My fiance and I are in our late 20s and we contribute to our 401(k) plans. But we’d like to supplement our retirement savings by making additional small contributions (maybe $100 a month) over time. We wouldn’t touch this money except in an absolute emergency. Any suggestions? — M....
The easiest way to get more incomeSaving and investing wisely is not an easy achievement. How much do you need to save for retirement? Where should you put your money? There are thousands of financial advisors who offer differing opinions on these matters. But if there is one utterly clear maxim of saving for retirement it’s...
How to know If you’re on track for a nice retirementMore companies are rolling out detailed and affordable services to help get your finances in shape. We tell you what’s good about them — and what’s not so good. Can I afford to retire? In the wake of the financial crisis, this question and its obvious follow-up — How can I better...
How to secure your nest egg against layoffsAmericans lost 2.4 million jobs last year. And more workers are worried about getting a pink slip any day now. This economic blizzard has many people in both groups — as well as retirees — wondering how safe their workplace retirement funds are. If you’re laid off — or, even worse,...
7 questions to ask a financial adviserNo 1. Are there any skeletons in the closet? As investors look for guidance in these troubled markets, one question looms above all others: Whom can you trust? During boom times, it was easy to hire a financial adviser and put your money on autopilot. Now the market is in chaos and thousands of investors...
5 new investing rules for retirementMany of the old rules for retirement investing no longer apply. Facing longer life spans, increasing healthcare costs, and a market in crisis, retirees will need more growth in their portfolios during the coming years and decades. At the same time, they need the assurance that a 37 percent market drop–as...
How to build a portfolio wisely and safelyInflation or deflation? Even the experts can’t agree whether rising or falling prices lie in our future. That leaves investors in a quandary: how to construct a portfolio at a time of great uncertainty. A wrong bet could be devastating. If your portfolio is built for deflation, for example, your...