Why we need a new type of 401(k): Retirement Scan

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

Why we need a new type of 401(k)
Many Americans are facing bleak retirement prospects as a result of the current do-it-yourself retirement system, writes an expert on MarketWatch. To address this problem, the federal government should revamp the system by providing a guaranteed retirement account to workers, the expert says. "The Guaranteed Retirement Plan would redesign the American retirement system by pooling investments, lowering fees, reducing risk and — best of all — raising returns on the $14.2 trillion in 401(k)s and IRA assets," the author writes.

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Cramer explains why bonds could be bad news for your retirement
Clients should adopt an aggressive approach to retirement investing by accepting the risk of investing in stocks for greater returns, say CNBC's Jim Cramer. Holding bonds in retirement accounts could be a wrong move, as they could end up with inadequate funds to secure their golden years, he says. "I know retirement money is meant to be sacrosanct with little risk taken, but it's possible in this era of very low interest rates to be too cautious, too prudent and too risk averse."

Q&A: How much SSA disability benefit you get affected by your age
A disabled widow is entitled to Social Security survivor benefit, which could be 100% of what her husband received, if she files at her full retirement age or after, according to this article on USA Today. Although she can start collecting the benefit at age 50, if she starts to collect prior to her FRA, she will receive less than his full amount each month, just as anyone's benefit is reduced if he/she starts to collect it prior to FRA, says an expert.

6 things married couples should talk about when planning for retirement
When discussing the future, couples forget to tackle their own retirement, as they tend to focus more on their children, their grandchildren and even their aging parents' needs, according to this article on Kiplinger. Before consulting a professional to create a retirement plan, it helps that couples address some basic questions, such as how they view retirement and at what age they intend to retire. While talking about retirement, couples should also account for their retirement savings, define their concept of risk, determine what happens to their nest egg in case a spouse dies, and decide on leaving a legacy to their loved ones.

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