Retirement planning

Our IRA expert looks at what happens to required minimum distributions the recipient of an inherited IRA.

Kathleen Tarr says AT&T Inc. employees looked to her as “their de facto 401(k) expert.” Visiting their homes and offices, she advised them on their retirement plans as they called up balances on computer screens.

Three legal characteristics of inherited IRAs lead to the Supreme Court conclusion that the funds are not "objectively set aside for the purpose of retirement."

Gen-Xers lost about half of their wealth between 2007 and 2010, according to a Pew Economic Mobility analysis last year. But even before the housing collapse, they were having trouble keeping up with their parents in building assets.

Most boomers want more from their post-career years than cruises and golf, a Merrill Lynch survey finds. Advisors should take note as they help clients plan for life after their primary career.

As pensions for retirees grow scarce, tax-free Roth IRAs increasingly provide cash flow to fill the gap.

As pensions for retirees grow scarce, tax-free Roth IRAs increasingly provide cash flow to fill the gap.

Money market funds and liquid bank accounts currently lack returns but offer safety as well as liquidity.

Money market funds and liquid bank accounts currently lack returns but offer safety as well as liquidity.

Critics of the DoL's effort to extend fiduciary responsibilities to retirement plan advisors scored a victory this week when the agency disclosed that it is pushing back the rollout of its proposal until at least next year.

Staggering income annuities may help address clients' anxiety about long life expectancy and low investment yields. Here are two different approaches.

Staggering income annuities may help address clients' anxiety about long life expectancy and low investment yields. Here are two different approaches.

When converting a regular IRA into a Roth IRA, it may be wise to use risky assets and be ready to undo the conversion if the assets move in the wrong direction.

When converting a regular IRA into a Roth IRA, it may be wise to use risky assets and be ready to undo the conversion if the assets move in the wrong direction.

A new withdrawal strategy from J.P. Morgan takes real-life spending habits into account and suggests clients could spend more at the beginning of retirement.

As clients live longer, they're looking to advisors for ways to boost retirement income. Here are three strategies to consider.

Hoping to catch the baby boomer retirement wave, Merrill Lynch unveils a new approach to financial planning.

American investors' long-term financial goals are out of sync with the risks they're willing to take to reach them, a new survey finds.

A large majority of women are feeling anxious about their retirement security; at the same time there is a significant gender gap within the advisory sector, new research shows.