Retirement planning

As college debt rises, borrowers want different perks from their employers.

Boosting the widow's benefit, while limiting the size of the increase for higher earners, could be a “well-targeted way to help reduce poverty for this vulnerable group.”

Avoiding this oversight can save clients from costly and painful legal battles after a loved one has passed away.

Careful planning and frugality can lead to early retirement – but only if clients are truly committed to the goal.

Owning a horse can be a longer and bigger financial commitment than other pets (or raising kids).

Even if the financial aspect of planning is “supremely easy,” the emotional side can be draining — and even lead to unexpected advice.

Even though the program was created by a large multinational corporation, companies of all sizes could utilize this approach.

Clients need more advice — and advisors must do better analysis before making recommendations.

Advisory firms should add this key position to their C-suite, argues CFP Board CEO Kevin Keller.

Grave risks give advisors even more reasons to make retirement planning a priority.

Forget bond ladders. Laddering defined-maturity exchange traded funds may be a safer fixed-income strategy for clients.

Clients still scarred from the losses are better prepared for the next market nosedive, advisors say.

Sometimes a planner's advice can go awry, despite best intentions.

Not just taxes, clients care about cost of living, health care quality, crime rates, culture and weather.

Thanks to the latest tax laws, real estate investment trusts are more attractive for taxable accounts than in past years.

Seniors are likely to be in a lower tax bracket in the few years after retirement, creating a "sweet spot" for them to convert some of their traditional 401(k) or traditional IRA assets into a Roth account.

Rich professionals have found a new way to bypass income limits created by Congress.

Always check and update the beneficiary forms.

Can you live up to your own guidance?