Updated Articles and Resources

By Melissa Phipps, About.com Guide

Marriage and Retirement - How to Plan a Retirement With Your Spouse Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Are you and your spouse planning for the same retirement? Discussing retirement as a couple can help you plan for a shared ideal future.
How Much Should You Save for Retirement Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
How much do you need to have saved before retirement? The short answer is: as much as you can.
Types of Retirement Plans - 6 Essential Retirement Plans Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Retirement plans can be confusing, this basic overview can help you understand how each one is different.
What Is a Rollover IRA? Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
What do you do with your 401(k) after you leave a job? Roll it over into a special account called a Rollover IRA.
Roth IRA Income and Contribution Limits 2012 Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Find out the Roth IRA contribution limits and income limits for 2012.
IRA Contribution Limits 2012 Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Find out how much you can contribute to a traditional IRA in 2012.
Emergency Retirement Planning - How to Plan for Retirement at the Last Minute Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
How to plan for a retirement that's a few years away.
How Much Will You Need to Retire? Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Readers share us how much they plan to save for retirement and why.
Contact the About.com Guide to Retirement Planning Created: Thursday, May 17, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Find out how to get in touch with the About.com Guide to Retirement Planning.
Mutual funds vs. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Created: Monday, June 28, 2010 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
There are many ways to invest your retirement savings. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds are important investment vehicles for your retirement. Find out which one is right for you.
Roth IRA or Regular IRA – Choosing an IRA Created: Monday, June 21, 2010 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wondering how to decide which retirement account to use? The selection of a Roth IRA or regular IRA is an important decision affected by several factors. A regular IRA is a tax-deferred account, me...
IRA Rollovers – How to Roll Over an IRA Created: Monday, June 14, 2010 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
An IRA Rollover is a tax-free method to move your retirement account money from either a workplace retirement account or IRA to another IRA. Here are the steps required to roll over an IRA:
Roth IRA Withdrawal Rules - What Happens If You Make a Roth IRA Withdrawal Created: Thursday, April 29, 2010 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
When can you make withdrawals from your Roth IRA account? Roth IRA withdrawals are different than regular IRA withdrawals. Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free, as along as certain conditions are met.
Can You Contribute to a Regular and Roth IRA? Created: Thursday, April 01, 2010 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Some individuals can maximize their IRA savings by contributing to both Regular IRA and Roth IRA plans. Find out if you qualify.
How to Save for Retirement Created: Monday, January 25, 2010 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
To save for retirement, learn and follow these four simple steps.
2010 401k Contribution Limits Created: Friday, October 30, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Benefit from the 2010 401(k) contribution limits by taking maximum advantage of this powerful tax-deferred retirement plan.
Gifting in a Down Market - Lower Your Future Estate Tax Created: Friday, July 24, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Although no one likes to see the value of their assets decline, there is an upside - gifting more for less.
Contributing to a 401(k) and a Roth IRA - You Can Do It! Created: Friday, July 17, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Roth 401(k) - Saving For Retirement Tax-Free Created: Friday, July 03, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Roth 401(k)s bring together the tax-free growth of a Roth IRA and the higher contribution limits of a 401(k). Yet a Roth IRA contribution lowers your net pay in a way a regular 401(k) does not. Le...
Long Term Care Insurance - How Will You Pay for Any Long Term Care Costs? Created: Friday, June 12, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Long term care insurance is an important consideration for anyone approaching or already in retirement? What is your plan for possible long term care? Does insurance play a role? Should it?
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust – Avoiding The Estate Tax Through an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Created: Friday, April 10, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) is an important estate planning document for individuals meeting certain criteria. Learn the relative advantages and disadvantages of an irrevocable life ...
401K Withdrawals - Rules for 401K Withdrawals and Early Withdrawals Created: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Every 401K withdrawal affects your taxes and your future retirement planning. Make sure to consider these implications and others concerns whenever contemplating a 401K distribution from your 401K.
401(k) Loans - Nine Things to Know About Borrowing from Your 401(k) Created: Friday, December 26, 2008 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
401(k) loans are available with no credit checks. Are they a good idea? Learn the advantages, disadvantages and limits of borrowing from your 401(k) plan.
401(k) Contribution Limits Created: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Learn the 2009 401(k) contribution limits so you can take maximum advantage of this powerful tax-deferred retirement plan.
401K Vesting Schedules - Know the Impact of Your 401K Vesting Schedule Created: Saturday, November 22, 2008 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Understanding your vesting schedule is a crucial and often underestimated part of retirement planning. The risk of forfeiting your employer's matching contribution is real and often preventable. L...
Your 401K Match - Maximizing Your 401K Match Created: Friday, November 21, 2008 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Taking advantage of an employer's 401K match is a critical piece of proper retirement planning. This company match provides you with the opportunity to receive free money into your retirement plan.
401(k) Plans - Understanding Your 401(k) Plan Created: Monday, April 28, 2008 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Lean the basics of 401(k) accounts; what is a contribution percentage, contribution limitations, tax-deferred growth, required distributions, IRA contribution limits, and how you can profit from a ...
Roth IRA Conversions in 2010 - No Income Limit Created: Thursday, November 19, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Roth IRA conversions are available for all taxpayers, beginning January 1, 2010. Previously, those with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $100,000 or who were married but filed separately w...
2010 IRA Contribution Limits Created: Friday, October 30, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Most retirement plan limits have not changed due to a lack of significant inflation. Learn what you need to know about IRAs, Roth IRAs, contributions, and conversions.
Should You Have a Mortgage During Retirement? Created: Saturday, August 15, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
The lure of a mortgage-free retirement is attractive. Learn the considerations for eliminating what's likely to be your largest bill in retirement.
Medicare Part B Premiums - Varying By Income Created: Saturday, August 01, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Medicare premiums, for 5% of America's retirees, are higher than the rest of us. Could you be paying more? How much more?
Health Savings Accounts - Is An HSA Another Retirement Plan? Created: Friday, June 19, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 26, 2012
A Health Savings Account (HSA) can be an important part of your retirement planning. Coupled with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), an HSA can provide you with tax-free growth on qualified medi...

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