Retirement scan

As the year draws to an end, clients will find that formerly robust market segments delivered mediocre results in 2015; Plus, despite loopholes in America's retirement system, there are strategies for clients to make the most of it.

Online tools such the one developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can help clients determine the best time to claim their Social Security retirement benefits for maximum results; Plus, do your clients need life insurance after they retire?

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced legislation that would enable unmarried, divorced and widowed women to collect bigger Social Security benefits; Plus, protecting your client's portfolio from the downside.

Some workers may consider suing their employers if the 401(k) plans they offer limited investment options, poor funds and hefty fees; Plus, the pros and cons of income-generating strategies in retirement.

Some participants receive a lot of plan documents and they may overlook the fee disclosures or find it confusing; Plus, why millennials are saving younger than previous generations.

A simple portfolio has a fixed allocation of stocks, Treasuries and other bonds and is rebalanced on a periodic basis; Plus, student loan debt is getting in the way of retirement planning.

Many target-date funds, which have exploded in popularity, don't have allocations toward alternatives; Plus, how millennials and boomers are killing GenX's retirement savings.

A new study says that knowing other people's retirement savings can discourage clients from saving further; Plus, why clients should check 401(k) fees.

Companies that provide advice on Social Security are rushing to update their computer after a new law scraps "file-and-suspend" strategies; Plus, five smart things your clients should do the minute they retire.

Retirees who want to boost their current income stream and expect to have a long life span are better off with an immediate annuity than other annuity types; Plus, five myths about IRAs.

The new budget agreement eliminates the spousal benefits aspect of the file-and-suspend claiming strategy; Plus, clients are advised to contribute to a tax-advantaged health savings account before reaching the age of 65.

One possibility for clients is to reduce their housing costs by downsizing; Plus, despite the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, many 401(k) plans have yet to adopt the auto enrollment and escalation.

Prices and guarantees will improve for clients as robo-advisor tools continue to develop in the annuity industry; Plus, these two moves can ensure your clients will retire no matter what happens with the market.

For public sector clients, maxing out contributions to a 403(b) plan is a good move if they think their tax rate will be lower in retirement than it is now; Plus, how retirement accounts will change next year.

The traditional concept of retirement is dead, including the basic idea that it marks the end of their working days; Plus, the biggest oversight in most retirement planning.

The median retirement savings of people aged 60 and above amount to just $50,000, lower compared to those in the 55-59 age bracket, who have three times the amount; Plus, how to ladder bonds.

Contribution limits to 401(k) retirement plans for next year remain unchanged based on inflation adjustments made by the Treasury Department; Plus, four easy retirement plans for the self-employed.

Seniors who consider filing for Social Security benefits before the end of the year to avoid a hefty increase in Medicare Part B premium next year are advised to drop their plan; Plus, eight ways to build more retirement wealth.

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.

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.