Retirement planning

A new law ends years of last-minute renewals of the right to make qualified charitable distributions from IRAs.

Despite a law signed in late 2015, advisors who master the arcane rules of Social Security stand to prosper.

Workers and employers would benefit from a phased retirement, but only one in four workers aged 55 and older have such an option; Plus, clients should avoid being dogmatic about withdrawals.

Pooled employer plans and auto-enrollment gain Senate support, but advisors working with those plans could soon be held to a higher fiduciary standard.

The benefits debate is part of a concerted effort to show that Social Security is too expensive and needs to be cut, writes Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

The proposal landed at the White House's Office of Budget and Management yesterday for one last review.

The new 401(k) platform officially launched with a group of 50 employer-clients, after spending the last quarter of 2015 building its automated investment advisory service for employers.

Finding the right investment mix is challenging since it's an imprecise science and depends on market history and asset class valuations; Plus, what clients need to know about the first required distribution.

If mutual funds in 401(k) plans underperform yet charge hefty fees, participants can take action; Plus, President Obama plans to push new rules making it easier for small businesses to offer 401(k) plans.

Even those clients who have amassed substantial savings or have pensions are not ready to leave the work force if they have no health care plans; Plus, talk to clients about these retirement myths.

Retirement savers are advised to avoid an overly conservative approach when creating asset allocations in their portfolios and to differentiate risk tolerance from risk capacity; Plus, new rules for reverse mortgages.

Retirees are now allowed to make charitable donations by transferring money directly to a qualified nonprofit organization from their IRAs; Plus, why inheriting a Roth IRA isn't always the best news.

The Obama administration wants to ensure its plans can withstand congressional opposition before the president leaves office, experts say.

When stocks tumble, retirement investors are advised to check market fundamentals to determine whether the drop is temporary or signals a broader decline; Plus, nine money apps to keep your clients' retirement planning on track.

In certain circumstances, a Roth IRA conversion can incur an immediate tax liability – but, fortunately, the decision to a conversion doesn't have to be all or none. A partial Roth conversion is not only permissible – in practice it's often the optimal strategy.

Retirement savers looking to recoup 401(k) assets left with a former employer whose contact information they do not have can use the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits; Plus, do-it-yourself retirement planning for the self-employed.

In 2015, lower-paid plan participants contributed an average of 5.8% of their salary into their 401(k) plan, while higher-paid participants contributed an average of 6.9% of their salary to their workplace retirement plan.

One contributor takes exception with the idea that many Americans are in trouble with their savings; Plus, clients should ignore calls to 'sell everything!'

The investing strategy Warren Buffett recommends to his wife when he dies could lead to high stress for other investors during volatile markets since it calls for a high allocation to stocks.