Retirement planning — 401(k), IRA, Social Security, and financial advice for your later years.
Should You Really Try to ‘Die with Zero’?
# Should You Really Try to "Die with Zero"? A Practical Look at This Philosophy The "die with zero" concept has gained traction in personal finance c…
Avoiding IRMAA Can Actually Cost You More in Retirement: A Financial Adviser Explains Why and What You Can Do Instead
# Avoiding IRMAA Can Actually Cost You More in Retirement Many retirees fixate on dodging Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts, the surcharges M…
Your Revocable Living Trust Won't Protect Your Assets from Long-Term Care Costs: Do This Instead
# Revocable Living Trusts Leave You Exposed to Long-Term Care Costs Revocable living trusts solve one problem: avoiding probate. They do not solve an…
5 Fall Trips That Are Even Better After You Retire
# Five Fall Trips Worth Planning for Your Retirement Years Retirement unlocks travel opportunities that working life rarely permits. Fall represents …
The 4% Rule Can't Safely Determine Anyone's Retirement Income: Here's the Guidance You Really Need
# The 4% Rule Falls Short for Modern Retirements The 4% rule has dominated retirement planning for decades. It suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfo…
What a New Flat-Rate Social Security COLA Would Mean for Retiree Taxes
# What a Flat-Rate Social Security COLA Would Mean for Retiree Taxes Lawmakers are exploring structural changes to Social Security to address the pro…
I'm a Retirement Editor, But My Parents' Estate Tripped Me Up with a Snake, a Gun and a Mystery Box
# When Estate Planning Meets Real Life: What Happened When One Editor Settled Her Parents' Affairs A Kiplinger retirement editor discovered that meti…
Longing for a Long Life? Here's How Your Financial Strategy Can Help You Afford It
# How to Build a Financial Strategy That Supports a Long Retirement Living longer than expected poses a real financial challenge for retirees. The av…
Financial Independence Is the Off-Ramp — Retirement Is Taking It
# Financial Independence Is the Off-Ramp — Retirement Is Taking It Financial independence and retirement operate as two distinct checkpoints on the p…
What It Means to Postal Workers That USPS Is Relying on Employee Retirement Funds to Operate
# The USPS Cash Crisis: What Postal Workers Need to Know About Their Retirement The U.S. Postal Service faces a cash shortage that raises urgent ques…
Social Security Recipients Could Get Their Biggest Raise in 3 Years. Here’s Why
# Social Security Recipients Could Get Their Biggest Raise in 3 Years Social Security beneficiaries may receive a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COL…
Your Beneficiaries Might Be Outdated. Here's How to Check
# Your Beneficiaries Might Be Outdated. Here's How to Check Life changes fast. You get married, divorced, have children, or experience estrangement f…
How to Talk to Your Adult Kids About Their Inheritance
# How to Talk to Your Adult Kids About Their Inheritance Most parents avoid the inheritance conversation. They delay, dodge, and hope the subject nev…
Becoming the Free Nanny to the Grandkids? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions First
# Before You Become the Free Family Nanny, Ask Yourself These Three Questions Grandparents who provide free childcare perform a genuine service. They…
Kiplinger: The Trillion Dollar Talk Research Report
# The Trillion-Dollar Silence: Why American Families Aren't Talking About Wealth Transfer The largest wealth transfer in U.S. history is happening ri…
Now May Be a Better Time to Retire Than You Think: Here's Why
# Now May Be a Better Time to Retire Than You Think Record stock market highs create a window of opportunity for early retirement that many workers o…
The 'Ultra-Low-Risk Portfolio': A Good Choice for Wary Retirees?
