Investment products

Retirees are better off having an immediate annuity than other kinds of annuities, which charge hefty fees and early withdrawal penalties; Plus, 12 common IRA mistakes to avoid.

FINRA slammed the firms for failing to apply sales charge discounts to customers' purchases of unit investment trusts. Seven of the 12 were bank broker-dealers or TPM firms.

Visualization can help clients address imminent risks to their retirement by allowing them to answer questions that contribute to making sound financial decisions; Plus, eight money moves your clients should make before retirement.

Lawmakers have yet to agree on how to curb the increase in Medicare premiums next year that will affect 30% of the 52 million seniors enrolled in Part B; Plus, how clients can avoid outliving their cash.

Clients are advised against trying to time the market or overreacting to speculation and media reports; Plus, millennials can't wait to pay off debt but many worry they don't earn enough.

This strategy allows clients to buy more shares over time, but it also can reinforce jitters if they're nervous about market declines; Plus, how clients can avoid Medicare Part-B increases next year.

Long-term investors should take advantage of stock volatility, rather than immediately sell stocks and turn to bonds; Plus, how to make sure your clients' adult children retire well.

Apart from retirement savings, home equity is another source of wealth that Americans can use to help fund retirement; Plus, why your retirement could cost you an extra $25,000.

A 65-year-old male with a long-term care insurance policy has a 32% chance of letting the coverage lapse before he dies, with his female counterpart having a 38% chance of doing the same; Plus, relocating overseas to avoid hefty health-related expenses.

An 80-year-old client will be better off keeping 70% of her investment portfolio in stocks if her Social Security benefits and pension payments are enough to cover her needs; Plus, can robots close the retirement savings gap?

If second-guessing has begun, consider why you initially recommended the stock---that reason can still be valid even if prices are falling.

Defined contribution plan sponsors cannot track the owners of between 2.8 million and 4.8 million retirement accounts or 5% of the total number of accounts; Plus, why a solo 401(k) could be the best way to save for retirement.

Many retirees fail to boost savings after their last child leaves the house, and instead go on a spending spree that can last for years; Plus, how to make volatility work for you.

Congress shouldn't wait for the disability trust fund to run dry before it addresses the insolvency, according to a group convened by the Bipartisan Policy Center; Plus, millennials are advised to not cash out their assets when they move employers.

Going back to school is recommended to pre-retirees who intend to work through retirement; Plus, choosing the right Medicare plan for your clients.

Retirees cannot expect bigger Social Security benefits next year as cost-of-living adjustments are unlikely to increase; Plus, the best target-date funds for retirement savers.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued 2014-54 to simplify the process for 401(k) participants who convert their after-tax contributions to a Roth IRA; Plus, the basic rules for calculating, withdrawing RMDs from retirement plans.

Commentary: The first wave of robo advisors went too far in denying any impact from volatility – which is just plain incredible, writes Daniel Satchkov, president of risk modeling firm RiXtrema.

People are less likely to save more in their 401(k) plans when they learn they lag behind their peers in retirement saving; Plus, six annuity fees advisors and their clients should know about.

Even among advisors who support the concept of socially responsible investing, agreeing on what that term entails exactly is tough.