Invest & Retire

“Investing can seem so complicated that you might shut down and do nothing about it — or feel you need to hire someone to guide you. However, it doesn’t need to be complex. You probably already have the opportunity to get started right where you work.”

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Latest Investing & Retirement

Understanding the pros and cons of Roth vs. traditional 401(k)s can be helpful to maximizing your retirement saving and investing strategies.
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k): What’s the Difference? Investing & Retirement May 4th, 2022
If you're enrolling in your company retirement plan, your company may offer you a choice: a Roth 401(k) or a…
You can buy treasury bonds just like countries, Wall Street firms and wealthy individuals.
Buy U.S. Treasury Bonds: A Conservative Way To Beat Your Savings Account Investing & Retirement May 3rd, 2022
If you're a saver, you've been punished for years with terrible interest rates on your savings account, CDs or money…
What Is a Spousal IRA and What Are the Rules?
What Is a Spousal IRA and What Are the Rules? Investing & Retirement April 13th, 2022
Did you know you can put aside thousands of dollars toward retirement each year through a spousal IRA even if…
Should You Buy Gold Right Now?
Should You Buy Gold Right Now? Investing & Retirement March 17th, 2022
Inflation in the United States reached a 40-year high in February as consumer prices surged 7.9% year-over-year. The New York…
Why You Should Never Invest With a Bank
Why You Should Never Invest With a Bank Investing & Retirement March 16th, 2022
Earning interest on loans and charging fees for things such as overdrafts aren't the only way that banks make money.…
Where To Put Your Cash When You’re Saving for a Purchase in Less Than 5 Years
Where To Put Your Cash When You’re Saving for a Purchase in Less Than 5 Years Investing & Retirement March 9th, 2022
Let's say you're making a major purchase in the future. Perhaps you're buying a house, a car, paying for college…
Best Investments in 2022: Risks and Rewards for Popular Investment Choices
Best Investments in 2022: Risks and Rewards for Popular Investment Choices Investing & Retirement March 7th, 2022
Having money beyond your day-to-day needs is great. It means that you can save and invest. It also means that…
Social Security sign
Report: 5 Things Most Americans Don’t Understand About Social Security Investing & Retirement March 7th, 2022
About 70% of U.S. adults are concerned about Social Security running out of money in their lifetimes. That's according to…
Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Schwab is a popular choice for retail investors.
Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Schwab: Which Brokerage Is Best? Investing & Retirement March 5th, 2022
Fidelity, Vanguard and Schwab are massively popular investment companies. Money expert Clark Howard recommends all three. If you’re deciding which…
U.S. retirement cities on a map
New Report: Top 5 Cities for Retired Singles Investing & Retirement March 4th, 2022
If you’re a single retiree or perhaps close to retirement and looking for a new place to live, it's worth…
When Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Instead of Investing?
When Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Instead of Investing? Investing & Retirement February 28th, 2022
Should you pay down your mortgage beyond the minimum or invest instead? If you're among the 85 million American individuals…
When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use a 529 Plan
When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use a 529 Plan Children & Pets February 25th, 2022
It's a natural inclination for parents to start thinking about a child's education as soon as their baby is born.…
Ask Clark money column
Does It Make Sense To Pay Medical Expenses With Cash Instead of Using HSA Funds? Health February 24th, 2022
If you have a health savings account (HSA), you may be wondering how to get the best use out of…
StockSelloff (2)
Should You Sell or Stay Put in the Stock Market? Investing & Retirement February 24th, 2022
The stock market is incredibly difficult to predict in the short term. The market will decline on plenty of days,…
Why This Retiree Isn’t Afraid To Spend Money
Why This Retiree Isn’t Afraid To Spend Money Investing & Retirement February 18th, 2022
