Why today's stock volatility shouldn't scare retirees: Retirement Scan

Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.

Why today's stock volatility shouldn't scare retirees
Market volatility should not be a concern for retirees, according to a new study. While stock prices seem more volatile, the study by Kenneth Washer and Randy Jorgensen of Creighton University, and Robert Johnson, president and CEO of the American College of Financial Services, measured price changes in the short-term and long-term and found that volatility has increased only on a daily basis. When measured in monthly increments, there "has been no discernible change in return volatility," as the article quotes one of the researchers. "Long-term investors can take comfort that many of the large daily price declines are at least partially offset by similar price increases and that when measured over longer periods, volatility has not increased," the researchers said. – USA Today

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Retirees to millennials: Don’t make the same mistakes we did
If there's a lesson millennials should learn from today's retirees, it would be to start building their nest egg as early as they can, according to a survey by Pentegra Retirement Services. Many retirees who participated in the survey also want young people to save more during their career if they want to secure their retirement. Another lesson retirees want to share with millennials is the need for additional focus on retirement planning while they are still young, the survey shows. -- Money

Buying a home with a lump-sum pension benefit
A senior who considers taking a lump sum pension payment and using the money to buy a home is advised to consult a tax professional before making a decision, according to this article on Bankrate. A lump-sum pension payment will be subject to federal income tax, while owning a home would mean extra costs, such as homeowners insurance, taxes and maintenance expenses. – Yahoo Finance

Obama calls for increasing Social Security benefits
President Barack Obama is supporting moves intended to increase Social Security benefits, according to this article on MarketWatch. “It’s time we finally made Social Security more generous and increased its benefits so today’s retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they have earned,” he says. – MarketWatch

On track for a secure retirement? Here are 3 steps to take
Clients need to continue building their nest eggs even at a slower pace to ensure they are on track in saving for retirement, according to CNNMoney. They also should be reasonable when adjusting their investing strategy, using asset allocation questionnaires and retirement calculators. Another thing they need to do is to keep track of the progress they make in their savings on a regular basis. -- CNNMoney

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