Q.: I’m 74 and taking out the required withdrawals. Can I turn the post- tax 401(k) into a Roth so I don’t have to pay taxes? A.: Yes, sort of. How to do that varies. Though a Roth 401(k) account is a...
Tag: Retirement planning
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...
Empty-Nesters Aren’t Saving for Retirement Like They Promised. That’s a Problem.
Currently, a person 50 or older can stash as much as $27,000 a year into a 401(k) and $7,000 into an IRA or Roth IRA. Photo illustration by Barron’s staff; (reference) Dreamstime (4) Text size ...
‘Rebalancing during this pullback is a great idea’: 6 questions to ask your financial adviser right now as stocks continue to tumble
First, consider this general guide on investing: it’s about playing the long game instead of hyperventilating over headlines and doing something drastic, financial advisers say. Now file that statemen...
Feeling seasick? These simple, low-cost retirement portfolios are holding up well
Not everyone is having a terrible year. While stocks and bonds have all plummeted since Jan. 1, a few simple, low-cost, all-weather portfolios are doing a much better job of preserving their owners’ r...
We want to retire in a few years, and have about $1 million saved. Should I move my money to a Roth, and pay off my $200,000 mortgage while I’m at it?
Dear MarketWatch, I’m 64 and my husband is 62. We plan to work until he is at least 65, so three or four more years. We have about $1 million total in various accounts, but my own IRA has $400,000 in...
No, the markets are not panicking about inflation
If you’ve turned on a TV, listened to the radio, or surfed internet news sites recently you’ve almost certainly heard that there is a crisis, and a panic, about inflation. You’ve been told it’s the re...
Here’s why a Roth IRA conversion may pay off in a down market
Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images Soaring inflation, interest rate hikes and the war in Ukraine have sparked ongoing stock market volatility. But there may be a bright spot: the chance to save money on...
Your new ‘retirement’ home could be a cruise ship
Jeff Farschman, 72, is a serial cruiser from Delaware who spends months at sea in retirement. Jeff Farschman For nearly two decades, Jeff Farschman, 72, has spent his golden years like many other adve...
Proposed IRS Rule Could Penalize Some Heirs of Retirement Accounts
Proposed new regulations from the Internal Revenue Service for inherited retirement accounts would require many heirs to make minimum annual withdrawals from the accounts—leaving less room for the sav...
Worried about a recession? Here’s how to prepare your portfolio
FG Trade | iStock | Getty Images More from FA Playbook: Here’s a look at other stories impacting the financial advisor business. “We all understand that markets go through cycles and reces...
What Bitcoin Could Be Worth to Fidelity. You’ll Be Surprised.
Text size Fidelity’s push into Bitcoin is raising controversy but could be lucrative for the company. Dreamstime.com Fidelity Investments shocked the retirement industry last month with a move t...
This little-known Vanguard fund has been crushing it — yes, even in this market
What would Jack Bogle think? The legendary Vanguard founder, who died three years ago at 89, famously advised investors to avoid anything fancy in their retirement portfolios, 401(k) plans and IRAs. B...
The Fed raised interest rates – what to do now with your retirement portfolio
Inflation is rising, the stock market is volatile and now the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates – but investors, as always, should steer clear of any major changes, financial advisers said. T...
The only two stock funds you’ll ever need
Let’s face it: You’re probably reading this article because you want to make more money from your investments. That’s the No. 1 motivation of investors. So I’m going to tell you how to achieve one of ...
6 things to know before you jump into retirement
I’m six months into my retirement from the corporate world. How are things going? Any regrets? Any big surprises? No regrets, for sure. I knew that leaving the workplace at age 61 would be a trade off...
‘My aim is to have a net worth of at least $100,000’: I’m 29 and live with my mom in a rented mobile home. I have a $25K emergency fund and $26K in a Roth IRA. What do I save for next?
I am doing OK financially as a single 29-year-old who unfortunately is still roommates with my mom. We split everything down the middle and I mainly stay with her since it is very expensive to live on...
Here’s how much cash retirees need to weather a stock market downturn
Luminola | E+ | Getty Images Amid high inflation and rising interest rates, there are fears of a prolonged stock market downturn, and some retirees may be vulnerable without a cushion of cash, financi...
How will boomers draw down their 401(k) balances?
Recent studies have found that past generations drew down their financial assets very slowly in retirement, leaving much of their savings untouched throughout old age. This finding always seemed obvi...
Here’s where financial advisors say I bonds may work in your portfolio
I bonds are currently paying 9.62% annual interest through this October, presenting an opportunity for investors with a range of goals, according to financial experts. These assets, backed by the fede...
I bonds to deliver a record 9.62% interest for the next six months
Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you’re eyeing ways to fight swelling prices, I bonds, an inflation-protected and nearly risk-free asset, may now be even more appealing. I bonds are...
I-bonds are all the rage — what’s the best way to use them?
With the release of March’s Consumer Price Index, we now know that a risk-free investment yielding 9.6% will be available as of May 2. I’m speaking, of course, about Series I savings bonds from the U....
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...
This idiot-proof portfolio has beaten traditional stocks and bonds over 50 years
Do you have the right portfolio for your retirement savings? When it comes to long-term investing, the biggest issue — by far — is overall asset allocation: How much to stocks, sectors, assets and so ...