Retirement Planning

A secure and stable retirement is a dream many in the work force look forward to, cling to even, as they get older. The earliest age you can retire and claim benefits is 62, according to the...

Saving for retirement is a necessary part of any personal or family financial plan. The two most notable retirement vehicles are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

The Baby Boomers have finally began to retire ... and senior communities are beginning to flourish. Although age-restricted, or "over-55" communities have been around for decades, they...

An important part of retirement planning is deciding when to begin taking Social Security benefits. While it may be appealing to take benefits as soon as you are eligible, delaying benefits may...

According to the Social Security Administration, retirees that are eligible for Social Security benefits can start collecting these benefits between the ages of 62 and 67. The full retirement age,...

The government announced that there would be no Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, in January 2010. Because inflation may remain low for a while, this policy may extend to 2011...

To be eligible for social security retirement benefits you must have at least 40 work credits, earned at a maximum rate of four per year of work. The amount of your benefit is determined by the 35...

The Social Security Adminstration provides death benefits to surviving family members, including former spouses, under certain circumstances. Whether you qualify for benefits on an ex-spouse's...

The golden years of retirement are something that most workers look forward to with a great deal of anticipation and high expectations. However, for some people, retirement is not all it's...

The Social Security program provides retirees and the disabled with income after retiring or to persons unable to work. The program is administered by the United States government, which keeps...

Since Social Security was established under the New Deal in 1935, millions of Americans have depended on its benefits to live out their retirement years comfortably and in good health. However,...

Social Security was enacted in 1935 to help retired citizens by providing them with money after retirement. The original retirement age was set at 65, but the Social Security Amendments of 1983...

Social security was implemented in 1935 to provide a continuing source of income for citizens who had retired. There is a limit on the amount of money you can make while receiving social security...

Reverse mortgage equity is a loan offered to the senior citizens usually above 62 years old to borrow against the equity in their homes. The bank pays off instead of the homeowner and the...

A number of rights are granted to retired citizens that were not previously available. In addition, many laws and provisions are mandated by the government to ensure that retirees are protected...

Social Security is a system established during the 20th century in the United States to guarantee older Americans funds to use during retirement years in exchange for payments made from wages....

A person does not have to wait until he reaches full retirement age to retire. In fact, any person with enough working credits can retire at age 62. However, retiring early reduces the monthly...

Many non-working spouses are unsure if they qualify for social security benefits. You will be pleased to know that the social security program does provide benefits for non-working spouses, called...

If you are divorced and planning for retirement, there are some important rules and regulations to understand. If you were married to your ex for ten years or more, you may be able to claim social...

Age-based funds, also known as target-date funds, can provide less sophisticated 401(k) participants with a means of preparing for retirement that fits their risk tolerance and investment...

Retirement is usually the age people reach when they either stop working or doing part-time work. Semi-retirement is when they choose to take on a part-time job. Some people decide to retire when...

Approaching your 60s, you need to decide when to retire and begin collecting Social Security. It isn't an easy decision, because several factors will affect when, and how much, you can count on...

Now that the economy is so weak, and many of us have lost large portions of our 401K's and IRA's, those of us who are older are becoming increasingly nervous about planning our retirements. For...

With a weak economy and the loss of billions of dollars in investment portfolios in the past few years, many people who are near retirement age are wondering how they can possibly survive on...

Social Security provides a significant portion of the annual income of millions of American retirees. The public retirement system, coupled with adequately defined pension benefits, or sizable...

Whether you are right around the corner from retirement or decades away, understanding your Social Security benefits is essential. Knowing about your Social Security benefits can help you prepare...

It is up to the individual to decide when the right time to apply for Social Security benefits is. Their monthly income, marital status and other personal matters all come into play when they are...

You may think that getting Social Security benefits is as simple as turning 67. But there's more to it than that. Not everyone is eligible for benefits, there's paperwork involved, and your...

You have worked hard all your life and you are looking forward to retirement. No more alarm clocks, dull meetings or power lunches. Regardless of how far away your retirement date is, you will...

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules govern several types of retirement accounts to help people save. The two main types of IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) are the Roth and the traditional....

As retirement approaches and the focus shifts from how to save for retirement to how to use retirement money to pay living expenses, it is wise to put some numbers on paper and develop a spending...

In the United States, the Social Security Administration considers 65 years old to be the "full retirement age" if you were born before the year 1938. If you were born in the years between 1943 to...

Retirement benefits are two-sided: Private and government or social. Most social benefits depend on what a retiree is entitled to under his own private plans, such as savings, investments and...

On August 14, 1935 President Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act. The Act created a new social insurance program that was designed to help pay retired workers an income after...

You can receive Social Security benefits on your retiring spouse's earnings record, but before you decide to apply, be sure you understand how the Social Security Administration will calculate...

Social Security retirement benefits are available to anyone who has paid into the national trust and who has reached retirement age. Applicants can choose to take early retirement, which will...

Investing after age 55 can be a daunting task. The main consideration is asset allocation. As your time horizon for investment decreases, so should the dollar amount of assets dedicated to high...

Social Security benefits are determined by age and year of birth, but disability and survivor or spouse benefits are available to those who are unable to work before they are old enough to retire....

Although death can be difficult to talk about, it is important that our loved ones know what benefits are available to them in the event of our death. If you regularly contribute to Social...

Individual retirement account (IRA) holders must be aware of three time frames regarding the withdrawal of funds. With a few exceptions, there is a 10% penalty for withdrawing monies from an IRA...

Individual Retirement Agreements (IRAs) require that distributions not start until the owner is at least age 59 1/2 to not be penalized. Once the owner is of age to take non-penalized...

If you want to know how to raise social security benefits you need to start when you are young. Your social security benefits are dependent upon how much you made when you were working, how many...

The United States federal program generally identified as Social Security was established in 1935 and is officially called the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program (OASDI). A...

If you are at retirement age or older, there is no limit on the amount you can earn while receiving Social Security benefits. If you are less than the full age for retirement, you can receive...

Withdrawing funds before age 59 1/2, in general, will result in a 10 percent penalty. Coupled with the penalty, any funds withdrawn must also be taxed as income. This penalty is from the IRS, and...

The most important reason for having a Social Security card is so that you can receive benefits at some time during your life. These benefits are based on your earnings throughout your lifetime....

A Roth IRA is a retirement account established by an individual to save for a first home, normal retirement income, or any combination of these choices.

Several types of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) allow owners to save money for retirement while enjoying deferred taxes on contributions. Rules that apply to the Minimum Distribution Amount...

Social Security benefits are calculated each year that an individual earns adequate income. The average monthly Social Security benefit for retired persons in 2009 was nearly $1,200. The amount a...

Having an accurate estimate of your monthly social security benefit is very valuable as you begin preparing for retirement. Social security benefits make up the majority of monthly income for...