Lee Conrad

The research found that claimants were not told they could take widow or widower's benefits while delaying their own retirement benefits, which would allow those checks to increase.

A survey found that 27% of parents who cosigned for their children's college education end up paying off the debt with their retirement savings.

Commodities, which boomed before the crash, weighed heavily on returns the past 10 years.

The contributor was recently called to be an expert witness and realized that defending a retirement plan in court can provide a good opportunity to better understand a portfolio.

Working seniors who intend to start collecting Social Security benefits in the middle of the year should know about the monthly earnings test.

Growth funds have performed best over the past decade, outpacing value funds.

Taxation of retirement plan distributions and Social Security benefits remains unchanged under the new tax law, but retirees are likely to see an increase in after-tax income.

The proposed budget includes a provision that would give Medicare recipients the option to contribute to a health savings account, which would offer various tax benefits.

Although smaller companies could be volatile, those that pay dividends tend to be more mature and profitable.

Both long and short investments focused on volatility were mostly crushed lately.

Raising the payroll tax is the easy way (in theory); here are other solutions for funding the Social Security shortfall.

Younger investors may see the market's swing as just another fluctuation in the market, while assuming that time is on their side. Older investors, on the other hand, may be far more stressed.

The top 20 funds are from just three asset managers: Fidelity, Vanguard and American Funds.

Even if those assets are used to pay for nonmedical expenses, an HSA can still be ahead of a 401(k) plan or an IRA.

Clients have a hundred—if not a thousand—possible options to consider when claiming Social Security benefits.

Personal income is not subject to state taxes in Alaska, Florida and five other states, while 31 states do not impose taxes on Social Security benefits.

The strategy draws investor interest again, mostly on the strength of fixed income.

Investors are starting to take money out of their 401(k) accounts—despite taxes and penalties involved—assuming it will be replaced as markets continue to surge upward.

Clients shouldn't let their egos get in the way when making investment decisions. They will be better served with a dispassionate asset mix that's rebalanced annually, rather than making investing decisions "in purely personal terms."

While the stock market remains strong, clients should stress-test their portfolios and ensure that they reflect their risk tolerance levels.