Retirement scan

Women are advised to double check their beneficiary information, update legal documents regularly and create a plan for long-term care.

Most respondents to an informal survey said they view Social Security as an income stream rather than as an asset. At least one expert disagrees.

More small businesses are motivated to provide 401(k) plans by technological advances as well as an expense war among mutual fund companies.

Buffalo, N.Y., is one of five cities where retirees who rely solely on Social Security for income can live comfortably.

Instead of buying one expensive car after another, clients should invest the money and let it grow. They may even be able to retire early.

Benefits are not capped at a predetermined level. They are based on two variables: a client’s highest earnings over 35 years and their age when they file for benefits.

High-yielding investments come with a significant risk, as exemplified by ETFs that own energy-focused master limited partnerships.

Investors should understand that market volatility will remain a risk to their portfolio, and investing in low-volatility funds does not guarantee protection.

Investors should rebalance their portfolio, consider investing in foreign markets and avoid trendy ways to minimize risk. Find out what they shouldn’t do.

Retirees who opt to manage their investments are advised to streamline their portfolio maintenance into a process that they can roll out toward the year's end.

Many fear that they will feel alienated and irrelevant after they retire, become a burden to their families, or their surviving spouse will go on retirement alone.

To really come out ahead from delaying Social Security, a client has to live past 80. Otherwise, it's probably better to take a reduced benefit earlier.

Despite the possibility of having a tax-advantaged health savings account, workers with high deductible health plans are less likely to see their doctors.

Although parents need to save for their child's education, they should make retirement saving their top priority.

The odds that your clients will one day stay in an assisted living home increases 1.4% per year, starting at age 65.

During the dotcom craze, the conversation was about retiring before age 50. Today, it’s about working until age 80.

Proceeds from selling their current home can be augmented with a "reverse mortgage for purchase," which doesn't have to be repaid until they sell, move out or pass away.

Investors who reach the age of 45 are advised to multiply their salary by 3.7 to get a good estimate of retirement savings they should have at this age.

Preferred stocks are good candidates for retirees' investment portfolio as they can provide more income than corporate bonds.

Investors are better off having target-date funds than balanced funds as TDFs provide broader diversification and focus on minimizing risk.