A million dollars is still a lot of money. And if your house is paid for and your kids are on their own, it's enough for you to retire on and live out your golden years comfortably on the $40,000 or so a year you could pull from it. That -- and the fact that it's a nice round number with a brand new comma in it -- makes $1,000,000 a great target for retirement savings.
Every year, millions of near-retirees have to make a crucial decision: when to start taking their Social Security benefits. Although making the wrong choice can cost you and your family thousands of dollars over your lifetime, don't panic -- thinking through your options will help you figure out the right thing to do.
Your retirement is far more than simply no longer showing up to work. It's about having the freedom to do what you want in life, and enough control over your personal finances to enjoy that freedom.
The debate over U.S. health-care reform rages on. But why wait for someone else to dictate your future? You have many options -- if you're willing to take a vacation. If recovering from a medical procedure while lying on a palm-swept beach, relaxing by the hotel pool, or shopping for terrific bargains sounds good, then medical vacations may be exactly the right solution for you.
In bull markets, selling bonds to retirement investors is a tough job. Most folks -- especially those more than a few years from retirement -- tend to want to stick with stocks. And with good reason. Over long periods and through a full range of market cycles, stocks beat bonds.
