Retirement withdrawals

One guideline to remember is that retirees should continue being invested in stocks, which produce high returns and pay dividends.

The IRS is relaxing some rules to make pulling money from retirement plans easier after hurricanes Irma and Harvey, but clients should remember the taxes and penalties associated with withdrawals are unchanged,

Life after work is much more complicated now than the industry assumes it to be, says former HelloWallet founder Matt Fellowes.

Early withdrawals from employer-sponsored plans can derail retirement, but may be necessary.

Between taxes and penalties on early withdrawals, many clients will only be getting 65 cents for every dollar they take out.

Not tapping tax-deferred retirement accounts until the age of 70 1/2 can be a wrong move, as required minimum distributions can be big enough to push retirees to a higher tax bracket.

Clients should start shoring up their savings by chipping in as much as they reasonably can to their employer’s retirement plan, especially if it comes with a matching contribution.

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

Yes, advisers can invest these funds in nontraditional assets, but you must understand the risks before giving clients the OK.

Couples would be better off retiring at the same time, as they face major life changes together. And leaving a career-driven spouse at home in retirement can throw a marriage out of whack.