Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
A third of people have nothing saved for retirement
Thirty-six percent of Americans polled by Bankrate.com have failed to save for retirement, with 14% of the senior respondents having no nest eggs. People who have no retirement savings say they are unable to set aside an amount for their nest eggs because of the high cost of living and daily expenses, according to an expert. Workers are advised to contribute enough to their 401(k) plans to get their employers' maximum match contributions, the expert says. -- USA Today
Do retirees take too much or too little risk with their investments?
The appropriate level of investment risk varies among retirees and can be determined according to their risk capacity and risk tolerance, an analyst says. Clients who intend to retire next year are advised to allocate 55% in stocks and reduce their stock allocations over time, according to a professor. Retirees put their retirement security at risk by having an asset allocation that is not suitable to their withdrawal rate, says an expert. Retirees whose investments are mostly in cash and certificates of deposit are advised to take on more risk as their investments don't keep up with inflation. -- The Wall Street Journal
An overlooked vehicle for retirement savings
A health savings account is a financial vehicle that many clients fail to use as another way of saving for retirement, according to Morningstar. An HSA offers generous tax benefits and allows the money to increase through compounding. While many workers prefer a traditional health-insurance plan that is more familiar to them and offers lower out-of-pocket costs, an expert suggests that clients at least consider opting for a health savings account if one is available. -- Morningstar
There's a little-known investment option in your 401(k) plan
Not many clients are aware that a self-directed brokerage account may be offered as an investment option inside their 401(k) plans, according to CNBC. Clients who hold a self-directed brokerage account within their retirement plans can have a "brokerage window," which enables them to trade stocks and other investments that are excluded in their plans, increasing their options and control over their plans. Not all 401(k) plans offer a self-directed brokerage account, so clients are advised to consult with their human resources department to know if the option is open to them. -- CNBC
The basis for your Social Security tax
Workers pay Social Security tax based on the maximum amount of earnings set for a given year, not on the actual amount of their total wages, according to The Wall Street Journal. The article features a client who thought her husband's Social Security statement didnt accurately reflect his income. The government raised the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax to $117,000 in 2014 from $113,700 last year. -- The Wall Street Journal
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