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The 4% Rule: How Much Can You Spend in Retirement?

The 4% Rule: How Much Can You Spend in Retirement?

How much can you spend without running out of money? The 4% rule is a popular rule of thumb, but you can do better. Here are guidelines for finding your personalized spending rate. You've worked hard to save for retirement, and now you're ready to turn your savings...

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Why Annuities May Be a Safer Bet in 2025

Why Annuities May Be a Safer Bet in 2025

Many people decide to claim their Social Security benefit when they retire. You may be one of them. It could be that you need the money, or maybe you want to invest it in the hope that it grows. While these can be good options depending on your needs and preferences,...

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Interest in Annuities Is Soaring: Understanding the 2025 Trend

Interest in Annuities Is Soaring: Understanding the 2025 Trend

Learn how the market, economy, and demographics are shaping the annuity industry. The annuity industry is having a moment. After years of mixed opinions and confusion around how they work, annuities surged in popularity in recent years, with total U.S. sales reaching...

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Annuity Awareness Month 2025: Your Guide to Income Security

Annuity Awareness Month 2025: Your Guide to Income Security

Each June, Annuity Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of retirement’s most misunderstood—but potentially powerful—financial tools: the annuity. In 2025, as market uncertainty, inflation concerns, and rising interest rates continue to weigh on retirement...

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6 Ways to Secure Your Finances After Retirement

6 Ways to Secure Your Finances After Retirement

Although your CalPERS service retirement is a lifetime benefit, and you have other income sources available to you, money can still be tight. Making ends meet is a big concern for many retirees.   Here are six tips for saving money during retirement, as part of our...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Investors sent US markets to another set of all-time highs despite concerns about an extended government shutdown.  The U.S. government shutdown was largely dismissed by markets last week, which came as a surprise given that several key economic data sets (Initial...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The S&P 500 hit a 28th record high for the year before settling lower for the week. Investors endured a choppy week of trading as better-than-expected economic data and better-than-feared inflation data tempered the notion of additional rate cuts.  Several Fed...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The major US equity market indices forged another set of all-time highs as investors went all in on risk assets after the Federal Reserve announced a twenty-five basis point cut to its policy rate and telegraphed the potential for three more cuts by January 2026. The...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

US equity indices posted another set of all-time highs as investors increased expectations for three, twenty-five basis point rate cuts by year's end.  Inflation data reported for the week essentially gave the Fed the green light for a September rate cut....

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Investors sent the S&P 500 to another all-time high in a holiday-shortened week of trading.  President Trump started the week by asking the Supreme Court to expedite a hearing to challenge the International Trade Court and the Federal Court of Appeals rulings that...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The S&P 500 posted a gain for the fourth consecutive month as investors continued to embrace the prospects of a September rate cut, a robust economic outlook, and strong corporate earnings.  The much-anticipated second-quarter results from NVidia were met with...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

US equity markets ended the week with a powerful move to the upside after Fed Chairman J. Powell indicated that the balance of risk had shifted to the labor market, leaving the door open for a September rate cut.  The final day of trading wiped out losses incurred in...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Global financial markets had another positive week as the Dow Jones Industrial Average finally joined the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ with a new all-time high.  Benign consumer inflation increased the probability of a September rate cut to 99% and fostered the idea of...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Global financial markets rallied last week as investors stepped in again to buy the prior week’s dip in prices.  Japan, Germany, Spain, and Italy were international market standouts.  In the US, the S&P 500 fell just shy of a new all-time high, while the...

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Another Way to Lose IRA Bankruptcy Protection

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Normally, if you declare bankruptcy, your IRA funds (traditional and Roth) are completely off limits to bankruptcy creditors. But a recent court decision is a good reminder that this isn’t always the case. Bankruptcy protection for IRAs...

October 15 Deadlines Are Approaching

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education October is almost here. This means fall is in full swing. Along with pumpkin spice lattes, football season, and sweater weather come four important October 15 deadlines you will not want to miss! Avoid the Excess...

“IRA Distribution Confusion”

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Traditional and Roth IRA owners often get confused about the distributions they take from their IRAs. Mix-ups and misunderstandings are pervasive. With Roth IRAs, there a number of different factors to consider when withdrawing...

IRS Confirms Effective Date of Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Rule

  By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst In final regulations issued on September 15, 2025, the IRS confirmed that company retirement plans must comply with the SECURE 2.0 Act’s mandatory Roth catch-up rule as of January 1, 2026. That rule requires high-paid employees who...

Participation in Multiple Retirement Plans

  By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Can a person who works at two different, unrelated companies participate in the retirement plan offered by each of those businesses? Yes. Can this same person receive the maximum annual contributions into BOTH plans? Yes,...

The “Still-Working Exception” and December 31 Retirement

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst As the end of the year approaches, you may have plans to retire on December 31. However, if you are using the “still-working exception” to defer required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your 401(k) (or other company plan), you may want...

 

Six Changes Coming to Social Security in 2026

Six Changes Coming to Social Security in 2026

Big changes are coming to Social Security in the year ahead, impacting everything from the size of your benefit check to your full retirement age. Here's what you need to know. In January 2026, several changes to Social Security will take effect, impacting everything...

Vaccines Medicare Covers for Free in 2025

Vaccines Medicare Covers for Free in 2025

The U.S. is experiencing an outbreak of measles and is on track to have the most whooping cough cases since 1948. These vaccines Medicare covers for free can keep you safe. Did you know that Medicare fully covers many vaccines for its beneficiaries? Well, they do....

Seven Medicare Changes Coming in 2026

Seven Medicare Changes Coming in 2026

Learn about the benefits that become permanent features of Medicare in 2026 and other changes as they are released. Knowing how Medicare is evolving and which benefits you can rely on will help you focus on whether Original Medicare or a particular Medicare Advantage...

Get the care you need quickly when you’re sick

Get the care you need quickly when you’re sick

Discover six ways to access care fast, even if your doctor is busy. Hint: You may not need to go in person. Doctors’ offices are busier than ever these days. Sometimes it can be tough to book a timely appointment with your primary care provider. You might be sick or...

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