3 Reasons Why Target Date Funds May be Off Target

Target Date Funds

Target Date Funds Are Popular, But Then Again, So Was Smoking The use of Target Date Funds has become one of the most popular 401(k) options for retirement savers.   According to this article, 71% of 401(k) plans offered a Target Date Fund option by the end of 2013 and 15% of all 401(k) assets are…

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3 Strategies to Save More for Retirement

Retirement

The 3-Pronged Approach to Save More for Retirement I don’t know about you, but I like looking at goals from all perspectives and going after them on multiple fronts.  If you’ve set a goal to save more for retirement, you can definitely take a multi-pronged approach.  You’ll maximize the chances of meeting your retirement savings…

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A Simple Household Spending Plan to Save More for Retirement

Retirement Planning Rowan Financial

“I’m Too Busy to Plan for Retirement” Like all of us, you’re busy.  Retirement is a fuzzy, distant event that has nothing to do with running the kids to lacrosse practice or to dance lessons while making sure family members with five different schedules can get a semi-healthy dinner into themselves every night. Maybe you’re…

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Choosing a Retirement Plan for Independent Contractors

Retirement Plan

You Have Great Options! According to a recent Forbes article, 13% of the US workforce now consists of independent contractors.  And this percentage will continue to grow, both as employers remain reluctant to add permanent headcount and employees seek more flexible, self-directed work arrangements. Are you among or thinking about become a part of this…

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From Millennials to Boomers – What to Do NOW for Retirement

Retirement Planning

It’s Never Too Early to Start I’m an active participant in several online Q&A forums.  A common question is, “Am I on track for retirement?”  The question gets asked most frequently by people in their 50’s and 60’s; however, some participants in their 30’s and even as early as their 20’s are asking the question.…

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Can I Retire Yet?

Simple to Ask / Complex to Answer You are nearing retirement age and may be beginning to ask yourself, “Can I retire yet?”  This simple question is one of the most difficult to answer because it relies on many variables as well as the spending and saving choices you make leading up to and once…

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Am I on Track for Retirement?

Retirement Rowan Financial

Many questions in life are relatively easy to answer like, “What should I have for dinner tonight?” or “What movie should we go see?” or even “Where should we go on vacation this year?” However, if you’ve been wondering lately, “Am I on track for retirement?” it may quickly turn into a frustrating exercise because…

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When Safe Investments Aren’t Very Safe

Investments Rowan Financial

  Investors had a rough start to 2016.  Stocks plummeted in January and February, then completely reversed course in March, promptly erasing all their losses and finishing the first quarter right about where they started the year. As I monitored various online discussion boards during that period, I saw time and again people looking for…

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Should I Max Out My 401K?

Should I Max Out My 401K

This question often gets answered quickly with little thought and a simple, “Yes!  Defer taxes for as long as you can.”  However, depending on how much you need to save for retirement, your income and a variety of other factors, you may actually want to fund other accounts before depositing the full $18,000 in your…

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Can I Retire Now?

Can I retire now

It Depends….. If you’re nearing retirement age, the question, “Can I retire now?” may be top of mind for you.  I get asked this question a lot and unfortunately, my initial answer almost always has to be, “It depends….” When my clients start thinking about this question, we have a preliminary discussion about the key…

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