Retirement planning

A majority of employees are looking for more guidance from their employers regarding their workplace retirement plans and their retirement goals, according to a white paper and study released Monday by the ING Retirement Research Institute.

A majority of Americans find retirement planning confusing and want additional help, a study by the ING Retirement Research Institute conducted by the Boston Consulting Group found.

"You've come a long way, baby," was the memorable slogan of the Virginia Slims ad campaign that kicked off in 1968.

While healthcare costs are inevitably going to rise in the future, a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2011 will likely spend $230,000 on healthcare throughout their retirement, Fidelity estimates. This is an 8% decline from the $250,000 retiring couples in 2010 will need, due to recent changes in Medicare, Fidelity said.

The Lifetime Income Analysis Tool boosts 401(k) contribution rate from an average of 7% to 8.6%.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch's retirement services unit is generating significant new business, much of it from existing clients of the bank.

Have you helped your clients decide exactly when they will retire? It can make a significant difference-down to the month-in determining how much they will get in Social Security benefits.

If your clients want to know the best way to buy gold, the answer may depend on whether they are acting as collectors or investors.

While healthcare costs are inevitably going to rise in the future, a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2011 will likely spend $230,000 on healthcare throughout their retirement, Fidelity estimates. This is an 8% decline from the $250,000 retiring couples in 2010 will need, due to recent changes in Medicare, Fidelity said.

For the estimated million-plus folks who turned 70 1/2 years old last year, time is running out to take their first required minimum distribution from their various 401(k) and IRA accounts without incurring stiff tax liabilities.

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- Baillie Gifford is an independent investment management firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the end of 2010, it managed more than $113 billion in bond and stock portfolios.

Despite all the dire warnings from financial advisers, relatives and the federal government, most Americans still aren't saving anywhere near enough money to afford the dignified retirement they all claim is so important to them and, worse, most don't even have any idea exactly how much they'll need even if they were to begin saving today for their golden years.

Uncertainty about fluctuating interest rates and rapidly spiraling healthcare costs were cited as the two largest fears of both retirees and pre-retirees, according to a new survey conducted by the Schaumberg, Ill.-based Society of Actuaries.The survey, which polled 804 adults between 45 and 80 years of age, found that only 3% of retirees and 5% of those closing in on retirement have at least $1 million or more in savings and investments while a 18% and 6%, respectively, have less than $25,000 stashed away.

Uncertainty about fluctuating interest rates and rapidly spiraling health care costs were cited as the two largest fears of both retirees and pre-retirees, according to a new survey conducted by the Schaumberg, Ill.-based Society of Actuaries.

The retirement conundrum of how much money is enough is an ongoing battle that impacts both men and women, but one area where men seem to be winning out is retirement confidence, according to EBRI’s 2011 Retirement Confidence Survey released last week.

American workers exited 2010 with more than $10.2 trillion invested in employer-sponsored retirement plans, up 10% from the $9.3 trillion in play at the close of 2009, according to a new report from Chicago-based affluent investor consultant Spectrem Group.

Jackson National Life Insurance Co. has created a variable annuity portfolio construction tool for advisers. It guides them in selecting sub-accounts for each client, thereby customizing retirement income solutions.

The market for retirement income products is expanding, according to a new report from Financial Research Corp., “Cracking the Code to Retirement Income: Key Developments and Opportunities.”

The new offering will integrate absolute return funds that seek positive returns over a three-year period with less volatility than traditional asset classes.

Putnam Investments by midyear is planning to roll out three retirement income funds specifically designed for defined contribution plans, IRAs and other retirement accounts. The funds will be offered in conjunction with a planning tool to help both advisers and investors create a range of personalized income strategies.