Retirement Savings and Investments
How Much Does the Average American Have in Savings? $8,200
The median family keeps $8,200 in bank accounts and $44,200 in total financial assets. See savings by age, for the middle class, and home equity.
Articles by Scott Staton
Retirement Planning
What Is Behavioral Finance? 10 Biases That Cost You Money
Behavioral finance explains why smart people sell low, save too little for retirement, and claim Social Security early. Here are the biases and the fixes.
Retirement Planning
Monte Carlo Simulation for Retirement: How It Works and What Your Odds Mean
A Monte Carlo simulation tests your retirement plan across 1,000 simulated markets to estimate your odds. Here’s how it works and what your score means.
Retirement Planning
Leaving Money on the Table When You Retire: 10 Places to Look
From your last paychecks to your first years retired, here are 10 places people leave money on the table, with 2026 and 2027 figures for each.
Taxes
Year-End Tax Planning: 12 Moves to Make Before Dec. 31
Year-end tax planning for 2026: Roth conversions, RMDs, charitable gifts, and the 0% capital gains rate retirees can still use before Dec. 31.
Retirement Planning
Fear of Spending Money in Retirement and How to Overcome It
Retirees spend about half of what a safe withdrawal rate allows. See why the fear of spending money in retirement sets in and how to ease it.
Pensions
When Can You Collect Your Full Pension? Age, Rules, Payouts
You can collect your full pension at your plan’s normal retirement age, 65 or earlier in most plans. See early cuts, working rules, payouts, and taxes.
Pensions
Pension Lump Sum vs. Annuity Calculator: Which Is Better?
Use this free pension lump sum vs. annuity calculator to find your break-even age, the return a lump sum must earn, and your odds of living long enough.
Retirement Income
What Is Fixed Income? Meaning, Examples, and Retirement Risks
What is fixed income? It’s income paid on a set schedule, like Social Security or a pension, or bonds and other investments that pay set interest.
Retirement Planning
Can You Retire at 62? How Much You Need and What to Plan For
You can retire at 62 if savings cover your spending until Social Security and three years of health coverage. Here’s how to check the math.
Retirement Jobs
How to Make Money in Retirement: 14 Side Hustles That Pay
Fourteen ways to make money in retirement, with typical pay for each, plus how extra income affects Social Security, taxes, and Medicare premiums.
Retirement Planning
2026 Global Retirement Index: Norway Leads, U.S. Falls to 24th
Norway tops the 2026 Natixis Global Retirement Index again. The U.S. slips to 24th of 44. See all 44 countries and what drove the drop.
Retirement Income
Average Retirement Income in 2026: By Age, State, and Source
Households headed by someone 65 or older had a median income of $59,680 in 2025, about $4,973 a month. See it by age, state, and source.
Retirement Planning
Retire With Confidence: What Retirement Surveys Show
People with a financial plan are more than twice as likely to feel confident. See what 2026 retirement surveys show and the planning steps people skip.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Baby Boomer Wealth: How Boomers Got So Rich
Boomers hold about half of U.S. household wealth. See how baby boomers got so rich, who got left behind, and whether $444,000 is enough to retire on.
Retirement Savings and Investments
Average Retirement Savings by Age: Couples, Top 10%
Families 55 to 64 with retirement accounts have a median of $239,000 saved. See retirement savings by age for couples, the top 10% and every generation.
Financial Wellness
10 Personal Finance Trends in 2026 (and Which Ones Work)
Moneymaxxing, No Buy 2026, and soft saving lead this year’s personal finance trends. See what each one involves and which ones help your plan.
Retirement Planning
On Track for Retirement? Only 58% of Savers Say Yes in 2026
Just 58% of savers say they’re on track for retirement, down from 68% a year ago. See where high and low earners are slipping and how to check your plan.
Financial Wellness
14 Personal Finance Statistics That Reveal Money Secrets
More than half of Americans have cried over money. More than a third have gone to bed hungry because they couldn’t afford to eat. See all 14 numbers.
Retirement Income
Retirement Income Strategies for Making Your Money Last
Buckets, guardrails, annuities, and 14 more ways retirees turn savings into income. See which strategy fits your risk tolerance and goals.
Housing and Home Equity
Average Home Equity in 2026: What Homeowners Have
Average home equity is $310,000 in 2026, but mostly sits untapped. See how it breaks down by state and income, and how to put yours to work.
Debt
77% of Americans Say Debt Is Blocking Their Retirement Savings
A National Institute on Retirement Security survey finds debt is keeping most Americans from saving, and few know what their money will earn.
Retirement Savings and Investments
See Your Total Asset Allocation Across All Accounts in One View
How to sort your holdings into 7 asset classes, spot concentration risk, check against your risk profile, and catch drift or cash drag early.
Retirement Income
What $250K, $500K, and $750K Pay in Retirement Income
Social Security figures and 2026 withdrawal rate research show what three common retirement portfolios can generate in monthly income.
