How to invest in the stock market and never lose money

Fixed index annuities are not the only way you can invest in the stock market and be assured of not losing money over the short term. That’s because there’s a do-it-yourself alternative that avoids th...

Should you buy an annuity for your retirement?

Annuities are a popular retirement income vehicle with many insurance agents, registered representatives and financial advisers. They probably have as many supporters as detractors. Here are some of t...

Annuity sales hit record in 2022 amid higher interest rates and fear

Tim Bieber | Photodisc | Getty Images Amid stock market gyrations, recession fears and loftier payouts, consumers last year pumped a record sum of money into annuities, a type of insurance that offers...

MYGAs and Fixed Index Annuities Are Popular. What to Consider.

Rising rates have made annuities of all stripes more interesting investments, but two in particular are worth a hard look right now. Multi-year guaranteed annuities—MYGAs, for short—are the insurance ...

‘My adviser insists this is a good, low-risk investment.’ I’m semi-retired at 63 with $2 million saved. My financial adviser wants me to sink half my money in an annuity. Should I do it?

I’ve never been a big fan of annuities, but my advisor insists this is a good low risk investment vehicle. Is a variable annuity a good option for me? Getty Images Question: I am 63 and semi-retired. ...

Should I Cash Out My Annuities?

Tanza Loudenback, CFP® I have a significant sum invested in several annuities. I would like to switch that money into index funds and pay taxes as the money is withdrawn. Is this recommended? How woul...

How much should you have saved for retirement?

When I was in my 20s, I was lucky to work for a company that offered a pension plan—and that put me on the road to retirement. Today, unfortunately, company pensions are rare. How can you ensure a com...

Can you still retire on $1 million? That’s what today’s millionaires want to know.

OK, so a million dollars isn’t what it used to be. That’s the worry among a surprising number of America’s millionaires. So, at least, reports money-management giant Natixis, which owns bond shop Loom...

‘Ugly times’ are pushing record annuity sales. What buyers should know

Izusek | E+ | Getty Images Consumers are funneling money into annuities as the stock market tanks and higher interest rates raise payouts for buyers. Annuity sales in the third quarter of 2022 approac...

Should You Invest in Annuities During Inflation?

SmartAsset: Are Annuities Safe to Invest In? There are many financial products you can choose to invest in as a part of your retirement portfolio. One of the most complex is an annuity, which is a pro...

Weekend reads: How the Fed’s punishing policy can set you up for massive gains in the stock market

During a long bear market, investors’ moods can be so bleak and muddy that they cannot envision better times. But they always come. Warren Buffett has shown repeatedly over the decades how to enhance ...

Here’s how much retirement income you can buy today for $100,000

I come bearing good news for those who are recently retired, who are about to retire soon, and for anyone else who wants a secure income for the rest of their life. It’s not amazing news, so don’t bre...

I’m 65 and want to retire in 6 months. I have a $125K annuity, plus $100K of money that I’m not sure what to do with. Should I get professional help?

Is a financial planner right for you? Getty Images/iStockphoto Question: I had $225,000 in my 401(k) and then I rolled over $125,000 to an annuity at 7%, as I wanted income. I just turned 65 and want ...

The Best Annuities for Income and Growth

These are boom times for annuities, which are providing retirement savers and investors with not only their hallmark stability during what has been a dismal year for both stocks and bonds, but also th...

Want to Enjoy Retirement More? Shift Your Assets to Annuities

annuities retirement A recent Supreme Court decision could result in improved options in your retirement plan. The court sided with Northwestern University employees who alleged the university’s retir...

Apollo’s Stock Is Expected to Rise. Here’s Why.

Apollo Global Management is the most misunderstood of the publicly traded alternative asset managers. But the stock could represent significant upside for those who wish to take a look, according to R...

America’s Retirement System Is Broken. This Economist Is Trying to Fix It.

Economist Alicia Munnell has been telling America it has a retirement problem for decades, and by most measures it has gotten worse. Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research, which she heads, c...

Annuity sales buoyed by fear, higher rates. What to know before buying

Svetikd | E+ | Getty Images Annuities are on track for a banner year as consumers flee stock volatility and insurers offer more attractive rates. Limra, an insurance industry group, forecasts annuity ...

You just retired and your target-date fund has plunged. What do you do now?

If you recently retired or are near retirement and you had your money in a target-date fund designed for people retiring about now, bad luck. So far this year, the “target” is you. Morningstar tells m...

Considering a Lump-Sum Pension Payout? Here’s What to Know, and Why to Act Soon.

Workers who are considering taking a lump-sum payment from their employer-sponsored pension in retirement shouldn’t wait much longer to decide, as the Federal Reserve’s planned series of interest-rate...

Reluctant to Spend in Retirement? Here Are Some Tips to Tame Your Frugal Feelings.

Ned and Sue Price saved diligently their whole lives, but the Jacksonville, Fla., couple still had worries of running out of money in retirement—especially since a health scare in 2007 led Ned to clos...

Your 401(k) Statement Will Soon Have Lifetime Income Estimates. What to Know.

Participants in 401(k)s should begin seeing a “lifetime income illustration” on their statements this year, getting an estimate of how much guaranteed monthly income their current account balance woul...

Here Are 3 Ways to Get Better Yields Than Bonds, With Some Measure of Safety

Despite the recent surge in bond yields, some alternative investments provide much better yields with varying degrees of safety. They include Treasury savings bonds, multi-year guaranteed annuities fr...

Proposed LIFE Act Would Boost Annuities’ Role in Retirement Plans

The passage of the Secure Act in 2019 has led to some dramatic shifts in retirement plans. Of particular note, the law allowed for annuities providing guaranteed lifetime income to be incorporated int...

Go Ahead, Retire at 62 and Claim Social Security at 67. Your Benefit Will Climb.

Joni Hanebutt/Dreamstime.com Text size Have a question about saving for retirement or your personal financial situation? Whatever the question, Barron’s Retirement can try to help. Email retirement@ba...

The 4% Rule Might Not Work, This Retirement Expert Says. Here’s His Strategy for a Downturn.

Economist Wade Pfau has been thinking about retirement since he was in 20s. But not just his own retirement.  Pfau started studying Social Security for his dissertation while getting his Ph.D. at Prin...