- Understanding the Pennsylvania Retirement System
Pennsylvania manages its state government employees’ pensions through two different systems: Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). SERS manages the public pension system for most state employees while PSERS serves state employees in… read more…
- Arkansas Retirement System
Established in 1957, the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) provides pension, retirement and disability benefits for some 60,000 members, retirees and beneficiaries employees who meet its eligibility requirements. While APERS functions as the state’s primary system for public employees,… read more…
- South Dakota Retirement System
The state retirement system of South Dakota covers the multiple types of employees working on behalf of the state. The South Dakota Retirement System (SDRS) is a cost-sharing, multi-employer retirement system for public employees, and it supports over 200,000 participants.… read more…
- What You Need to Know About the Alabama Retirement System
A retirement system is an organization that helps government workers save for retirement. It then helps distribute the money, in the form of a pension, to retirees. Each state has a retirement system, but they vary in size and complexity.… read more…
- Wisconsin Retirement System
Wisconsin boasts one of the least complicated retirement systems in the country, as essentially all state and local employees fall under the umbrella of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). It has experienced plenty of financial growth over the last few… read more…
- Ohio Retirement System
The retirement system of Ohio is in good shape, especially after experiencing a major financial boost entering 2017. Whereas many states will convolute its offerings by having many base and supplemental programs, Ohio keeps things simple and logical. SmartAsset’s free… read more…
- How the California Retirement System Works
With around 2 million members, the California Public Employees Retirement System, known as CalPERS, is the largest defined-benefit pension system in the country. Public employees ranging from state and local government employees to teachers and firefighters are enrolled in the… read more…
- What Is a Testamentary Trust?
As you sit down with your financial advisor to create an estate plan, one option that may arise is a testamentary trust. A testamentary trust is a type of trust that’s created in a last will and testament. Also known as… read more…
- What Is a Trust Fund and How Does It Work? Definition and Overview
There are many ways to set up a financially secure future for your loved ones. Trust funds, for example, can be a strong way to set your children or grandchildren up for future financial success. Also, contrary to popular opinion,… read more…
- How to Invest for Retirement at Age 50
Many people worry about how much retirement savings they have once they enter their 50s and retirement becomes more imminent. Even if you’re a bit behind on your savings goals, it’s important not to worry and instead make a plan… read more…
- How to Invest for Retirement at Age 40
If you’re at or near your 40th birthday, retirement is probably still a couple decades away for you. That said, if you haven’t started saving for retirement yet, it can seem too close for comfort. Don’t panic though. There is still plenty of time to get ready for retirement, provided you take the time now… read more…
- What Is a 702(j) Retirement Plan?
There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to planning for retirement, including 401(k) plans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and annuities. While saving in any way is great, each of these offer different benefits and drawbacks. One type of plan, though, should be approached with special caution: The 702(j) “retirement” plan. While… read more…
- How to Invest for Retirement at Age 30
By the time your 30s arrive, you’ve probably settled into an adult life. But you haven’t really fully embraced “adulting” unless you’ve started saving for retirement. Whether it’s through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or some other financial product, the time… read more…
- How Spending Changes in Retirement – 2018 Edition
In order to know how much you need to save for retirement you need to have a good estimate for how much you will be spending. But predicting how much you are going to be spending in retirement is difficult.… read more…
- How to Make a Retirement Budget
You’ve worked hard for decades and now the time has come to enjoy yourself. Regardless of what you do in your retirement, you should always be aware of how much you have left in savings. There isn’t just the dangerous issue… read more…
- 5 Retirement Mistakes You May Have Already Made
When you’re counting down to retirement, it’s easy to get caught up in fantasies of your future work-free life. Maybe it’s RV trips to Florida, days on the golf course or quality time spent with family. Whatever your dream retirement… read more…
- 11 Steps to Make $1 Million Last 30 Years in Retirement
Regardless of your age, making sure you have enough money for retirement takes strategic planning. Garnering $1 million in your retirement nest egg might seem like a far-fetched idea but if you start early and manage the money correctly, you might surprise… read more…
- How to Retire in Costa Rica: What You Need to Know
No matter your age, you’ve probably dreamed of retiring on a sandy beach somewhere at some point. Perhaps you’ve started planning your retirement in Florida or San Diego. An even more attractive move could be retiring on a tropical island,… read more…
- Retirement Readiness Checklist: 8 Steps You Need to Take
The Social Security Administration defines full retirement age between 65 and 67, depending on your year of birth. Your employer may say something different. Deciding when to retire is one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make. Retire too… read more…
- How to Retire in Mexico
Many people dream of spending their retirement in a sunny and warm locale, often heading to Arizona or Florida. But perhaps you’re interested in retiring abroad instead of stateside. In fact, heading south of the border to Mexico has become… read more…
- How Much Should You Save for Retirement?
We all know that we should save for retirement but actually doing that can be a challenge. Many people don’t know where they should start or how they can find the right amount of money in their budget to make… read more…
- Where Seniors Are Most Prepared for Retirement
Saving for retirement is tough. Between paying rent or a mortgage, combined with credit card debt, or maybe student loans, finding a few spare dollars to contribute to a retirement fund is difficult. In fact, almost one in 10 seniors have an income which puts them below the poverty line, according to Census Bureau data.… read more…
- 10 Steps to Reach Financial Stability
Imagine a world where you don’t have to constantly stress about money. You have enough to cover your bills, regular expenses, hobbies and more. Beyond that, you want to manage your finances so you end up able to afford the lifestyle you… read more…
- ETF vs. Mutual Fund: What’s the Difference?
When deciding how to invest your money, you’ll likely run into two types of funds: exchange-traded funds (EFTs) and mutual funds. But you may be wondering, ETF vs. mutual fund? What’s the difference? The two funds have a lot in common, but they are different in key ways. A financial advisor could help guide you with an… read more…
- How to Retire at Age 55
Retiring at an age as young as 55 is a dream of many Americans. However, turning this vision into reality involves some significant financial planning and maneuvering. For example, you’ll need to build significant savings, invest your money, account for… read more…