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Dr. Ros Altmann of PensionsAndSavings.com is known as a consumer champion and has spent a good part of her career “highlighting financial injustice, helping ordinary members of the public pro bono and explaining complex financial or economic issues for the layperson.” With her vast experience and strong knowledge base, her insight on retirement and investment-related…

The Great Recession has definitely altered the way Americans spend and save money, says Janet Stanzak, president of the Financial Planning Association. More Americans are living within their means and have reduced debt to improve their balance sheets, and we’ve also increased savings to provide for job loss and emergencies. When it comes to investing,…

A majority of Americans have changed how they manage their money as a result of the Great Recession, says Philip Taylor, founder of PTMoney.com. On the positive side, we’re saving more and have less interest in taking on a lot of debt. But on the other hand, we’re more reluctant to become home owners and…

Natalie McNeal turned being smart with money into a career: She’s the editor of The Frugalista and is always looking for a smart way to save a dollar for the future. She spoke with us about how to change how we view money and better plan for the future. Do you think we spend too…

As the Budget Blonde, Catherine Alford is all about saving and keeping your finances in good shape, and that includes retirement planning. She spoke to us about how younger workers should fit retirement into their sometimes tight budgets. What are some common misconceptions you’ve seen about saving for retirement? Many people believe that retirement is…

A common question from retirees is: “how does a reverse mortgage work?”  You can read articles about the topic, but we hope that this video will help you understand this complex product.  Watch below for a clear explanation of a reverse mortgage and find out how reverse mortgages compare to other home equity products. About…

Annuities are often misunderstood, and the resources for defining them can be overwhelming. AARP found that half of surveyed workers described themselves as not too or  not at all familiar with lifetime annuities. “Annuities have a bad reputation among some people — but not necessarily a well-deserved one,” says TIAA CREF in a recent advice…

Sheryl Moore is the creator, founder, president and CEO of Wink, Inc. After seeing a hole in the insurance industry, Sheryl began developing an idea that turned into the successful company, Wink. Not only did she create a thriving business, but she has also put an energetic, expert team together to offer the best in…

Financial planner Michael Nuschke quotes hockey great Wayne Gretzky when asked what we can do to better prepare for the future of retirement: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” The Retirement Futurist has made it his job to study and…

Reverse mortgages have long been heralded as an option for people who are “house rich” and “cash poor.” But today that tune is changing. Not only are reverse mortgages being recommended for people who have more home equity than they do savings, but also for those who, quite the opposite, have plenty of money invested…

If you ask Jason Vitug, financial literacy is the single most important issue in America, impacting our life and economy. “The unfortunate reality is that we aren’t taught about money at school,” he says. “We learn how to calculate the circumference of a circle but not about compound interest.” And while government organizations and nonprofits…

Americans fear running out of funds in retirement even more than public speaking, suggests a recent report.  So, how to overcome that fear?  Should you imagine yourself in an old folks home with everyone else in their underwear (like pretending your audience is naked when you are making a speech)? Um… no.  Those images probably…

Jason Fieber is a man with a goal: He wants to retire at 40. Just how he’s making that happen is the thrust of his site, Dividend Mantra. He spoke with us about making the goal and making it work. It’s a goal of yours to retire at 40. What are the strategies you use…

Vince Shorb’s answer to the question “How literate are Americans when it comes to their money?” is sobering. “Most Americans are financially illiterate,” the CEO of the National Financial Educators Council says. “They never received a financial education and lack the knowledge necessary to make financial decisions that are in alignment with their goals.” Money…

Christopher Holdheide knows from personal experience how tough it can be to handle your finances; he was inspired to become a financial services expert and found his personal finance blog Stumble Forward thanks to buying a time share he just couldn’t get rid of. Personal experience informs his perspective, and he was happy to share…

Retirement planning is a lot easier with the weight of debt off your shoulders. Some debt is almost unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t clear it away, and smooth your path forward. All it takes is a plan, and the stick-to-itiveness to see it through. If you’re trying to hone in on the best…

Colin Williams has worked almost every aspect of the financial planning industry, starting as a financial advisor and working his way up to top management at major financial firms. Currently, he’s sharing insights on personal finance and retirement planning as the founder and key contributor to Humble Savers. He spoke with us about planning retirement…

Where are the best places to retire?  If you are choosing a location based on weather and golf courses, the answers from a recent analysis by Bankrate about the best states to retire may really surprise you. Bankrate ranked states using health care, cost of living, crime rate, tax burden and weather.  Using these criteria…

Miron Lucic always thinks ahead. On his blog SuperMoney, he’s constantly on the cutting edge of retirement planning, among other financial topics. He laid out for us how to plan for your retirement while balancing your other financial needs. What are some mistaken beliefs about retirement planning you often see? Probably the most common misconception…

Retirement isn’t a static thing, and your retirement needs aren’t either. How much will you need? Nobody can say with 100 percent accuracy. There are too many factors to consider. But good retirement planning advice helps you cover all your bases. Retirement spending isn’t the same from person to person, but neither is it the…

Using a retirement calculator can help ease some of the stress of retirement planning. One of the biggest questions people want an answer to is “When can I retire?” There’s a lot to factor in — it hinges on everything else, but a retirement calculator can help. No retirement calculator is perfect, but it can help…

As one of the top editors at My Bank Tracker, Claire Tak is an expert in retirement planning and figuring out what you need to save. She spoke with us about how to plan for retirement the right way. What are some common misconceptions you see about retirement planning? One of the biggest misconceptions folks…

Retirement plan advisors help make the plan more efficient. It almost seems to go without saying. Retirement plan advisors help retirement plans perform better. And that’s what a recent study by EACH Enterprise, LLC, and Transamerica Retirement Solutions Corporation has revealed. A survey of retirement plan sponsors that work with an advisor found that over…

Reverse Mortgage Facts: Reasons these loans are growing in popularity. Reverse mortgages are not for everyone. But, as more and more Americans retire, they are likely to be more and more popular as a way for people to tap into their largest asset as they age. Until recently, reverse mortgages have been portrayed by the…