Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
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Some Social Security loopholes will still be around in 2016
Although Congress has scrapped claiming strategies for couples to maximize their Social Security benefits, some seniors who reach a certain age may still take advantage any of those strategies for the next six months. For example, married couples who have reached their full retirement age this year can use the file-and-suspend strategy. And those who turn 62 this year can opt for the restricted application strategy. --Kiplinger
401(k) blunders to avoid
Taking a loan and making pre-retirement withdrawals from a 401(k) plan are decisions that can hurt a client's chance to have a financially secure retirement. To avoid these, retirement savers are advised to maintain an emergency fund, consider the "bucket" approach to emergency savings and get the best possible loan deal from banks, medical providers and other financial firms. --Forbes
Important 401(k) questions clients should ask their employers
Defined contribution plans have become a primary retirement savings vehicle for most workers, so it is important that they know their plans' features and rules to make the most of it and secure their finances in their golden years. To achieve this, 401(k) participants are advised to get the needed information from their employers, and ask the right questions to understand how the plan works. Here are just a few of the most important questions that workers should ask their employers to have a better understanding of their 401(k) plans: Are there any conflicts of interest; How complete is the investment lineup; How were the investment choices selected; and How was the plan provider chosen? --CBS Moneywatch
10 retirement resolutions for 2016
Clients who want to improve their retirement prospects may consider New Year's resolutions, such as planning for a long retirement and detaching themselves emotionally from their investments. Their resolutions may also include preparing for contingencies, hiring a fiduciary, paying off debt and getting a MyRA. Other possible resolutions clients may consider are creating a Social Security online account, covering the gap in their health insurance, sitting down with their spouse to discuss retirement goals and delaying Social Security benefits. --Yahoo Finance
Why you might retire to a tiny house — by choice
More retirees find living in smaller houses a more attractive and practical option because it allows them to live conveniently within their limited retirement income from Social Security and other sources. Living in a tiny house enables retirees to save at least 70% on their living costs, an expert says. Also, older workers have not saved enough for retirement, with almost 60% of employees aged 55 and above having less than $100,000 in retirement funds, according to the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute.--MarketWatch
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