savings
The three-legged stool
The newest data from Allianz finds that 22 percent of Americans currently working hope to retire in 2024. Unfortunately, these soon-to-be retirees will discover the much talked about “three-legged stool” no longer applies to most people. What is a “three-legged…
What you should know about Social Security
The Social Security Administration states more than 50 percent of seniors aged 65 and above rely on Social Security for more than half of their monthly income. Another report finds that 40 percent of older Americans rely only on Social…
Getting the max Social Security benefit isn’t easy, but it’s doable.
The Social Security Administration states the maximum monthly benefit is $4,873 for 2024. So, how do you achieve this amount; is it even achievable? If you follow a few steps during your working career, you may be able to receive…
Retirement Planning: Building a Nest Egg is Essential, Despite the Lure of the YOLO Mindset
Many younger and middle-aged adults hear the alarm bells sounded by economists regarding the need to stay dedicated to the thought of saving for retirement. Some popular notions are that by the time you’ve reached 50, you should have accumulated…
New retirement saving and rule changes
Why is saving for retirement so hard? Most of us don’t make enough decisions with the future in mind, so it’s easier to do nothing than to make a change. However, saving and planning for retirement will be easier in…
Importance of retirement planning beyond Social Security
The average Social Security recipient received $21,924 in 2023. Social Security is the foundation of all retirement plans, but is it enough for you to survive? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average 65-year-old and older spends an…
How would the Retirement Benefit Account (RBA) hurt retirement savings?
IBM announced they will replace their 401(k)-matching program with a new Retirement Benefit Account (RBA) starting January 1st. Their statement said: “Each employee who’s served at least a year will receive a “monthly account credit” up to the IRS limits…
It’s all about realistic expectations
Social Security is a primary income source for most people aged 65 and older. You can start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, if you start to receive your benefits early, your monthly Social Security…
Changes to your retirement savings
For those individuals saving for retirement in 2024, you received some good news from the IRS last week. The IRS announced the 2024 contribution limit increases of $500 for 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings…
Can better communication between spouses lead to more retirement savings?
New research shows that married couples who do not communicate with their spouse about saving for retirement lose, on average, almost $700 in savings every year. The study found that “24 percent of couples failed to coordinate their contributions to…