THE DRUMBEATof “retirement crisis” is much too loud. While 54% of retirees believe there’s a national retirement crisis, just 4%describetheir…
In this Vanguard review, we'll explain why The Vanguard Group is excellent for passive investors and index funds.
Vanguard Review 2022: Pros & Cons Investing & Retirement February 1st, 2022
Paid non-client promotion. Clark.com receives compensation when a reader clicks "View Details" on this page. Most Vanguard reviews focus on…
Should You Fund Your IRA at Once or Steadily Contribute Throughout the Year?
Should You Fund Your IRA at Once or Steadily Contribute Throughout the Year? Investing & Retirement January 31st, 2022
Saving for your retirement through one of the tax-advantaged tools available in the United States offers you a major financial…
Why a Financial Analyst Switched to a “Do-Nothing” Investment Strategy
Why a Financial Analyst Switched to a “Do-Nothing” Investment Strategy Investing & Retirement January 28th, 2022
I ONCE JOINEDa book club led by an amazingly smart guy. We were reading a challenging book by Nassim NicholasTaleb,…
There’s Still Time To Contribute To Your IRA for 2021
There’s Still Time To Contribute To Your IRA for 2021 Investing & Retirement January 27th, 2022
There's still time to contribute to your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for 2021. The tax year ended on Dec. 31,…
A Retiree Shares His 5 Best Money Moves in Retirement
A Retiree Shares His 5 Best Money Moves in Retirement Investing & Retirement January 19th, 2022
WHEN FOLKS TALKabout their best financial decisions, they’ll often mention the investments they bought. But my list is quite different.…
10 Cities Where Your Social Security Check Can Cover Housing Costs
10 Cities Where Your Social Security Check Can Cover Housing Costs Investing & Retirement January 18th, 2022
People considering retirement often worry about when to do it -- especially if they're concerned the money they've saved and…
How To Turn $500 a Year Into $100,000 in Retirement
How To Turn $500 a Year Into $100,000 in Retirement Investing & Retirement January 7th, 2022
Earning a giant pile of money is one way to prepare for retirement. But it's not realistic for everyone. Fortunately,…
Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2022 Is 5.9%
Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2022 Is 5.9% Investing & Retirement January 6th, 2022
Have you seen an increase in your Social Security check yet? In October 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced…
Your company 401(k) plan fees can make a big difference in how much sense it makes to participate in the plan beyond securing the company match.
Why You Need To Know Your Company 401(k) Fees Investing & Retirement January 3rd, 2022
Enrolling in a 401(k) plan is like getting hold of a cheat code for retirement: Not only is it tax-advantaged,…
Are You Investing or Gambling?
Are You Investing or Gambling? Investing & Retirement December 21st, 2021
MANY TIMES IN MYcareer, I’ve heard people say, “The stock market is just one big casino” or “Buying stocks is…
Ask Clark money column
I Just Bought $10,000 in Series I Savings Bonds. Should I Buy Them Again in 2022? Investing & Retirement December 20th, 2021
Welcome to Ask Clark, a column designed to answer your financial questions, bymoney expert Clark Howard. Should I Buy More…
Why I Decided To Stop Obsessing Over My Investment Portfolio
Why I Decided To Stop Obsessing Over My Investment Portfolio Investing & Retirement December 17th, 2021
TWO MONTHS AGO,Ifessed upto my addiction to financial market news. Despite knowing better, I’ve followed the markets closely for years…
4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Retiring Early
4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Retiring Early Investing & Retirement December 10th, 2021
I RECENTLY LEFT MYjob without having another lined up. Upon quitting, I noticed an immediate mindset shift: I went from…
Unusual temporary inflation usually isn't that bad for the economy, although retirees relying on social security can get hurt.
How Retirees Can Combat Inflation Investing & Retirement December 1st, 2021
Inflation rose to 6.2% in October, the highest level that United States consumers have experienced since 1990. Since inflation erodes…
Are Women Better Investors Than Men?
Are Women Better Investors Than Men? Investing & Retirement November 23rd, 2021
Close your eyes and picture the person in your life you'd ask if you needed investment advice. If that person…