Category: Financial Landing 2015

5/22/2015 - The Risks and Rewards of Self-Managing Portfolios (The New York Times)

There are good reasons for retirees to manage their own financial lives: Saving money on fees is one benefit, and more closely aligning investments with personal goals is another. But there is dangerous ground along the way: Taxes, estate planning, rules around gifting to relatives, timing of withdrawals from retirement accounts and other issues can be immensely… Read more 5/22/2015 - The Risks and Rewards of Self-Managing Portfolios (The New York Times)

5/21/2015 - How the New-Model 401(k) Can Help Boost Your Retirement Savings (Money)

If you want evidence that the 401(k) plan has been a failed experiment, consider how they’re starting to resemble the traditional pensions they’ve largely replaced. Plan by plan, employers are moving away from the do-it-yourself free-for-all of the early 401(k)s toward a focus on secure retirement income, with investment pros back in charge of making that happen.We… Read more 5/21/2015 - How the New-Model 401(k) Can Help Boost Your Retirement Savings (Money)

5/20/2015 - A Promising Trend in Taking Social Security Benefits (CBS Money Watch)

Not all news is bad when it comes to Social Security benefits. A recent study of claims data shows that the percentage of workers turning age 62 who start Social Security benefits at that age has declined significantly since 1996. Why this is good news: Most retirees will be more financially secure in retirement if… Read more 5/20/2015 - A Promising Trend in Taking Social Security Benefits (CBS Money Watch)

5/19/2015 - Good news on retirement trends (MarketWatch)

With lower Social Security replacement rates, vanishing traditional pensions, and longer lifespans, people need to work longer to ensure a secure retirement. Working longer directly increases current income; it avoids the actuarial reduction in Social Security benefits; it allows people to contribute more to their 401(k) plans; and it shortens the period of retirement. The… Read more 5/19/2015 - Good news on retirement trends (MarketWatch)

5/19/2015 - Supreme Court: Employers must monitor 401(k) plans (NPR Marketplace)

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that employers have an ongoing obligation to monitor the 401(k) plans they offer their workers. The court also established a more flexible reading of the statute of limitations on when employees can sue should they believe their employer failed to uphold its responsibilities. The case, Tibble v.… Read more 5/19/2015 - Supreme Court: Employers must monitor 401(k) plans (NPR Marketplace)

5/18/2015 - Court makes it easier to sue over 401(k) retirement plans (USA Today)

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday in favor of participants in employee retirement plans who object to companies’ investment decisions that eat into retirement savings. The justices revived claims by current and former employees of energy company Edison International. The employees argued that the company chose mutual funds with excessive fees. Edison offers employees roughly 40… Read more 5/18/2015 - Court makes it easier to sue over 401(k) retirement plans (USA Today)

5/15/2015 - Will Your Retirement Plan Provide Enough Income? (CNBC)

Financial experts are questioning long-held assumptions about the best approach to investing as retirement nears. With life expectancies on the rise and fixed-income investments generating little in the way of actual income, many experts are starting to recommend that savers allocate less of their money to bonds and related assets than they used to think… Read more 5/15/2015 - Will Your Retirement Plan Provide Enough Income? (CNBC)

5/15/2015 - Your Practice- 529 plans merit study to achieve high client marks (Reuters)

College savings plans are gaining ground, and possibly even a few improvements, making it a good time for financial advisers to revisit their value. State-sponsored 529 plans, numbering over 100 in 49 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., had an estimated $248 billion in assets as of December 2014, reflecting a growth rate of over 9 percent… Read more 5/15/2015 - Your Practice- 529 plans merit study to achieve high client marks (Reuters)

5/17/2015 - Workers missing out on employer match in 401(k) plans (The Dallas Morning News)

Workers are probably leaving $24 billion a year in unclaimed 401(k) company matches, according to a study by Financial Engines. And no, that’s not a typo.The company, which provides retirement advice to employees in 401(k) plans, examined the saving records of 4.4 million retirement plan participants at 553 companies. It found that 25 percent of… Read more 5/17/2015 - Workers missing out on employer match in 401(k) plans (The Dallas Morning News)

5/14/2015 - Saving Strategies for People Between Age 55 and Retirement (U.S. News & World Report)

The last years before retirement are also an opportunity to maximize savings. If you’re not already contributing the maximum to your 401(k) or alternative plan, that’s the place to start. Other ways to maximize tax-deferred savings are through a traditional individual retirement account, Roth IRA or health savings account. Which combination is best depends on your situation.… Read more 5/14/2015 - Saving Strategies for People Between Age 55 and Retirement (U.S. News & World Report)