If your retirement plans include an encore career, look before you leap. Half of employees say they expect to work at least part-time while in retirement, according to a Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey of 4,161 workers from earlier this year. Continuing to work is a necessity for some, …

You don’t always get to choose when you retire, she said. A job layoff, health problems or caregiving for an aging parent could force you out of the workplace earlier than expected. If you’re leaving the workforce midcareer to care for children or an aging parent, keep a hand in …

When to claim Social Security is one of the most important decisions retirees can make. Many websites offer free estimates of how much you may receive depending on what age you decide to take benefits. Researchers from the Social Security Administration reviewed six popular online tools to compare their estimates …

Older Americans generally are worried about medical costs in retirement. Nearly half of them won’t talk about it. A survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute released Wednesday said 45 percent of individuals polled have not discussed these expenses with anyone. And that’s too bad, because health-care costs can add up …

There is no ironclad formula to rebalancing. It all depends on how comfortable you are with your portfolio deviating from its target allocation. Some investors rebalance portfolios quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Others prefer to rebalance only when a portfolio mix strays beyond a by a predetermined minimum percentage — such …

The Urban Institute’s study, which used Census data, found a wide gap between Hispanics and whites when it comes to wealth at ages 65 and over. In 2012, whites in that age group had median inflation-adjusted household wealth of $280,200, compared with $84,600 for U.S.-born Latinos and $30,900 for foreign-born …

Even if you think you have that number nailed down, it can help to strategize with an advisor. If you don’t need the full distribution, for example, you might be able to re-invest the funds or make a charitable donation directly from your account. You’ll also want to make sure …

Take advantage of catch-up contributions. Workers who are at least 50 years old can defer an extra $6,000 into their 401(k) savings each year, reducing their taxable income, said Kevin Meehan, a certified financial planner and the regional president of Wealth Enhancement Group in Itasca, Illinois. You can also make …

Thanksgiving could possibly be the best holiday! It provides us with an opportunity to express our gratitude and celebrate the Earth’s bounty and all that it gives us throughout the year. Unfortunately, the way most people commemorate the day involves less than eco-friendly traditions (heavy travel, lots of food waste, …

We all look forward to Halloween’s tasty treats, silly tricks and cute costumes. However, buying a costume made from cheap materials each year adds up. Tossing aside a barely used outfit (especially for growing kids) is both bad for your wallet and the environment. Instead of going out and buying …