Employee benefits

This recently passed bill is groundbreaking retirement legislation and will substantially alter the landscape for employer-sponsored retirement plans and individual savers.

Workers from both generations share similarities — and financial pressures — when planning for retirement, writes an expert.

To secure retirement for both spouses, married clients need to determine their savings rate in their 401(k)s and take advantage of the employer's match.

The change would affect seniors who converted traditional accounts to Roth and paid taxes for the benefit of their heirs.

They are triple-tax advantaged, but also introduce significant challenges — especially for life partners with multiple accounts.

Female clients should start as early as possible and take advantage of the employer match, contributing at least 15% of their income.

The Secure Act will pave the way for expanded distribution channels, even as J.D. Power finds issuers lagging in measures of client satisfaction.

Setting up a tax-advantaged retirement account, automating contributions and reducing their overall expenses are a few strategies to get back on track.

Adjusting a federal income tax return depends on personal tax circumstances, “such as the materiality of the error,” an expert says.

Seniors hoping to begin retirement next year are advised to review their risk exposure, pay down their debt and save for additional health care costs.

One tip for younger clients is to create multiple income streams that are subject to varying tax treatments.

If not addressed, the client may see a higher tax bill than was planned. That won't go over well at tax time next year.

Failing to enroll in a health care plan and taking on a hefty student loan debt are just two of the most common blunders younger clients should avoid.

"A long life is wonderful, but it is also costly and a bigger drain on resources," an expert says.

“Tackling student debt is vital today if we hope to set employees up for long-term financial success,” says Scott Whatley, president of E-Trade.

Clients who have yet to make withholding adjustments to cover their tax liability still have time to avoid the extra burden.

Those in the workforce will not owe taxes on rollovers to traditional retirement accounts, but will face consequences using the strategy with a Roth.

The gender gap is alive and well when it comes to career timeouts and savings often take the hit.

Of all the end-of-year financial faults affecting workers, this one could cause them to end up working longer than they had intended.

Medicare savings programs, discounts on prescription drugs and rental assistance are a few ways retirees can lighten their load.