Retirement scan

Retirement investors may opt for whole life insurance, which offers tax-deferred growth on premiums, or a home, which they can sell with up to $250,000 (or $500,000 for couples) in capital gains tax exclusion.

Recent actions by the federal government are not helping Americans to improve their retirement prospects, says analyst.

Naming a young grandchild as beneficiary of a traditional IRA could be a wrong move, as the distributions will be subject to the "kiddie tax."

Investors are about to enter the worst two-month period of the year for stocks, according to an expert with Bespoke Investment Group.

Unlike when they were still working and their employer withheld an amount for their taxes, retirees need to make estimated tax payments to the IRS.

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

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.

Seniors are advised to withdraw from taxable and other retirement accounts before taking distributions from their HSA.

The government should tax the health insurance employers provide to employees to generate revenue to fix Social Security's financial woes, an expert says.

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.

Retirement investors can use their loss carryforward to write off the taxes triggered by a Roth IRA conversion.

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

Employers should be encouraged to provide their workers affordable, simplified long-term care insurance for employees age 45 and older, says report from the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Real estate can be a good investment because historical data show that increases in rental rates outpace inflation, but there are caveats for clients to consider.

Retirees are better off taking withdrawals from their retirement accounts in their 60s so they spread out their tax liability.

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