture f…
Why Paying More in Taxes Today Could Leave You Wealthier Tomorrow: A Financial Planner Explains Roth Conversions
A Roth conversion lets you move money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth account, triggering immediate taxes. The payoff arrives later. Once…
How the AI Entry-Level Freeze Is Delaying Retirement
Recent college graduates face severe hiring barriers in today's job market, with companies freezing entry-level positions despite overall demand for w…
Why Most People Overpay Taxes in Retirement — and Don't Even Know It
Many retirees face unexpectedly high tax bills despite earning modest incomes. The culprit isn't complex tax code, but rather poor planning around the…
How to Buy Gold in an IRA
# How to Buy Gold in an IRA Self-directed IRAs let you hold physical gold and other precious metals alongside stocks and bonds. This option appeals t…
My First $1 Million: Mental Health Professional, 45, Arkansas
A 45-year-old mental health professional in Arkansas has reached a net worth of $1 million, but rejected the traditional framing of wealth-building as…
Retirement context
Retirement planning — 401(k), IRA, Social Security, and financial advice for your later years.