Retirement

Filing for Social Security can be a wrong move if seniors are still employed and earning a wage income.

Advisors have very little power to fix the health care system, but they can help others manage skyrocketing medical costs.

The number of clients owning taxable brokerage accounts has increased 10 percentage points over the past five years, while ownership of employer-sponsored plans remained unchanged.

As sales of LTC insurance plummet, combination products — annuities with LTC riders — are picking up some of the slack, serving as a useful alternative for some clients.

Some are forced to retire early because of disability, layoff and health issues, while others fear that the program will reduce future benefit payouts as a result of its financial woes.

There are only two ways to transfer IRA assets tax free in a divorce proceeding.

Annuities can be qualified or non-qualified and are subject to different tax treatments. There are also estate tax consequences as well as tax penalties to consider.

If retirees intend to rely heavily on Social Security for income, they should consider adjusting the timing of their bills to the date that they will receive their benefits.

The Elite Eight may be able to provide immediate diversification across more than one asset class.

Success in financial planning comes down to just three things, says our contributor in his final column. Goal setting is just one.

This debt “can hurt their ability to take on long-term financial planning because they are concerned with reaching a zero point,” says one therapist.

Mutual fund costs have fallen to 48 basis points in 2016 from 77 basis points in 2000 for plan participants, according to data from Investment Company Institute.

Rents have increased an average of 3% annually over the 14-year time period of the study, while incomes have declined .1% annually.

For some couples, the fact that they have been drifting apart could be masked by the attention devoted to their careers or raising a family.

These products get a bad rap, but they can be useful in certain situations. However, advisors must make sure their clients aren’t losing money from sky-high expenses.

One strategy includes encouraging clients to wait until the age of 70 to start collecting Social Security benefits.

Whether the husband takes reduced benefits has no impact on the spousal rate, although it could effect potential widow's benefits, according to a Social Security expert.

Retirees should delegate the management of their finances to their children before they reach advance years and their health starts to decline.

Is hourly and standalone planning misguided? This advisor says yes.