# The Ultra-Low-Risk Portfolio: Balancing Safety Against Inflation for Retirees Retirees nervous about market volatility face a genuine tension. Stoc…
Your Game Plan for Retirement: Financial Lessons From Championship Coaches
# Your Game Plan for Retirement: Financial Lessons From Championship Coaches Building a retirement nest egg works much like coaching a championship t…
From an HSA to Healthy Habits: A Financial Consultant's Guide to Slashing Healthcare Costs in Retirement
# How to Use an HSA as Your Secret Weapon for Retirement Healthcare Costs Healthcare expenses in retirement have climbed sharply over the past ten ye…
This Retirement Factor Can Predict Your Longevity Better Than Your Portfolio Strategy
# Purpose in Retirement Matters More Than Your Investment Strategy Your investment allocation and portfolio balance sheets matter far less than you t…
How I'm Getting My Affairs in Order As a New Retiree
# Getting Your Affairs in Order After You Retire Semi-retirement creates a rare window of time and mental space to handle the paperwork most people a…
10 Things the Top 10% of Retirees Do Differently With Their Money
# What Wealthy Retirees Know About Money That Others Miss Financial confidence in retirement depends far more on lifelong planning, discipline, and r…
Why 'Soft Retirement' Changes Your 2026 Roth Conversion Strategy
# Soft Retirement Creates a Tax Planning Window, But Pitfalls Lurk Soft retirement—gradually reducing work hours instead of stopping cold—opens a nar…
The Danger Zone: The 5 Years Before Retirement Can Make or Break Your Future
# The Five-Year Retirement Danger Zone: Why Your Strategy Matters Now The five years immediately before retirement represent one of the most perilous…
If You're in Your 50s or Nearing Retirement, Protecting Your Well-Being Is as Important as Protecting Your Savings
# Holistic Financial Planning Grows Critical for Workers in Their 50s and Beyond Financial advisors increasingly emphasize a reality that spreadsheet…
The Hardest Habit for Millionaires to Break in Retirement
# The Hardest Habit for Millionaires to Break in Retirement Decades of disciplined saving create powerful mental patterns. For millionaires entering …
If You Get Workers’ Comp, Your Social Security Disability Check May Be Smaller Than You Think
# Workers' Comp and Social Security Disability Don't Add Up the Way You'd Think If you receive workers' compensation benefits and later qualify for S…
Ask the Tax Editor, September 4: Changes to 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions and More
# 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions Face New Rules in 2024 A significant change affects workers aged 50 and older who use 401(k) plans to boost retiremen…
What You Can Do if Your Social Security Contributions Fall Short
Social Security's 40-credit requirement stands as a formidable barrier for millions of workers. Each year of substantial earnings nets you four credit…
Financial Literacy Isn't Just About Saving — It's About Protecting What You've Earned
# Financial Literacy Needs to Cover Retirement Account Rollovers and Cash-Outs Most financial literacy programs focus on basic budgeting and emergenc…
A Social Security Office Appointment Is Not the Only Way to Handle Some Card and Benefit Tasks
# Skip the Social Security Office Line: Handle These Tasks Online and by Phone Social Security beneficiaries waste hours waiting in field offices whe…
Do You Have a 'Good' Pension? See Your State's Average
# Do You Have a "Good" Pension? See Your State's Average Just over half of Americans age 65 and older currently receive a pension. These guaranteed l…
Mellody Hobson Shares the No. 1 Mistake Derailing Retirement Savings
# The Retirement Savings Mistake That Feels Safe But Isn't Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments and a recognized voice in personal finance,…
6 Tips for Women Taking the Financial Lead in Retirement
# Six Financial Moves Women Should Make Before Retirement Women face unique challenges in retirement planning that demand deliberate action years in …
How to Save for Retirement Amid Social Security Uncertainty: Strategies for Millennials and Gen Z
# How to Save for Retirement Amid Social Security Uncertainty: Strategies for Millennials and Gen Z Millennials and Gen Z workers face a retirement l…
Why Pre-Planning Your Funeral Is the Ultimate Final Gift to Your Family
# Why Pre-Planning Your Funeral Is the Ultimate Final Gift to Your Family Death is expensive. The average funeral in the United States costs between …
Social Security Benefits Can Plummet When a Spouse Dies: This Is How Annuities Can Help Plug the Income Gap
# Social Security Benefits Can Plummet When a Spouse Dies: This Is How Annuities Can Help Plug the Income Gap When one spouse dies, the surviving par…
Some Retirees Are Choosing Delaware Over Florida: How the Retirement Math Adds Up
# Some Retirees Are Choosing Delaware Over Florida: How the Retirement Math Adds Up Florida's grip on American retirement has loosened. Delaware is n…
The Real Cost of Retiring in Florida: Insider Tips for Newcomers From a Wealth Adviser Who Lives There
# The Real Cost of Retiring in Florida: What Newcomers Actually Pay Florida attracts retirees with its no-income-tax promise. The reality proves more…
Gen Z Wants to Retire With Passive Income. Here’s the Secret to Doing It Right
# Gen Z Wants to Retire With Passive Income. Here's the Secret to Doing It Right Generation Z is fixated on passive income. Social media influencers …
Dave Ramsey Says Save 15% of Your Income for Retirement. Here’s Where To Put It
# Dave Ramsey's 15% Retirement Savings Rule: Where the Money Should Go Dave Ramsey recommends saving 15 percent of your gross income for retirement. …
My First $1 Million: Realtor, 70, Boston
# Realtor at 70 Reaches $1 Million Net Worth While Mentoring Next Generation A 70-year-old Boston realtor has built a $1 million net worth through de…
Are You Ready to Start Spending in Retirement? 5 Questions for New Retirees
# Are You Ready to Start Spending in Retirement? 5 Questions for New Retirees Retirement forces a psychological shift that many savers never anticipa…
A Financial Checklist for Your 70s
# A Financial Checklist for Your 70s Your 70s demand a different financial strategy than your 60s. By now, you've retired, claimed Social Security, a…
Want to Retire to a Low-Tax State? Relocating Could Actually Cost You More Than You'd Save: What to Consider
# Retiring to a Low-Tax State? The Hidden Costs Often Erase Your Tax Savings Many retirees dream of fleeing high-tax states like California, New York…
The 3 Retirement Traps That Derail Successful Executives
# The 3 Retirement Traps That Derail Successful Executives High-earning professionals face a specific set of retirement hazards that differ sharply f…
I Earn $130,000 but Am Terrified of Layoffs. Should I Stop Funding My 401(k) to Pay off My Mortgage?
