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Will $4 million in retirement savings be enough?
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I hope to have $4 million saved by the time I retire in 30 years. That sounds like a lot of money, but how much would that be in today's dollars? -- Brian
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Laid off and making the retirement savings last
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Ed Parker never planned on retiring early. But in 2009, at age 61, he was laid off from his job as a manager at a Caterpillar dealership and realized he was ready to end full-time work. His wife, Roxann, had retired a decade earlier from her job at a department store, and travel plans beckoned.
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Don't shortchange the later years
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Many people think they can plan on spending less later in retirement since they'll become less active as they age. But if their health declines, they may actually shift spending rather than reduce it. Do you think it's risky to plan as if one's expenses will go down later in retirement? --Tim, U.K.
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Recovering from a too risky portfolio
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We spoke to five families who face challenges that could keep them from meeting their financial goals. With a few tweaks to their game plan, they can get back on course. Here, the Mitchells' story -- and the recommended financial fixes.
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Nonprofit founders put passions ahead of planning
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Scott Pankratz and Julie Osborn are phenomenal planners and money managers -- except when it comes to their own investments.
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Retiree havens go on sale
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Even if you're a decade or more away from quitting time, you may be thinking about buying a retirement home right now.
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Can I give my 401(k) firm the boot?
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My 401(k) is managed by a brokerage firm that was busted by the SEC for fraudulent practices (although those practices weren't related to my 401(k) plan). Still, I don't want to invest my money with, or pay fees to, to a firm I consider unethical. For now, I've switched all of my money into the bond account figuring it's the safest place to invest until I can figure out what to do. But I'd really like to get into another 401(k) plan. Can I do that? -- Michael S.
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Is a pension a stand-in for bonds?
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Our 401(k) and Roth investments are in stock index funds and commodities. We own no bonds. With a pension and Social Security, can we keep forgoing bonds? -- D.F., Washington, D.C.
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Manage retirement savings as you age
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How much should I have in a 401(k) or other retirement accounts at various ages relative to my salary so I know I'll eventually enough money to maintain my standard of living throughout retirement? -- K.T., Olathe, Kansas
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Delaying retirement: 80 is the new 65
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A quarter of middle-class Americans are now so pessimistic about their savings that they are planning to delay retirement until they are at least 80 years old -- two years longer than the average person is even expected to live.
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For most seniors, a small Medicare rate hike
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Some 35 million Medicare recipients will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets when they go to the doctor next year.
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IRS raises 401(k) contribution limit to $17,000
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You'll be able to contribute more tax-free money to your 401(k) next year, the IRS announced Thursday.
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My twins are eating my retirement savings
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After undergoing two costly rounds of in vitro fertilization a few years ago, Laura Whitlinger, now 46, was thrilled when she saw the images of two babies appear on her sonogram. But it didn't take long before she and her husband realized that this double blessing came with some very serious financial implications.
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How do I get my in-laws to save money?
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My wife's parents, both in their early 50s, aren't very good with money. They make around $80,000, but spend it instantly. One of them finally started contributing to a 401(k) this year at our insistence, but how can my wife and I convince them to save for retirement or emergencies? No offense to them, but we really don't want them to move in with us in ten or fifteen years. --J.M., Virginia
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Are retirement calculators useful in this volatile economy?
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I'm more than a little disappointed with calculators. I began saving regularly for retirement in the late 1970s and according to the calculator I was supposed to be pretty well off by now. What actually happened, though, was that I did OK until about 2000 but not very well since then. I'm glad I saved, but the calculator was wrong. --David R., Phoenix, Arizona
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