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I always put the maximum amount allowed into my 401K. Now I realize that I will be paying high taxes when I need to take RMDs. Now I realize how much lower my taxes would be if I only lived off of qua...
Alternative investments could appear on some 401(k) menus in the year ahead. Here’s what that means for investors.
A proposed federal rule aims to clear the way for retirement savings plans to include alternative assets. But it may not be enough to protect employers from lawsuits.
In this episode of the Retirement Answer Man, Roger Whitney explores the critical decision of when to claim Social Security benefits, weighing the pros and cons of taking them early versus delaying. T...
How AI, Gig Work and Contract Jobs Are Changing Retirement: The Shift from Pensions and 401(k)s to a New Work Contract Is Reshaping Worker Financial Security
April Fools. It's April 1st, sorry about that. No, I'm not putting the suit back on. But I am going back to work. Just not the kind you clock in for. I recently read a piece built around Stewart Brand...
Gen X, the first generation to rely on 401(k)s to build and grow a nest egg, is nearing retirement. There's a hefty shortfall between the "magic number" for retiring and Gen X savings.
A proposed Labor Department rule could ease the path for alternative investments in 401(k)s, but advisors may face new due diligence and communication challenges.
Explore how meaningful travel experiences, storytelling, and thoughtful planning can enhance your retirement journey. In this episode, Roger answers listener questions on managing retirement accounts,...
When you die, your 401(k) only passes to the named beneficiary. Spouses can roll the account into their own IRA, but most non-spouse beneficiaries must withdraw the funds within 10 years, which can tr...
Rollover IRAs can end up stuck in cash, while abandoned 401(k)s can be parked in a cash-like Safe Harbor IRA. Here's how to put your money back to work.
The Rule of 55 allows certain workers to take penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) or 403(b) if they leave their job in or after the year they turn 55. Income taxes still apply, and the funds must r...
Portfolios limited to public equities capture a smaller slice of corporate growth, so investors are making room for private investments in their 401(k)s.
A 401(k) student loan match allows employers to make retirement contributions based on your qualified student loan payments instead of requiring direct 401(k) contributions. This SECURE 2.0 provision ...
If you’re earning 1099 income, you likely aren’t spoiled for choice in the retirement savings department. When it comes to ... Read more
We all know we need to have an emergency fund, mine is around 6-8 months of expenses, but what's your strategy for if and when you dip into it, how do you go about replenishing it when you're on a tig...
A 401(k) can offer powerful tax advantages, but understanding how contributions, growth, and withdrawals are taxed is essential. Traditional 401(k)s lower your taxable income today, while Roth 401(k)s...
I’m likely to retire in the next 2 years at or near full retirement age. I first opened a Roth IRA with a small amount ($1,000) in 2023 to start the 5-year clock, so I was really late to the party. I’...
Private equity in 401(k)s may face significant liquidity strains, reducing returns and complicating plan management, according to new Morningstar research.
Looking to start a Roth IRA by April 1 so I can get a start on the 5 year rule, I have 401K plans but will need some roth if I have any chance of ever getting under the 400% magi in 4 years, where sho...
If you're leaving your employer and you have a 401(k), what should you do? There are six options, some of which are better than others. The post What to Do with Your Old 401(k) If You Change Jobs appe...
Jeremy Keil explains the 5 RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) mistakes in Retirement and how to avoid them. A retiree recently called for help. It was their first year taking Required Minimum Distrib...
Does offering private capital in 401(k)s represent an exciting new investment opportunity for "the little guy," or an opaque and expensive Wall Street product?
Professional 401(k) management may help investors navigate higher contribution limits, market volatility, and rising complexity in 2026. This article explains what’s changed, how personalized manageme...
Happy 2026! Get the updated FAANG FIRE Cheat Sheet with new 401k limits ($24.5k), tax brackets, and triple paycheck dates.
