Should You Contribute to an IRA?

Many Americans are lucky enough to have a retirement savings plan through their employers. If you don’t have that option, an Individual Retirement Account – or IRA – allows anyone with earned income to save for retirement. And if you’re self-employed, you can use an IRA to create your own retirement plan. In addition, there are special rules that may allow a stay-at-home spouse to contribute to one as well. Continue reading

Get a Home Loan Without Dipping into Retirement Savings

If you’re planning to buy a home, you may be worried if you’ll have enough money saved for a down payment. You’ve probably heard that you can use retirement funds to help, but it’s important to know the restrictions, or you could be stuck paying penalties and taxes. And even though a home can be a great investment, taking out retirement funds early could hurt your long-term security.

Here’s what you should know before you make any financial moves. Continue reading

Rules of Thumb to Save for Your Future

For many of us, retirement is years away, for others it may be right in their rearview mirror. No matter where you are in life, you may wonder if you’re saving enough for when you quit working. Although each person’s situation and goals are unique, considering these simple rules of thumb can help take the guesswork out of retirement planning, so you can develop a winning savings strategy. Continue reading