Employee benefits

Clients should be especially mindful of market movements during the "fragile decade," the span beginning five years before retirement until five years after retirement.

Yes, advisers can invest these funds in nontraditional assets, but you must understand the risks before giving clients the OK.

The agency says its adoption of WebEx will allow for improved outreach with clients in the more rural regions of the country.

The most important consideration is that clients are able to complete the 35-year work period because benefits are based on the 35 highest-paid years from their careers.

Clients should plan to replace roughly 80% of their pre-retirement income after they leave the workforce for good.

Make sure clients understand that a 401(k) rollover could trigger a hefty tax bill, and that liquidating assets before the age of 59 1/2 could mean a hefty penalty.

Clients should work together with their spouses and plan as a couple to develop a Social Security claiming strategy that will maximize their retirement benefits.

The right strategy can save clients thousands of dollars, although the options are complicated.

Only 3% of households earning under $50,000 a year benefitted from the mortgage interest tax deduction.

Employers' 401(k) matching contributions this year are likely to reach 4.7% of worker's pay, up from 3% in 2009.

To avoid paying high fees, retirement savers should ensure that their plan administrator is a no-load fund company and avoid overpriced house funds.

Marketing and sales strategies are better received when firms provide information advisers are actually seeking.

Although the market continues to rally, a possible setback remains likely and retirement investors should be ready for this scenario.

With smaller paychecks and longer life expectancies than men, one strategy includes moving their IRA assets into a Roth to reap the tax advantages.

Some advisers are actually embracing changes by making the rules work for them.

Seniors who want to relocate in retirement to a different place from what their spouse prefers may opt to maintain two homes.

Here’s how receiving investments on a stepped-up cost basis can save a client’s inheritance.

Although traditional IRAs offer upfront tax deductions, clients will have to pay taxes later in life when they likely will be in a higher tax bracket.

High-earning seniors are advised to carefully plan when they file for Social Security benefits.

While retirees can start taking 401(k) withdrawals without penalties when they turn 59 1/2, they may want to consider drawing from their taxable accounts for their living expenses.