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.”

Essentials

Latest Investing & Retirement

retiree looking at map
Report: The Best and Worst States for Retirement Investing & Retirement February 17th, 2023
Money expert Clark Howard says that the key to ensuring that you’re comfortable later in life is to save for…
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I Have $60,000, Owe $6,000 in Student Loans and Want To Invest in Real Estate. What Should I Do? Investing & Retirement February 16th, 2023
Oh, to be young with a bank account full of money and four decades to go before retirement age. That’s…
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What’s the Best Savings Account for a Teenager? Investing & Retirement February 8th, 2023
It's never too early in life to start saving and investing. I envy today's teenagers who have the opportunity to…
6 Challenges To Consider if You Plan To Retire Before 65
6 Challenges To Consider if You Plan To Retire Before 65 Investing & Retirement February 8th, 2023
Someone who listens to money expert Clark Howard's podcast asked a question about the challenges of retiring early. Her husband,…
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Should I Invest Instead of Paying Extra on My Low-Interest Mortgage? Investing & Retirement February 6th, 2023
Buying a home is the biggest purchase many of us will ever make. The thought of owing perhaps hundreds of…
retirement money jar
Report: The Average Amount Retirees Spend in Retirement Investing & Retirement January 17th, 2023
How much money do you plan to spend in retirement every month? The Employee Benefit Research Institute's (EBRI) 2022 Spending…
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Can I Invest Through My HSA While Still Remaining Liquid? Investing & Retirement December 19th, 2022
An HSA, or a Health Savings Account, can be one of the most exciting financial tools if you know how…
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Should I Invest or Pay Off My Student Loans? Debt December 6th, 2022
Compound interest is one of the most exciting, powerful and remarkable forces in finance. Given enough time, a modest amount…
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How Much Should Your 401(k) Account Cost You All-In? Investing & Retirement December 1st, 2022
The easiest decision in retirement planning is contributing to your company 401(k) account up to the company match. You can…
investment account
Should I Care About the Fee on My Investment Account if I’m Getting a High Rate of Return? Investing & Retirement November 7th, 2022
If you’re thinking about investing in mutual funds or index funds, you should know that it's quite normal for you…
Tax-Loss Harvesting: How To Use a Bear Market To Lower Your Tax Bill
Tax-Loss Harvesting: How To Use a Bear Market To Lower Your Tax Bill Investing & Retirement November 4th, 2022
It's been a rough year for U.S. equities. Due to a combination of historic inflation and aggressive interest rate hikes…
IRS Announces Record 401(k) Contribution Limit Increase for 2023
IRS Announces Record 401(k) Contribution Limit Increase for 2023 Investing & Retirement October 25th, 2022
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a record increase in 401(k) contribution limits for 2023, raising the standard amount from…
"What is an HSA" and "what are the HSA contribution limits in 2021" are common health insurance questions.
What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? Health Insurance October 20th, 2022
If you’re enrolled in a high-deductible health plan at work, you may have been offered the option of an HSA.…
investor sees stock market losses
Should I Take Money Out of the Stock Market and Buy I Bonds? Investing & Retirement October 18th, 2022
The stock market’s performance of late has not been one for the faint of heart. It's not surprising if you're…
down stock market chart
My Stock Market Investments Are Down 25%. Should I Take My Money Out? Investing & Retirement October 12th, 2022
The news on Wall Street isn't pretty these days: U.S. stock markets have been falling for months. The S&P 500…
Fidelity, Vanguard Working To Prevent 401(k) Leaks
Fidelity, Vanguard Working To Prevent 401(k) Leaks Investing & Retirement October 11th, 2022
The days of working for a single company for decades, getting a decadent retirement party and riding off into the…
watering money growing in pot
Is Now a Good Time To Put Money in a CD? Investing & Retirement October 10th, 2022
If you’re thinking about a place to stash your cash, interest rates on certificates of deposit (CDs) may present an…
Don’t Make These 7 Common Retirement Mistakes
Don’t Make These 7 Common Retirement Mistakes Investing & Retirement October 4th, 2022
Financial planning and investing aren't rocket science. It's first and foremost about discipline. You set some goals, determine what needs…
What Is the Best Way To Withdraw Money in Retirement?
What Is the Best Way To Withdraw Money in Retirement? Investing & Retirement September 29th, 2022
LOTS OF RESEARCHhas been done on the best way to generate retirement income. It’s one of the most popular topics…
9 Things To Do Before You Quit Your Job and Retire
9 Things To Do Before You Quit Your Job and Retire Investing & Retirement September 10th, 2022
IMAGINE YOU PLANto retire next year. What can you do beforehand to gain the most later on? Here are some…
When Is the Best Time To Collect Social Security?
When Is the Best Time To Collect Social Security? Investing & Retirement September 5th, 2022
Have you heard of the Stanford marshmallow experiment? Researchers gave children one marshmallow. They promised a second marshmallow if the…
piggy bank money
Is a 3% CD Worth It Right Now? Investing & Retirement August 26th, 2022
As the U.S. economy continues to try to ease inflation, money expert Clark Howard says a notable rise in interest…
What is an annuity? A contract between you and an insurance company designed to provide you steady income in retirement.
What Is an Annuity, and Why Does Clark Think They Stink? Insurance August 9th, 2022
Money expert Clark Howard is passionate about many financial topics. But it's hard to find something that gets him more…
Immediate Payout Annuity: What Is It and Do You Need It?
Immediate Payout Annuity: What Is It and Do You Need It? Investing & Retirement August 5th, 2022
Depending on who you're around, sometimes you have to watch your words. I'm not talking about avoiding certain four-letter words…
Should You Sell or Stay in the Stock Market if You Are Retired or Retiring Soon?
Should You Sell or Stay in the Stock Market if You Are Retired or Retiring Soon? Investing & Retirement July 25th, 2022
Whether you celebrated this year's arrival of a bear market or felt pain largely depends on how close you are…
What Is a Bear Market?
What Is a Bear Market? Investing & Retirement July 14th, 2022
The words themselves sound ominous -- if not scary: "bear market." The S&P 500 entered a bear market in June,…
gold bars
Should I Have Gold in My Portfolio Right Now? Investing & Retirement July 12th, 2022
As an investment, gold isn't all that interesting. It doesn't pay interest or dividends. There are no quarterly earnings reports.…
Real Estate Investing: What To Know BEFORE You Start
Real Estate Investing: What To Know BEFORE You Start Homes & Real Estate July 1st, 2022
You've decided to invest in real estate. Now what? Real estate has been a hot commodity of late, generating some…
Clark Howard revisits his crypto predictions and takes after the onset of 'Crypto Winter.'
What Clark Howard Thinks of ‘Crypto Winter’ After Big Crash Investing & Retirement June 27th, 2022
If you think the S&P 500 decline has been brutal, check out some of the devastating crashes that have taken…
investment fees
What Fee Percentage Is Too High for Your Investments? Investing & Retirement June 20th, 2022
It's easy to focus on your investment choices and your returns. But tax implications and investment fees can have an…