I'm in career for over 42 years that I don't like anymore and does cause a lot of stress. (my current job does pay very well and feels like golden handcuffs) Retiring at 65 will get me 3100 a month pl...
Recent data from Vanguard and Fidelity shows 401(k) hardship withdrawals at record highs as everyday costs rise and savings run thin. Understanding the long-term impact of pulling from your retirement...
According to the Goldman Sachs Retirement Survey & Insights Report 2025, many Americans are struggling to save as basic expenses rise faster than wages. Here’s what the data means for your 401(k) and ...
I retired at 62 (now 63) in June 2025,and I have a Roth IRA with 15% and traditional IRA with about 85% of total. My wife is 64 and still working to pad her retirement and for our health insurance. I ...
I am planning on retiring next year. Between Social Security, a small pension, and rolling my 401K over into and IRA with a 5% return on CDs, I would make $40,000 more per year than I make working now...
Divorce does not automatically change who will inherit your 401k. Make sure you know the rules and update your plans.
Americans increasingly use 401(k)s as emergency funds, not retirement savings, exposing flaws in U.S. retirement policy and deepening insecurity.
“Front loading” 401k contributions means pushing as much of your annual contribution as possible into the earliest months of the year.
Understanding the average and median 401(k) balance by age helps you see where you really stand. Vanguard’s data shows a wide gap between the average balance of $148,153 and the median of $38,176, rev...
Imagine it's 2004 and I explain to you what a mortgage-backed security (MBS) is. I show you how they work and how banks are using them to sell groups of mortgages to investors. Even with this knowledg...
People knock real estate for being slow and tedious. I get it. It’s not nearly as exciting as chasing big tech or the latest AI winner. But slow and steady might be exactly what the doctor order...
Updated: November 2025 According to the IRS (Notice 2025-67, released November 13, 2025), the 401(k) contribution limit will rise to $24,500 for 2026, up $1,000 from 2025, while the IRA contribution l...
The IRS just announced the official 2026 contribution limits for 401(k)s, 403(b)s, IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE plans, and catch-up contributions, and there are some meaningful increases you don’t wa...
The worst investments I've ever owned all share one thing in common—I couldn't sell them.Whether we are talking fractional shares of expensive artwork or private investments in friends' companie...
? Show Notes In this episode, Roger Whitney dives into the essentials of required minimum distributions, explaining the age thresholds, how the amounts are calculated using IRS life expectancy tables,...
The maximum employee 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is increasing by $1,000 to$24,500 according to the IRS. For workers over 50, the catch-up contribution rises to$8,000, bringing the total to$32,...
I expect to retire in the next 12-24 months, and I’m looking for advice on how to handle multiple income streams. Like a lot of people, for almost 40 years, nearly all our household income has c...
Answering listener questions, where we break down the pros and cons of reinvesting dividends automatically vs. manually, explore how to balance the risk of relying on a pension and 457(b), and talk ab...
Planning for retirement isn't just about hitting your savings targets and hoping for the best. It's about getting creative, asking new questions, and challenging your own assumptions. We follow the re...
Recently, an executive order has set the stage for 401 (k) providers to potentially start offering investments like private equity, private real estate, digital assets (think bitcoin), commodities, an...
I am planning to retire (hopefully) soon, and I keep reading things that say I'll need 70% of my pre-retirement income, or 80%, or 90%. The idea being that you will lose some of the expenses related t...
In this episode, Brian asks some great questions about using Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) for company stock inside a 401(k). We dive into the rules, timing, and strategies that could lead to majo...
Should everyday investors be allowed to hold private equity, venture capital, or even crypto in their 401(k)s? A new executive order suggests it might soon be possible. In this episode, we walk throug...
Answering listener questions about the pros and cons of traditional vs. Roth contributions, merging finances when a spouse has no income but owns an IRA, and how to maximize annual contributions to a ...
I still have my Meta 401k two years after being laid off, and here’s why keeping your old 401k might actually be the smart move....