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
Retirement net worth benchmarks show how your savings stack up
A 55-year-old couple with $400,000 saved for retirement might feel they are doing fine, or falling behind, depending on which benchmark they use. The Federal...
Retirement costs shift after 70 as health care and housing loom larger
The mortgage is gone. The retirement party is a distant memory. And yet for millions of Americans past 70, the most expensive years may still...
Mega backdoor Roth lets high earners move up to $47,500 via after-tax 401(k)
A software engineer in Seattle earning $260,000 maxes out her 401(k) at $24,500 and still watches her paycheck clear every two weeks with no additional...
Microsoft offers 1st-ever U.S. retirement buyouts to thousands
For the first time in its 51-year history, Microsoft is offering voluntary retirement packages to thousands of U.S. employees, asking roughly 8,750 workers to decide...
Comparing Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, and 401(k)s across incomes
A 28-year-old teacher earning $50,000 can stash money away in a Roth IRA, traditional IRA, or workplace 401(k) and choose freely among them. Meanwhile, a...
The FIRE movement promised retirement by 45: is it still achievable in 2026?
The FIRE movement, short for Financial Independence, Retire Early, once captured the imagination of millions of savers who believed they could leave the workforce decades...
What $2 million in retirement savings actually pays you each month after taxes
Reaching $2 million in retirement savings is a milestone many Americans work their entire careers to achieve. On paper, it sounds like more than enough...
Using a HELOC in retirement: when it helps your finances and when it can backfire
For retirees, financial surprises rarely disappear just because paychecks stop. Medical bills, home repairs, and market downturns can create sudden cash needs that traditional retirement...
The hidden costs of retirement that catch even well-prepared retirees off guard
Retirement is often imagined as a long stretch of freedom after decades of hard work. Many Americans spend years building savings and carefully planning their...
Small towns across the U.S. are offering retirees cash incentives and tax breaks to relocate
Across the U.S., many smaller cities are facing shrinking populations and aging workforces. To keep local economies strong, some towns have begun actively recruiting retirees...
European cities where retirees live well on less than $2,000 a month in 2026
Retiring in Europe is often seen as a luxury that many cannot afford. But several cities still offer a comfortable lifestyle for well under $2,000...
Retirees are earning an extra $500 to $2,000 per month in 2026: here is how
Many retirees are discovering that a side gig can dramatically improve financial freedom. Whether it is covering rising grocery bills, travel plans, or simply adding...
Only 10% of Americans have $1 million saved for retirement: where do you stand
Saving $1 million for retirement has long been touted as a financial milestone. For decades, financial planners have targeted that figure as a benchmark for...
The countries that ranked above the U.S. on the 2025 global retirement index
Retirement in the U.S. isn’t cheap, especially as housing, healthcare, and daily living costs continue rising. As a result, many Americans are exploring options abroad...
The average retiree spends $4,345 per month: 6 costs most people underestimate
Many Americans imagine retirement as a time when expenses finally shrink. The mortgage may be paid off, commuting disappears, and work-related costs fade. Yet the...
Retirees who work part time report better health and earn an average of $18,000 a year
Retirement no longer means stepping away from work entirely. A growing number of Americans keep hitting the pavement in some capacity after leaving full-time careers,...
The investment mistakes that could cost retirees over $100,000 in lost savings
Retirement should be the stage of life when decades of saving finally start working for you. Yet even well-prepared retirees can make investment decisions that...
The 4% retirement withdrawal rule may no longer work in 2026: what planners suggest instead
The 4% rule has been one of the most widely used guidelines in retirement planning for decades. The idea is simple: retirees withdraw 4% of...
Waiting until 70 to claim Social Security increases your monthly check by 24%
Many Americans focus on the traditional retirement milestone of age 65. But what they may not realize is when it comes to Social Security, waiting...