Updated Articles and Resources

By Dana Anspach, About.com Guide

How Much to Save For Retirement Created: Saturday, May 18, 2013 Updated: Saturday, May 18, 2013
Trying to figure out how much to save for retirement? Here's a few tips that will get you started.
Social Security Benefits And Divorce Created: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Updated: Saturday, May 11, 2013
Can you collect social security benefits based on an ex-spouse's work record? Yes, and I’ve spent hours scouring the internet to pull together this and other relevant information on social se...
The Social Security Decision Tool Created: Monday, October 18, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and when it comes to retirement planning, and complex decisions like when to take social security, a video can be worth a thousand spreadsheets. Let me...
Linda Thompson Guest Author at About.com Money Over 55 Created: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Linda Thompson is the author of numerous books including Every Generation Needs a New Revolution, How Six Generations Across Nine Decades can Find Harmony and Peaceful Coexistence.
Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons Created: Saturday, August 25, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
When you look at reverse mortgage pros and cons, surprisingly enough, the pros often outweigh the cons. Here's why.
What Will a Good Retirement Planner Do for Me? Created: Sunday, March 20, 2011 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Find out what a good retirement planner does and where you can find someone with a specialty in retirement income planning.
What is My Social Security Retirement Age? Created: Sunday, October 17, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
The amount of benefits you receive will depend on the Social Security retirement age that you choose. If you take Social Security at 62, or any time before full retirement age (defined below), and ...
401k Retirement Age - 55, 59 1/2, or 70 1/2 - Different Rules Apply Created: Monday, October 11, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
There is not a mandatory 401k retirement age. However the rules on taking money out of your 401k change depending on how old you are. The three ages to take note of are 55, 59 1/2, and 70 1/2. Belo...
6 Ways A Financial Planner Can Charge Fees Created: Monday, April 19, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Unfortunately there is no such thing as a “typical” financial planner fee. Instead there are six ways financial planners may charge fees, which can vary from commissions to an hourly ra...
Required Minimum Distributions Created: Thursday, September 10, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
What is a required minimum distribution? It starts when you reach 70 1/2. Find out when you have to take it, how much you have to take and what happens if you don't.
Beneficiary Designations Trump Your Will Created: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
When is the last time you checked to see who you named as the beneficiary, or beneficiaries, on your retirement accounts, life insurance policies and annuities? Many people neglect to update these ...
3 Foolproof Ways To Allocate Your 401k Money Created: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
No need to reinvent the wheel. Most 401k plan now offer foolproof ways to invest your 401k money. Learn how to identify these great choices.
Presidential Elections and Stock Market Returns Created: Sunday, August 03, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
How do election years affect stock market returns? We'll look at every election year since 1928, and the corresponding stock market return, but should you make investment decisions based on this da...
Social Security Calculators - Don't Claim Without Trying One First Created: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Don't claim Social Security without calculating first. The right Social Security calculator can help you get more out of your benefits, particularly for married couples.
5 Search Engines To Use To Find The Right Financial Advisor Created: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
These five financial advisor search engines allow you to narrow down your search so you can find just the right financial advisor.
I Bonds - Best Safe Investment You Can Make Created: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
What's the best safe investment that is so good they limit the amount you can buy? The answer might surprise you.
Dick Zimmer, Guest Author for About.com Money Over 55 Created: Sunday, April 03, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Dick Zimmer, guest author for About.com Money Over 55, enjoys some of his retirement time writing down the common sense financial lessons he has learned. I have coined them the 10 Financial Life Le...
7 Step Process To Find The Best Financial Advisor Created: Friday, July 10, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
You want to make sure you hire the best financial advisor possible so before you hire a financial advisor, do your homework. Read through each of the seven steps below, follow them carefully and yo...
2 Ways To Check Your Financial Advisor’s Credentials Created: Friday, February 06, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Two simple ways to check on the legitimacy of your financial advisor. Be sure to verify financial advisor credentials and complaint record.
What is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor vs. a Fee Based Financial Advisor? Created: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
What is the difference between a fee-only financial advisor and a fee based financial advisor?
A Midlife Career Change Could Be Your Greatest Asset Created: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
Using a midlife career change to extend the life of your career can have a substantial impact on your balance sheet. Begin to think of your career as your greatest asset.
5 U.S. Dividend Income Index Funds To Use For Retirement Income Created: Monday, November 01, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
Rising dividends can provide a hedge against inflation. One way to get exposure to dividend paying stocks with a solid dividend history is to use a dividend index mutual fund, or dividend index exc...
What Is A Closed End Fund? Created: Sunday, June 22, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
What is a closed end fund? Closed end funds can produce consistent income, but their share prices can be volatile. Before investing in closed end funds, take the time to understand how they work.
Dive Into Dividend Income Funds Created: Thursday, May 14, 2009 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
Looking for dividend income, but you don't really want to pick and choose individual stocks? It might be time to dive in and take a good look at dividend income funds. Dividend income funds do the ...
5 Questions To Ask A Potential Financial Advisor Created: Sunday, August 31, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
Five questions to ask a potential financial advisor that will help you determine if they are the right financial advisor for you. These questions help you determine their level of integrity and the...
Your Pre-Retirement Years - 15 Things You Must Do Between The Ages of 50 and 64 Created: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
15 most important things you must do during your pre-retirement years - ideas about health and fitness, family relationsips, anti-aging, careers, travel, money and more.
Increase Your Social Security Benefits By Working 35 Years Created: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Social security uses your highest thirty-five years of work history to calculate your social security retirement benefit. To increase your social security benefits make sure you have a full 35 year...
Social Security for Widows and Widowers Created: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Social Security rules for widows and widowers are complicated. The amount you'll get depends on whether your spouse had or had not started their benefits, how old they were, and how old you are.
When to Take Social Security for Married Couples - 5 Factors to Consider Created: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Married couples should not look at when to take Social Security the same way a single person would. H
When to Take Social Security for Singles Created: Monday, May 28, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Singles, there are five factors you need to consider when deciding when to take Social Security. Miss one of them and you may permanently reduce the amount of benefits you receive.
4 Things to Know About Early Retirement and Social Security Created: Sunday, February 06, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
There are four things you should know about early retirement and social security; how early retirement affects social security benefits, that you are not required to take social security early just...
Use Delayed Retirement Credits To Increase Social Security Retirement Benefits Created: Sunday, October 25, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Want to increase your social security retirement income by twenty-five percent or more? Once you reach full retirement age, your benefits do not cap out. As a matter of fact for each year after ful...