Category: Financial Landing 2014

2/25/2014 - Do You Know Your Retirement Number? (U.S. News & World Report)

If you know how much money you need in the bank to comfortably retire, you’re in the minority: Only 1 in 10 people make such a calculation, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. That might explain why Americans are on track to replace an average of only 60 percent or less of their… Read more 2/25/2014 - Do You Know Your Retirement Number? (U.S. News & World Report)

2/21/2014 - Obama plan: Cut tax breaks for richest retirement savers (MarketWatch)

President Barack Obama plans to ask Congress in early March, as part of his fiscal 2015 budget, to reduce some of the tax advantages for employer-sponsored retirement plans for higher-income earners, according to published reports. Plus, the president wants to limit the value of all tax deductions, defined contribution exclusions and IRA deductions to 28%… Read more 2/21/2014 - Obama plan: Cut tax breaks for richest retirement savers (MarketWatch)

2/21/2014 - The 2 retirement levers you can control (MarketWatch)

In last week’s article, we discussed how it’s unrealistic to set a single “number” for retirement, that you need to consider five levers, three of which you cannot control: Longevity Inflation, especially health- care costs Investment returns (unless you take a long-term approach) This week we complete the article with a discussion of the levers… Read more 2/21/2014 - The 2 retirement levers you can control (MarketWatch)

2/20/2014 - Obama's Budget Omits Trims to Social Security (New York Times)

President Obama’s forthcoming budget plan will not include a proposal to trim cost-of-living increases in Social Security checks, the gesture of bipartisanship he made to Republicans last year in a failed strategy to reach a “grand compromise” on reducing projected federal debt. White House officials said on Thursday that since Republicans in Congress have shown… Read more 2/20/2014 - Obama's Budget Omits Trims to Social Security (New York Times)

2/19/2014 - Retirement Account Winners and Losers (U.S. News & World Report)

How much you are eligible to save in tax-advantaged retirement accounts each year depends on a host of factors including where you work, how much you make, your marital status, your filing status, how much your spouse makes, where he or she works and if you are self-employed. This complicated tax situation creates a variety… Read more 2/19/2014 - Retirement Account Winners and Losers (U.S. News & World Report)

2/18/2014 - Unique Retirement Planning Challenges Facing Hispanic Americans (Forbes)

While many Americans have some difficulty planning and preparing for retirement, unique challenges face certain demographic groups.  One such group is Hispanic Americans. A new study released by Prudential Financial PRU -0.33%, entitled “The Hispanic American Financial Experience,” sheds new light on the distinctive challenges facing Hispanic Americans as they plan for retirement. Read the… Read more 2/18/2014 - Unique Retirement Planning Challenges Facing Hispanic Americans (Forbes)

2/18/14 - Can behavioral finance bolster your retirement? (CBS MoneyWatch)

Interested in learning how to improve your retirement security? You might be served well by recent developments in a field known as “behavioral finance” that address the damage that natural human foibles can cause to your retirement planning. Employers and financial institutions alike are recognizing that people tend to fall into one of three different… Read more 2/18/14 - Can behavioral finance bolster your retirement? (CBS MoneyWatch)

2/18/14 - Older Americans are early winners under health law (Philly.com)

or many older Americans who lost jobs during the recession, the quest for health care has been one obstacle after another. They’re unwanted by employers, rejected by insurers, struggling to cover rising medical costs and praying to reach Medicare age before a health crisis.These luckless people, most in their 50s and 60s, have emerged this… Read more 2/18/14 - Older Americans are early winners under health law (Philly.com)

2/17/14 - 401(k) balances rise with record gains on Wall Street (Washington Post)

Wall Street’s historic gains in 2013 have boosted the value of Americans’ retirement accounts to record highs, according to several plan managers, restoring a critical component of household wealth. Fidelity Investments, the nation’s largest provider of retirement plans, said the average balance in its accounts at the end of last year was $89,300 — nearly… Read more 2/17/14 - 401(k) balances rise with record gains on Wall Street (Washington Post)

2/13/2014 - 401(k) balances hit record $89,300 last year (CNN Money)

The surging stock market helped boost average 401(k) balances to yet another record high in 2013. But many young and low-income workers are not doing such a great job of keeping that cash in their accounts. Read the full article at CNN Money.