Retirement savers should ignore market forecasts

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Retirement savers should ignore market forecasts
Retirement savers should not listen to market forecasts and instead stick to their strategies, as data show that they are likely to earn more than what they lose, according to this article on CBS Moneywatch. Clients who are approaching retirement or already retired should diversify their portfolio by creating other sources of income. They should optimize their Social Security benefits and supplement their guaranteed income streams by investing in stocks, specifically low-cost target-date funds.

Social Security-checks
Social Security checks are printed at the U.S. Treasury Philadelphia Finance Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 11, 2005. Photographer: Dennis Brack/Bloomberg News

Baby boomers are rewriting retirement history
Because of increased longevity many baby boomers opt to continue working through old age, redefining the concept of retirement in the process, writes a certified financial planner on Kiplinger. "One of the most satisfying aspects of my career is seeing the passion that older Americans are bringing to the retirement-transition process," writes the expert. "Money is just a part of the equation. Volunteerism, nonprofits, returning to school, starting a new business—these are the goals of many of the Baby boomers I work with."

5 (easy) steps to setting up a 401(k)
Newly hired workers may sign up in their employer-sponsored 401(k) plan through auto enrollment, and when they do, they should make sure their contribution rate is high, according to this article from finance website Morningstar. They should also contribute enough to qualify for their employer's match and check if they can automatically escalate their contributions. Workers may opt for a target-date fund when choosing investments for their account, and they should ensure that they set up their beneficiary information.

What this advisor learned about retirement when she retired
After retirement a financial advisor learned that there are unforeseen expenses along the way, so it is important that clients ramp up their savings, according to this article on MarketWatch. “Retirement will cost you more money than you think,” says the expert. “Get real about it. Get a bigger nest egg than you think you’ll need because you will spend it.”

3 things that will improve retirement
Clients can look forward to a more comfortable retirement, as technological advances will help them do things as their physical and cognitive health declines, according to this article from U.S. News & World Report. They will also probably have the option to work as a contract employee after they retire. Experts say that retirement planning may also have to change to adopt to new realities. For example, "retirement savings will have to increase and last longer to reflect this increasing longevity," says an expert.

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Retirement income Social Security 401(k) Portfolio construction Portfolio diversity Retirement readiness Retirement withdrawals
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