Retirement Planning
These are hard times for retirees and for those preparing for retirement. When looking for retirement help, start with an understanding of the basics in retirement planning and investments.
Investing for Retirement
Read up on the latest news and start planning your dream retirement now:
Life After Retirement
Already retired? Here's what you need to know to make the most of your golden years.
Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
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More on Retirement Planning
- $198/day for a semi-private room in a nursing home- $72,270 per year
- $219/day for a private room in a nursing home- $79,935 per year
- $3,131/month for care in an Assisted Living Facility ($37,572 for a one-bedroom unit for a year)
- $21/hour for a Home Health Aide, $61,320 for 8 hours a day for a year
- $19/hour for a Homemaker service, $55,480 for 8 hours a day for a year
- Underestimating healthcare costs
- Giving too much money to family
- Investing too conservatively
- Failing to make a plan for all that free time
Costs and alternatives to long-term care
Jennie L. Phipps
Nov 9th 2010 @ 11:00AM EST
Filed Under: Insurance, Retire, Health, Retirement Advice
![nurse helping an old man in his home](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/11/long.term.care.joe-raedle-for-getty-images.jpg)
Long-term care insurer Genworth offers this 2010 online state-by-state calculator of the cost of long-term care. The government offered these nationwide cost of care estimates in 2009:
5 things to do before you retire
![Couple enjoying retirement; Preparing for retirement](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/11/sen062.jpg.jpg)
As Liz Pulliam Weston says in her excellent roundup of retirement-readiness tips, "Be sure that you've taken care of these details. You could save yourself a whole lot of money and regret later."
Doing her lengthy to-do list can't hurt, but here are five essential steps that you really shouldn't overlook:
Seniors going destitute because of credit card bills
![Seniors going over bills](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/10/e003263.jpg)
According to research done by the University of Michigan Law School, a whopping two-thirds of older Americans say that high credit card debt is a reason behind their choice to file for bankruptcy. In addition, the total credit card debt of senior bankruptcy filers is 50% higher than that of younger people seeking debt relief through bankruptcy.
Cheap places to retire around the globe
Jennie L. Phipps
Oct 28th 2010 @ 10:00AM EST
Filed Under: Real Estate, Retire, Travel, Retirement Advice
![retired couple with surfboards](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/10/retired.couple.surfboard.getty.jpg)
Both of those attributes are things residents of the U.S.A. find appealing as well, so if you're looking for a little adventure, consider these British retirement hot spots. And we've also checked Kayak to see what it would cost you to fly back to the states for the holidays:
Suze Orman's latest advice for women: become powerful with your money
Bonnie McCarthy
Oct 27th 2010 @ 5:00PM EST
Filed Under: Debt, Family Money, Retire, Saving Money, Wealth
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/10/suze.orman.leigh-vogel-for-wcit-and-getty.jpg)
Orman, who admitted she had nothing to do with naming the afternoon break-out discussion, quipped, "I have no idea."
Of course, she joked. Orman had plenty of ideas and doled out advice in her trademark, rapid fire style that brooked no whining, no excuses. Save it. Literally.
Seven fun retirement savings strategies
Jennie L. Phipps
Oct 26th 2010 @ 3:00PM EST
Filed Under: Retire, Saving Money, Retirement Advice, Tax - Advice
![retired couple with surfboards](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/10/retired.couple.surfboard.getty-1288138327.jpg)
Making that switch takes some adjustment, no matter how much you were making before you retired. U.S. News & World Report identified seven costs it suggested eliminating before you hang up your work boots. The seven are: mortgage, credit card debt, second car, home repairs, expensive investments, unnecessary utilities and taxes you can avoid.
4 strategies to avoid having to work until you die
![old woman and man working in retirement](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/10/retired.old.working.man.woman.getty.jpg)
According to a survey by Sun Life Financial of a sampling of people aged 18 to 66, 49% of Americans believe they will be retired and not working at all; 24% think they'll work part time and 25% say they'll still be working full time when they hit 67, two years past the age most people have traditionally hung up the work boots.
Why? The answer is simple, 80% said they don't expect to have enough money to retire.
No COLA adjustment for Social Security recipients in 2011
![social security documents](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/10/social-security-papers.getty.jpg)
In 2010, Social Security recipients were stuck without an annual cost-of-living increase for the first time since 1975, when the annual COLA changes were adopted. At the time the administration made that decision, they forecasted no change for 2011, either.
Now, the projections are bearing out -- news that, sadly, is not serving as a reason to trust in the forecasting abilities of the Congressional Budget Office. Economists say that the stagnation of income for the 58.7 million people receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security checks will have a net drag on the economy, as expenses for utilities, rent, and other unavoidable costs could possibly rise despite the government's constancy.
Four small retirement planning mistakes that'll cost you
Jennie L. Phipps
Sep 30th 2010 @ 8:30AM EST
Filed Under: Credit, Debt, Retire, Bankruptcy, Retirement Advice
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110092546im_/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2010/09/retired-couple-getty.jpg)
While those are all problems to avoid, I think there are some others that can leave a retiree high and dry if he doesn't pay attention. Here's my list of four items:
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Retirement Basics
When looking for retirement help, start with an understanding of the fundamentals. Retirement help begins with the basics of maximizing benefits.
- Retirement Jobs
- How Much to Save for Retirement
- Best Places to Live After Retirement
- Disability Retirement
- Retirement Estate Planning and Taxes
- Pension Plans, Funds and Benefits
- Roth IRA Contributions
- Variable Annuities
- When Do You Reach Retirement Age?
- Military Retirement
- Life Insurance in Retirement
- Health Insurance in Retirement
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Retirement Advice From WalletPop
Retirement Tools
For retirement calculations, understand the discipline of saving. Make the calculations necessary to build your retirement nest egg.