Saving for Retirement

How Can I Simplify My Retirement Investments?

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I’m retired and currently manage my IRA portfolio of 10 different funds. But I’m thinking I’d like to simplify my portfolio and my life. Short of hiring an adviser to oversee my investments, what do you recommend? More»

3 Ways To Recover From A Late Start On Retirement Planning

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

1-2-3

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I haven’t made the best decisions when it comes to retirement planning. As a result, my wife and I are in our early 50s and have next to nothing saved for retirement. Do we have any hope of a secure retirement? More»

Do You Really Need A Financial Adviser?

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

AdvisersinOffice

Ask Real Deal Retirement 

If I just invest my money in some good low-cost mutual funds, do I really need to pay a financial adviser for help?

—Daniel

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Is There A Low-Risk Way To Avoid Running Out Of Money In Retirement?

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

OpenWallet

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I plan to invest half of my savings in a Standard & Poor’s 500 index fund, half in a total bond market index fund, withdraw 3.5% the first year of retirement and then adjust that amount annually for inflation. Is this a low-risk way to ensure my money will last throughout a long retirement?

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4 Tips For Investing A Big Windfall In Today’s Market

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

Overdiversifying-TooManyChoices

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I’m 53 years old and will soon come into a multi-million dollar sum that I need to manage properly for my retirement and for my children’s future. I’m not willing to just hand the reins over to anyone, but I also realize I’m not an experienced investor. I’d like to invest this money so it will continue to grow for all of us, but I don’t know where to begin. Any suggestions? More»

A Geezer Journalist’s Financial Advice For College Grads

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

FLICKR-collegegrads

[Editor’s note: This column originally appeared a year ago. The advice still applies today, so I’ve re-published it for 2018 grads. Enjoy!]

It’s that time of year again, when politicians, activists, business honchos and other luminaries don cap and gown to dispense sage advice to newly minted college grads in the time-honored form of commencement speeches. Somehow I didn’t receive a request to speak. Maybe my less-than-cum laude record as a student at Penn more than 40 years ago scared schools off. But I’ve never been one to let the mere lack of an invitation stop me from weighing in. So here, from someone who’s spent the bulk of his career writing about personal finance, are five tips and observations designed to help recent grads get onto the right financial path. More»

How Should I Invest My Nest Egg For Maximum Retirement Income?

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

moneybagman-dollarsign

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I’m in my mid 60s and have about $1.2 million I would like to invest for the maximum income possible for the rest of my life. I don’t care for stocks or bonds because I hate the idea of seeing the value of my savings drop if the market has a correction. And I don’t understand annuities. Any suggestions?

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4 Key Steps You Should Take When Buying An Annuity

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

Annuity

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I would like to buy an immediate annuity, but I want to know that I’m getting one from a reliable company. How can I do that?

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Should I Follow An Adviser’s Recommendation To Move Half of My Savings Into An Annuity?

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

Piggybank Annuity

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I’m 64 and recently met with a financial adviser who wants me to invest $400,000 of my $800,000 portfolio in an annuity. I read some nasty reviews of this annuity, but the adviser says it’s the best annuity out there. What do you suggest I do? More»

What Exactly Is An Immediate Annuity—And How Does One Work?

By Walter Updegrave, RealDealRetirement @RealDealRetire

AnnuityKeyboard

Ask Real Deal Retirement

I often hear people who want monthly payments in retirement refer to immediate annuities. Can you tell me what an immediate annuity is and how it works? More»