# High Earner Facing Layoff Fear: Should You Abandon Retirement Savings for Mortgage Payoff? A $130,000-per-year earner wrestling with layoff anxiety…
9 Best Roth IRAs of September 2026
# The Best Roth IRAs in September 2026: What You Need to Know A Roth IRA remains one of the most powerful retirement savings tools available to Ameri…
8 Estate Planning Secrets You Can Borrow from the Ultra-Wealthy
# 8 Estate Planning Secrets You Can Borrow from the Ultra-Wealthy The ultra-wealthy don't leave their financial legacies to chance. They use specific…
Do You Know Why a Roth Conversion Isn't Right for Everybody? Test Your Knowledge With This Quiz
# Roth Conversions Aren't Universal. Here's What You Need to Know. Roth conversions sound appealing on paper. You move money from a traditional IRA o…
6 Financial Regrets Retirees Face — and How to Avoid Them
# 6 Financial Regrets Retirees Face — and How to Avoid Them Retirement planners see the same mistakes repeat year after year. Six patterns emerge con…
Why a Roth Conversion Is Wrong for Most People But Often Right for Pension Holders
Pension holders face a tax problem that most workers never encounter. They collect steady pension income year after year, and simultaneously hold subs…
'What I Wish I’d Known at 45': Retirees' Best Financial Advice
# What Retirees Wish They'd Known at 45: Lessons From People Who've Been There The gap between what people know they should do with money and what th…
The 10-Minute Social Security Checkup That Could Boost Your Lifetime Income
# Social Security Checkup Takes Just 10 Minutes and Could Add Thousands to Your Lifetime Income Your Social Security file at the federal government c…
Will a Divorce Paperwork Error Cost Your Retirement Savings? Take the Quiz
# Will a Divorce Paperwork Error Cost Your Retirement Savings? Take the Quiz Divorce settlements often involve splitting retirement accounts, but man…
This Single Retirement Mistake Could Drain Your Savings, Warns Expert Farnoosh Torabi
# The Retirement Mistake Draining Your Savings Farnoosh Torabi, a prominent financial expert and author, warns that most retirees make a preventable …
Investing in a Retirement Account Doesn't Mean You Have a Financial Plan
# Retirement Account Investing Without a Plan Leaves You Exposed Opening a 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA puts you ahead of many Americans. But funding a r…
How to Buy Gold in an IRA
# How to Buy Gold in an IRA: A Complete Guide to Precious Metals Gold and other precious metals offer a tangible hedge against inflation and market v…
Late-Start Retirement Catch-Up: Is $1K a Month Enough to Build a Secure Nest Egg?
