Retirement is one of the few financial goals that can take an entire career to fund. The money saved during working years may need to...
Retirement Planning
All Retirement Planning Articles
How to Get a New Social Security Card: A Step-by-Step Guide
Social Security numbers are needed whenever we file a tax return or open a new financial account. But how important is it to have a...
If My Spouse Dies, Do I Get Both Their Social Security and Mine?
If your spouse dies, one of the first financial questions you may face is whether you can receive both your own and your spouse’s Social...
Average 401(k) Balance by Age: Are You Saving Enough for Retirement?
Americans hold $13.8 trillion in employer-based defined contribution plans, including $9.9 trillion in 401(k)s as of early 2026—and for most workers, that account will be the...
How Many Roth IRAs Can You Have? Rules, Benefits and Smart Strategies for Managing Multiple Accounts
Do a little reading about Roth IRA rules and you’re likely to learn about eligibility requirements and contribution limits. But there is one Roth question...
How to Retire at 55: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide
While retiring at 55 is very much possible, planning early and planning correctly are imperative. Retirement advisor Nicholas Bunio, CFP® helps us get to the...
Why Did My Social Security Payment Date Change? Understanding the Reasons and What to Do Next
Articles about Social Security often focus on big-picture issues like how long retirees should wait before beginning their benefits and whether benefits will have to...
How to Find Old 401(k) Accounts and Reclaim Your Retirement Savings
Did you leave something behind when you changed jobs in the past? It’s surprisingly common for Americans to leave behind and then forget retirement accounts...
How the Social Security Spousal Benefits Loophole Closed—and What Couples Need to Know Now
Retired wage earners aren’t the only ones eligible for Social Security benefits. Wage earners’ spouses often can claim benefits, too, based on their husbands’ or...
IRA vs 401(k): Key Differences, Benefits and How to Choose the Right Retirement Account
Many workers have two major ways to save for retirement in tax-advantaged accounts—an IRA and a 401(k). “They have very different rules, but both are...
Why Don’t Americans Save More for Retirement: Key Reasons Behind the Savings Shortfall
Americans think the magic number they need to save to retire comfortably is $1.46 million, according to a 2026 Northwestern Mutual survey. Yet the median...
403(b) vs 401(k): What Are the Differences?
Most Americans are familiar with the 401(k) but not so much its older sibling—the 403(b). We asked David Blanchett, head of retirement research at Prudential...
