Tip: What’s in a Name? If you fail to name a beneficiary on your IRA, it may be much more difficult for your beneficiaries to ‘stretch’ the inherited IRA over their lifetimes.The Investment Company Institute reports that there is roughly $7.4...

Tip: Medicare beneficiaries spent an average of $4,734 out of pocket on health care in 2010, the most recent year for which figures are available. Forty-two percent of that went to premiums, 20% to long-term care facilities. Source: MedicareResources.org, October 24,...

Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the Web site, www.ssa.gov.Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how it works, but how much do you...

Tip: 20% of retirees are currently providing financial support to a relative or friend. Source: 2015 Retirement Confidence Survey, EBRIRetirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a...

Tip: Still Selling Strong. In 2015, investors purchased $236.7 billion in annuity contracts. Most of this capital—$133 billion—went into variable annuities. Source: LIMRA, 2016Individuals hold more than $2.0 trillion in annuity contracts; a tidy sum...