Retirement scan

Employees should do a quick assessment of their retirement prospects while still working.

One strategy to enhance financial prospects is to get a part-time job via the gig economy.

Workers may want to opt for a fund that follows small companies as they will benefit from a lower corporate tax rate under the new tax law.

A pension expert from the Netherlands says that the U.S. retirement system sets a bad example in securing the golden years of its workforce.

Seniors who are 70 1/2 and older should ensure that they take their first required minimum distribution from tax-deferred retirement accounts by Dec. 29.

Employees should refrain from cosigning their child's student loan, as Social Security could garnish their retirement benefits if the child defaults on the loan payments.

Many younger workers find it difficult to think beyond their student debt, which averages $32,731 with an average monthly payment of $393, according to the Federal Reserve.

Missing required 401(k) minimum distributions are subject to a penalty equal to half the amount that should have been taken.

Although the current year has been good for participants, many workers are not investing in a retirement plan.

Those who leave the workforce and are sitting on losing investments may do tax-loss harvesting, or they may donate their winning holdings to a charity to avoid the capital gains tax