# Late-Start Retirement Catch-Up: Is $1K a Month Enough to Build a Secure Nest Egg? A couple with $300,000 saved and the ability to contribute $1,000…
Social Security Appeals Have a 60-Day Clock — and Missing It Can Make a Bad Decision Stick
# Social Security Appeals Have a 60-Day Clock — and Missing It Can Make a Bad Decision Stick The Social Security Administration imposes a strict 60-d…
The Social Security Number Most Couples Never Calculate (and Should)
# The Social Security Number Most Couples Never Calculate (and Should) Most single workers follow a straightforward Social Security rule: wait until …
How to Coordinate Claiming Social Security With Your Tax Bracket
# Coordinate Your Social Security Claim With Tax Planning The timing of when you claim Social Security benefits carries a hidden tax cost that most r…
The New Money Rules: A Suze Orman-Inspired Guide to Risk, Work and Retirement
# The New Money Rules: A Suze Orman-Inspired Guide to Risk, Work and Retirement The financial playbook your parents followed no longer works. Traditi…
My First $1 Million: Engineering Consultant, 58, Durham, NC
# Engineering Consultant in Durham Reaches $1 Million Net Worth, Points to Early Tax-Advantaged Investing An engineering consultant in Durham, North …
The Retirement Move That's Quietly Taxing Your Social Security to the Max (and How Early Roth Conversions Can Help)
# How Early Roth Conversions Can Help You Dodge Social Security Tax Penalties Millions of retirees face a hidden tax trap called the "Social Security…
Your Big IRA Could Become a Big Tax Problem for You, Your Spouse and Your Heirs
# Your Big IRA Could Become a Big Tax Problem for You, Your Spouse and Your Heirs A large IRA balance creates a deferred tax liability that eventuall…
SSA Says Scammers Are Now Sending Fake Social Security Statement Emails — Here’s the Red Flag
# Social Security Administration Warns of Fake Statement Email Scam Scammers are impersonating the Social Security Administration by sending fraudule…
Advisers: This Outdated Retirement Rule Actually Un-Diversifies Your Clients
# Rethinking Home Equity as a Retirement Asset Financial advisers are pushing back against decades of conventional wisdom about home equity in retire…
Why Waiting to Claim Your Online Social Security Account Is a Major Security Risk
# Online Social Security Accounts: Why You Can't Afford to Wait Setting up an online Social Security account protects you from identity theft and fra…
The Hidden Costs Inside a 'Zero-Fee' IRA
Zero-fee IRAs sound like a bargain until you discover the hidden expenses buried inside them. While brokers advertise no annual account maintenance fe…
How Advisers Can Strengthen Their Client Relationships: These Small Changes Can Have a Powerful Impact
Financial advisers who refine their client communication practices can unlock hidden opportunities and build stronger portfolios for their clients' re…
The Biggest Tax Opportunities for Retirees Under the OBBBA — and How to Make the Most of Them
# Tax Strategies for Retirees Under the OBBBA The Omnibus Budgetary Better Benefits Act (OBBBA) creates new tax advantages for retirees that can help…
The Kirkland Signature Care Plan? Costco Prepares Move Into Medicare Advantage
Costco is moving into Medicare Advantage, the private alternative to traditional Medicare that covers millions of seniors. The warehouse retailer has …
Social Security’s 2027 Raise: New Estimate Puts It at 3.6% — Here’s What Changed
Social Security beneficiaries received an updated forecast for their 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, with estimates now settling at 3.6 percent. This …
The Medicare Travel Readiness Quiz: What’s Covered at Home and Abroad?
Medicare coverage for travel depends on whether you stay within the U.S. or venture abroad, and the distinction matters before you board a plane. Wit…
What Happens to Your Social Security If Your Spouse Dies?
When your spouse dies, your Social Security benefits don't automatically stop, but they may change. The rules differ depending on whether you have cla…
Medicare Advantage Plans Have Out-of-Pocket Limits — But Networks and Prior Authorization Matter
Medicare Advantage plans offer a controlled maximum amount you'll pay from your own pocket each year. But this protection comes with real strings atta…
Thinking About Moving Near the Grandkids? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions First
# Moving Near the Grandkids? Three Questions to Ask First Relocating to be closer to grandchildren appeals to many retirees. The logistics and financ…
Should You Upsize When College Tuition and Retirement Collide?
A couple with $4 million in savings faces a common dilemma: buy their dream house now while their teenagers still live at home, or stay put and protec…
How One Small Move Before 65 Can Unlock a Bigger Social Security Benefit
# How One Small Move Before 65 Can Unlock a Bigger Social Security Benefit Delaying Social Security past your full retirement age pays real dividends…
8 Best Gold IRA Companies of August 2026
# 8 Best Gold IRA Companies of August 2026 Gold IRAs attract investors seeking portfolio diversification beyond stocks and bonds. These self-directed…
Social Security Doesn’t Count Every Dollar the Same Way — Why Pensions and Annuities Don’t Build Your Check
Social Security counts only earned income when calculating your monthly benefit, which means pensions and annuities don't boost your payment at all. …
#736: Q&A: Would You Spend $60,000 on a Wedding Knowing It Could Be $800,000 Someday?
A couple wrestling with wedding spending faces an uncomfortable math problem: what happens if they invest that $60,000 instead of celebrating their ma…
Traditional and Roth IRA Income Limits for 2026
The IRS has set new income thresholds for 2026 that determine who can contribute to traditional and Roth IRAs. These limits change annually based on i…
Thrive in Your First Year of Retirement
# Thrive in Your First Year of Retirement A surge in Americans reaching retirement age demands a fresh look at how you navigate your first year witho…
Why 65 Is the Most Dangerous Number in Your Retirement Plan
The retirement age of 65 has become outdated. When this threshold was set decades ago, life expectancy was far lower. Today, Americans regularly live …