djaworski

3/23/2015 - Can achieving retirement security be easier than we think? (The Washington Post)

by djaworski on March 23, 2015 4:29 pm

With traditional pensions on the wane, wages for typical workers flat-lining and many people living longer, it is no secret that Americans face an ever-increasing challenge to achieve financial security in retirement. Most are not meeting the test. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College estimates that 53 percent of households are at risk… Read more

3/21/2015 - Are you financially ready for retirement (USA Today)?

by djaworski on March 23, 2015 4:20 pm

Researchers and others say only half of households in the USA are financially prepared for retirement. The other half, not so much. Other research, however, shows that only one in 10 households — if you factor in less spending after your children move out and falling expenses in retirement — are at risk of not… Read more

3/20/2015 - Japan's Recovery is Complicated by a Decline in Household Savings (The New York Times)

by djaworski on March 23, 2015 4:17 pm

It is an increasingly common refrain in Japan — and one that complicates the government’s efforts to revitalize the country’s economy. The country’s savings rate, long one of the highest in the world, is now below zero. In short, Japan’s citizens are spending more than they earn. By comparison, the rate in the United States, where… Read more

3/19/2015 - Working in retirement: Fantasy or reality? (CBS Moneywatch)

by djaworski on March 20, 2015 4:37 pm

To work or not to work? That is the retirement planning question. Let’s take a closer look at this modern-day riff on the famous line in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” where Prince Hamlet laments about life’s unfairness but reflects that the alternative (not being alive) could be worse. Lately, many analysts and journalists have written about the necessity of… Read more

3/19/2015 - What you need to know about the high cost of retirement (MarketWatch)

by djaworski on March 19, 2015 5:08 pm

As you enter retirement, spending habits tend to change drastically. Most couples spend less on dry-cleaning, commuting and clothing, while outlays for health insurance, — which likely falls squarely on family rather than an employer — travel and leisure activities tend to increase. Food and energy consumption tend to remain relatively steady. While this might… Read more

3/19/2015 - More Americans Opt for Risky Long-Term Car Loans (NPR)

by djaworski on March 19, 2015 4:59 pm

Six-year car loans used to be in the minority. They’re now the norm and loans of seven or eight years are even becoming popular. New car sales in the U.S. are booming and longer car loans are playing a role. Nearly a third of new loans are now 74 months or longer. But some worry… Read more

3/18/2015 - Want to be ready for retirement? Lower expectations (NBC News)

by djaworski on March 18, 2015 6:49 pm

Whether most Americans will have enough saved to retire comfortably has become a matter of great debate. But some may be in better shape than they think. Most predictions aren’t in consumers’ favor. In a recent Legg Mason study, only 40 percent of the 458 investors surveyed said they are “very confident” in their ability… Read more

3/16/2015 - A Purposeful Retirement for 30-Somethings (U.S. News & World Report)

by djaworski on March 16, 2015 4:15 pm

As humans, we all fear what we don’t know. That’s why the thought of whether we’ll be financially prepared for our golden years can be worrisome. Many 30-somethings are just now beginning to think about retirement and the possibility that one day working will be optional for them. There is no denying that many of… Read more

3/15/2015 - Your Retirement Fund: Smart Ways to Withdraw (USA Today)

by djaworski on March 16, 2015 4:12 pm

The basic concept of retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s: While you work, you put money in; when you retire, you take money out. For maximum benefit from your retirement income, though, you need a withdrawal strategy. Some additional factors to consider: your projected spending at various stages of retirement; your total projected income and… Read more

3/13/2015 - Rotary and Peace Corps Find Relevance with Retirees (The New York Times)

by djaworski on March 16, 2015 4:08 pm

Older volunteers like Mr. Crumley are on the rise, as Americans live longer and are healthier. In 2013, 24.2 percent of Americans over 65, 10.6 million people, did some type of volunteer work, up from 22.7 percent in 2002, and that number is expected to rise to more than 13 million by 2020, according to… Read more

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