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Retirement Planning

Featured Blogs: The Retirement Beat, Retirement Roadmap

Will I ever be able to retire?

If you’re wondering whether you’ll ever be able to hang up your spurs, you’re not alone. The financial markets’ recent dismal performance has left most people’s retirement accounts a shadow of their former selves.

But there are ways to get back on track.

Try socking away more of your current income.

If you’re 50 or older, take full advantage of “catch-up” contributions for your 401(k) plan and IRA.

Make sure not to leave any employer matching contributions on the table. It’s the closest thing you’ll find to free money!

And think about postponing retirement a bit. Even a few extra years on the job can make a huge difference.

The links below offer strategies for rescuing your retirement, as well as resources to put those new plans into motion.

Editor's Pick

  • How Much Retirement Income Do You Need?

    MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger does the math for you -- and explains how you can protect against unpleasant surprises.

  • The Ultimate Retirement Fix

    Don’t bank on Washington or a major market rebound. This fix is up to you.

  • Variable Annuities: Bad Idea?

    Variable annuities are tax-deferred retirement savings products offered by insurance companies -- but they often come with high fees. MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger helps you assess your options.

  • The Best Retirement Plans

    Whether you’re working for a company or self-employed, these tax-favored savings plans can help you get your retirement account growing again.

  • Retirement Rescue

    Even if your investments have been hammered by the downturn, here are five strategies to repair the cracks in your portfolio.

  • Breathe Deeply, Keep Saving

    Overcome your fear about the economy and adopt these 13 strategies to remaining calm about your money.

  • Catch Up to Retirement

    It’s not too late to catch up. Boost contributions to workplace saving plans or IRAs using pre-tax dollars.

  • Stay on the Job

    Find out what older workers can do to stay on the job longer and rebuild battered retirement savings.

  • Retirement Toolbox

    Plug numbers into this tool to determine how well your savings program is preparing you for retirement.

Sort By

  • Grab Your Reinstated 401(k) Match Post-Haste

    Many employers who eliminated 401(k) matching funds during the recession have reinstated them or plan to do so in the year ahead. If you reduced or halted your 401(k) contributions for that reason, you may soon get notice from HR that your match is back, if you haven't already -- and you should...

    Blog posts | Nov 19, 2009

  • Mutual Fund Fee-asco

    Here's a primer on mutual fund fees. I think that I held my hands in that particular position because I was subconsciously praying that after watching, everyone would dump their loaded funds and trade them for index funds! by Jill Schlesinger

    Blog posts | Nov 20, 2009

  • Mutual Fund Fees: Are You Paying Too Much?

    MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger breaks down the layers of mutual fund fees - from 'loads' to distribution fees.

    Videos | Nov 20, 2009

  • Is Your 401(k) a Dog or a Darling?

    A fledgling web site can allow you to see how your company's 401(k) stacks up when compared to others. And it can give you the sickening news of what it costs when your plan is poorly operated. by Kathy Kristof

    Blog posts | Nov 17, 2009

  • Gold, Oil, and More: 5 Rules for Investing in Commodities

    Diversifying your portfolio with a natural resources mutual fund or ETF will lower its volatility, offer a hedge against the dollar and ? usually ? provide some protection against stock market losses. You’ve heard about the importance of diversifying (ad nauseam), and commodities will also...

    Articles | Oct 16, 2009

  • Lip Service Popular Retirement Planning Strategy

    It's clear we know we need to save more to ensure a secure retirement. But for all the lip service given to the new realities of retirement planning, we're still coming up short--way short--on putting our money where our mouths are. by Carla Fried

    Blog posts | Nov 18, 2009

  • Indicator to Watch: 401(k) Match

    The good news: More firms that slashed or suspended their 401(k) matching contribution now say they plan on reinstating the benefit in 2010. The not so good news: some employer matches will be less generous than before. by Carla Fried

    Blog posts | Nov 16, 2009

  • What to Do with Your 401(k) Now

    The list of mutual funds in your company retirement plan was overwhelming enough ? and that was before the stock market plummeted, and then rallied. Now it may seem as if any move you make could be the wrong one. Snap out of it with this four-step action plan for whipping your 401(k) into...

    Articles | Oct 21, 2009

  • Stealth Inflation For Retirees

    As interest rates have plummeted, the cost of producing retirement income has skyrocketed. by Charlie Farrell

    Blog posts | Nov 16, 2009

  • Budgeting Wisely, Investing Carefully

    At 24, Molly Laurain is making a good salary, but she spends most of what she earns. And that?s not going to help her pay for graduate school. Here?s how she can save money, invest it wisely, and keep her options open if she decides to go for a master?s degree. But like many...

    Articles | Nov 10, 2009

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