Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
What Canada can teach the U.S. about retirement savings
The U.S. can help workers boost their retirement savings if it raises the contribution limit on tax-deferred retirement accounts, writes Frank Holmes, CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors. Compared with the U.S.'s IRA, which has a yearly contribution limit of $5,500, Canada's Registered Retirement Savings Plan has a maximum contribution limit of over $20,000, Holmes says. "When someone has the will and initiative to put away money for their retirement, no matter their age, I think the government should do what it can to reward these individuals," he writes. --The Wall Street Journal
How to use your HSA as an investment tool
A health savings account can be an effective retirement planning tool as it has tax advantages and HSA savers are allowed by some account administrators to invest in the stock market using their funds, says Matt Irvine, head of sales and marketing of Richmond, Va.-based Health Savings Administrators. Unlike flexible spending accounts, HSA holders are allowed to roll over unused funds every year and can withdraw for qualified expenses at a much later time, Irvine says. --MarketWatch
Don't fall into these 5 spending traps in retirement
Having more free time in retirement could prompt retirees to spend on unnecessary items and subsequently waste away their retirement savings, according to this article on Forbes. These items that need not be on the retirees' bucket list are sporting equipment, big-ticket "toys", and house remodeling. Many retirees also tend to waste money on entertainment and to disregard points and discounts. --Forbes
The biggest threat to your retirement: your kids?
Many parents face the burden of paying student loans of their children, making a dent in their nest egg, according to this article on The Motley Fool. Clients are advised to choose their retirement savings over their children's student loan debt. Paying off student loans can be more difficult for parents who have a shorter time to make the payment compared with their children. --The Motley Fool
3 health resolutions you can actually keep in 2015
One New Year's resolution that baby boomers can make to improve their health is to stop using fitness trackers and instead focus more on moving on a daily basis, according to this article on MarketWatch. They may also resolve to connect with friends by visiting and socializing with them instead of communicating with them through social networking sites. Another New Year's resolution to make is to dine out less and have dinner at home with family and friends. --MarketWatch
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