Planning Retirement

Just as splitting each retirement plan is more equitable than trading one account for another, the same goes for trading retirement accounts for other assets. “Lots of women go for the sentimental assets, particularly the house if that’s where the family gathers,” said Angie O’Leary, a senior vice president at …

Are your fees too high? If so, they are eating away your returns. Pay close attention to participant fee disclosures from your employer, as the U.S. Department of Labor requires companies to send this notification to 401(k) savers on a quarterly basis. Certain services, such as FeeX, spell out the …

2. Beware of fees. The easiest fee to control — and get rid of — is a late fee. It’s your responsibility to know when the billing cycle ends and to pay on time. If you have trouble remembering the due date, set up autopay, whereby payments are automatically deducted …

Drivers for Uber and Lyft have to cover the costs of their vehicle, personal liability insurance, gas and a smartphone. They also pay commissions for using the apps, which can be as high as 25 percent per trip depending on how much they drive. On top of that, Uber charges …

As retirees and their financial advisors grapple with the prospect of another year with flat Social Security income, the presidential candidates have had little to say about the program at the last two debates. But Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spelled out their positions in an AARP Bulletin on June …

More than half of elderly married couples and nearly 75 percent single retirees depend on Social Security for the majority of their income in retirement. “Women disproportionately rely on Social Security in retirement,” said Nancy Altman, co-director of Social Security Works, which advocates for the expansion of the program. In …

Even on bread-and-butter fiscal issues like Social Security and Medicare, the candidates managed to trade insults. Clinton suggested that Trump would avoid paying taxes if she was able to raise the maximum taxable cap on annual earnings, which is $118,500 this year and $127,200 next year, for Social Security payroll …

Hey, big saver! The IRS won’t increase the maximum amount you can squirrel away in your retirement plan next year. That means that in 2017, employees can defer up to $18,000 in their 401(k) plan — the same amount as this year. The limit also applies to 403(b) plans, most …

Like all tax-advantaged accounts, HSAs have restrictions on how much you can contribute. For 2016, you and your employer can contribute up to $3,350 for individuals and $6,750 for families. In 2017, the limit rises to $3,400 for individuals, but the family limit stays at $6,750. Account holders age 55 …

A growing number of people dream of retiring in their 40s. They have joined Reddit’s Financial Independence subreddit, they frequently comment on Early Retirement Extreme’s forums, and they follow the scrappy and thrifty examples set by popular personal finance bloggers, such as the Frugalwoods and Mr. Money Mustache. Members of …