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Tell a Graduate to Start Saving Now

"New graduates probably don't enter their careers already thinking of retirement. Saving now for an event taking place in 40 plus years is a tough sell, but there are two important details new graduates should understand: People who start saving sooner rather than later set themselves up for financial success.... Saving can be really easy if they automate the process now."

Are You Your 401(k)'s Worst Enemy?

"Let's take a look at the behaviors that could be sabotaging your retirement savings efforts -- and what you need to do to go from 'enemy' to hero: [1] Leaving your 401(k) at its default settings.... [2] Cashing out a 401(k) when you switch jobs.... [3] Chasing returns and trying to time the market."

Four Questions to Help You Meet Your Retirement Savings Goals in 2014

"What kind of lifestyle do you picture for yourself in retirement? ... Where do you plan to live? ... How many years do you expect to live in retirement? ... Do you currently own, or plan to purchase, long-term care insurance or an annuity designed to help pay for long-term care?"

Top Ten 401(k) Questions You May Be Too Embarrassed to Ask (Part 2)

"If my mutual fund is losing money, should I stop investing in it? ... What should I do with my old 401(k) account? ... How do I know I'm investing in the right funds? ... When I retire, is there a minimum amount I am obliged to withdraw from my retirement accounts per year? ... What is an expense ratio?"

Top 10 401(k) Questions You May Be Too Embarrassed to Ask (Part 1)

"What is a mutual fund? ... What is vesting? ... What is a Roth contribution option? ... What is an index fund? ... What is a bond?"

Participants: Keep Your Hand Out of the 401(k) Cookie Jar

"The habits you may develop after taking just one loan could be extremely detrimental to your financial future. Here's how: You'll likely contribute less to your 401(k).... If you leave your employer, you'll probably end up taking a distribution on any outstanding loan balance.... Once you start, you're likely not to stop."

Is Your 401(k)'s Brokerage Option Right for You?

"Access to a brokerage option opens a whole universe of investments to plan participants, compared to the handful that may be available in the core lineup. However, a brokerage account may not be suitable for every investor. Here are a few important considerations: [1] Fees ... [2] Mutual Fund Minimums ... [3] Patience and Discipline."

Four Rules to Help Keep Emotion Out of 401(k) Investing

"[1] Do not base your contribution rate on how the market is performing.... [2] Do not adjust your retirement portfolio based solely on market performance.... [3] Do not take the ups and downs of investment and market moves personally.... [4] Be patient."

What Are Your Real Retirement Costs?

"[F]ive important yet often-overlooked retirement costs that you'll want to consider. Health Care and Long-Term Care ... Home and Car Upkeep ... Hobbies ... Taxes ... Inflation."

Rethinking Your Retirement Withdrawal Rate

"It's easy to overlook a key principle of retirement planning: it may not matter how much money you retire with if you don't have a carefully thought out withdrawal strategy to see you through retirement.... The '4% rule' is a general rule of thumb, and it may not provide you the retirement income you need over the long term. Its 30-year projection is based largely on the assumption that future portfolio returns will be in line with historical averages. But, if you were to underperform the market, the annual 4% withdrawals may potentially result in a portfolio that is depleted much quicker than expected."