Retirement Planning
401(k), IRA, Roth accounts, pension plans, withdrawal strategies, required minimum distributions, and how much you need to retire.
Latest in Retirement Planning
Starting in 2027 the government will deposit up to $1,000 a year into low- and middle-income savers’ retirement accounts
Millions of low- and middle-income workers who save for retirement will soon receive direct federal deposits of up to $1,000 a year into their retirement...
Workers who earned over $145,000 must make their 401(k) catch-up contributions in after-tax Roth dollars starting in 2027
Higher-earning employees over age 50 who rely on pre-tax 401(k) catch-up contributions will lose that option beginning in 2027. Under final regulations issued by the...
An outdated beneficiary form on your 401(k) or IRA overrides your will and can send your savings to an ex
A single form filed years ago with a 401(k) or IRA provider can override a will, a divorce decree, and the wishes of a current...
Rolling a 401(k) straight into an IRA avoids the automatic 20% tax withholding a check in your name triggers
Anyone leaving a job with a 401(k) balance faces a decision that can cost them thousands of dollars before they even open a new account....
The 401(k) limit is projected to reach $25,000 in 2027, with an extra $11,750 allowed at ages 60 to 63
Workers saving through employer-sponsored retirement plans are set to gain significantly more tax-advantaged contribution room over the next two years. The IRS confirmed the 2026...
Roth 401(k) accounts no longer force required withdrawals during your lifetime
Workers and retirees with Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) accounts no longer face mandatory withdrawals during their lifetimes. Congress eliminated the required minimum distribution rule...
A Roth IRA’s five-year rule can tax earnings withdrawn too soon
Savers who pull earnings from a Roth IRA before satisfying the five-year holding requirement can owe ordinary income tax on those gains, even if they...
The number of 401(k) millionaires climbed to a record 665,000, even as the typical saver holds far less
A record 665,000 savers now hold at least $1 million in their 401(k) accounts, a milestone that masks a sharper reality: the typical American with...
Workers are socking away a record share of their pay in 401(k)s even as balances dip
American workers pushed their 401(k) contribution rates to record levels as a share of compensation, even as account balances slipped under pressure from volatile equity...
A ladder of Treasury bills can pay retirees over 4% with interest exempt from state taxes
Retirees hunting for safe, short-term income above 4 percent are turning to a strategy that stacks Treasury bills across staggered maturities, creating a rolling stream...
More employers now offer 401(k) annuities that turn retirement savings into a monthly paycheck for life
Workers saving for retirement through 401(k) plans are getting a new tool to answer a basic question: how much monthly income will my balance actually...
A qualified longevity annuity can shelter up to $200,000 from required withdrawals and pay you later
Retirees and pre-retirees holding large IRAs can now shield up to $200,000 from required minimum distributions by purchasing a qualified longevity annuity contract, or QLAC....
Workers raided their 401(k)s for emergencies at a record 6% rate last year as everyday bills outran their pay
American workers pulled money from their 401(k) retirement accounts to cover emergencies at a record rate of 6% last year, a sign that rising everyday...
You can now pull $1,000 from a 401(k) or IRA once a year for an emergency without the 10% early-withdrawal penalty
Americans who keep retirement savings in a 401(k) or IRA can now withdraw up to $1,000 once per calendar year for an emergency without paying...
Top CDs still pay up to 4.50% before the Fed’s July 29 meeting, a chance for retirees to lock in yield
Retirees hunting for predictable income have a shrinking window to act. Top certificates of deposit still advertise yields near 4.50 percent, but the Federal Reserve’s...
A transfer-on-death deed passes your home to heirs without probate
Homeowners in Texas, California, and Delaware can now record a single document that sends their home directly to named beneficiaries at death, skipping the probate...
Savers can now withdraw up to $2,500 a year from a 401(k) for long-term-care premiums without the early penalty
Workers saving for retirement through a 401(k) can now pull up to $2,500 a year to cover long-term care insurance premiums without triggering the 10%...
Rolling a 401(k) straight into an IRA avoids the automatic 20% tax withholding that a check in your name triggers
Workers who leave a job with a 401(k) and request a distribution check in their own name lose 20% of the balance to federal tax...
A revocable living trust passes your home to heirs and skips probate
Heirs who inherit a home through a standard will in California can face months of court proceedings before they gain clear title to the property....
After 65, health-savings-account money covers any expense penalty-free, and medical costs stay tax-free
Workers with health savings accounts who reach age 65 gain a quiet but powerful tax break: the 20 percent penalty that normally applies to non-medical...