Retirement planning

Only 20 years ago, more than half of all American workers said they were on track to retire before they reached the age of 65. Today, only about 23% of Americans say they’ll be able to retire by that age. Here are the seven largest obstacles standing between your clients and an early retirement.

These days, investors of all ages are understandably concerned about socking away enough income and making the best investments today to ensure a comfortable retirement later in life. Only 20 years ago, more than half of all American workers said they were on track to retire before they reached the age of 65. Today, only about 23% of Americans say they’ll be able to retire by that age. But for those investors – and the financial planners they rely upon – who still plan to retire early – maybe in their 50s or early 60s – here’s an interactive slide show featuring seven of the largest obstacles standing in their way. Source: RetirementEgg.com

This week, IRA expert Ed Slott tackles questions about how distributions from contributions including both pre- and post-tax dollars will be taxed.

At the end of last year’s fourth quarter, the average 401(k) balance was up almost 8% from the prior quarter, to $69,100. Fidelity Investments president of workplace investing, James M. MacDonald, called these results “encouraging.”

A recent MFS Investment Management survey reveals that the past few years of economic uncertainty continue to take their toll on younger investors’ confidence in their retirement plans.

Clarifying Form 1099-R would help the Internal Revenue Service identify more taxpayers who are underreporting their retirement income, according to a new report.

The vast majority of executives responsible for 401(k) plans at their companies are feeling less confident that employees are financially prepared for retirement, according to a survey by Deloitte.

Clarifying Form 1099-R would help the Internal Revenue Service identify more taxpayers who are underreporting their retirement income, according to a new report.

The vast majority of executives responsible for 401(k) plans at their companies are feeling less confident that employees are financially prepared for retirement, according to a survey by Deloitte.

Participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans are hungry for investment guidance and willing to use automatic enrollment features to achieve their goals, according to results of a survey of changing attitudes toward retirement readiness by State Street Global Advisors.

Vanguard has launched a new target retirement fund for Generation Y investors that will lay the foundation broad diversification among the major asset classes and low costs--and start them on the road to successful investing.

Participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans are hungry for investment guidance and willing to use automatic enrollment features to achieve their goals, according to results of a survey of changing attitudes toward retirement readiness released by State Street.

Retirement Projected to Hit $22 Trillion by 2016; Fund Uses Student Research; Gets Morningstar Five Stars; Deutsche Boerse: It's a Black Day for Europe

Prudential Retirement is now offering J.P. Morgan SmartRetirement Target Date Strategies and Fidelity VIP (Variable Insurance Product) Freedom Funds in its line-up of target-date funds with a guaranteed lifetime income component.

Ronald O'Hanley has emerged as an outspoken force inside Fidelity Investments, giving a speech on Thursday that touched on sex, drugs and revolution as he warned that young Americans face getting a raw deal from the U.S. retirement system.

The U.S. Labor Department has removed a controversial part of its proposed 401(k) fee disclosure rule that would have required retirement plan providers to create a summary document, or "roadmap," of all their fees for employers.

People are focused on the short-term aspects of life. So for retirement planning, advisors need to engage in a new conversation that is relevant to life today. And a lot of that will revolve around health issues and their costs.

With trust harder to come by, advisors should lean on personalized services and product fluency.

U.S. Retirement Market Projected to Hit $22 Trillion by 2016 The U.S. retirement market is projected to grow to nearly $22 trillion by 2016. That represents a 38% increase from an estimated $16 trillion mark for the end of 2011, due mostly to continuing market recovery.

The U.S. retirement market is projected to grow to nearly $22 trillion by 2016. That represents a 38% increase from an estimated $16 trillion mark for the end of 2011, due mostly to continuing market recovery.