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Most New Year’s resolutions revolve around familiar goals: losing weight, decluttering the house or finally picking up a long-forgotten hobby. But there’s another area of life that deserves attention and can have a profound impact on your future — retirement planning. Whether you’re just starting to think about retirement or refining an existing plan, here are a few resolutions to consider for the coming year. Max out your employer match. One of the easiest ways to boost your retirement savings

Planning for your child’s education can feel like navigating a maze of complex financial decisions. Like many parents, you may have heard of 529 plans and wondered if they could help chart the course ahead. Here are common questions — and answers — about this powerful tool. What exactly is a 529 plan? In short, it’s a tax-advantaged savings account designed to help families prepare for educational expenses, primarily college tuition. Named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, which g

Index Funds vs. TDFs: Which Is Right for Me? Making investment decisions for your 401(k) can be a little confusing — and intimidating. One common question many retirement investors face is whether to choose an index fund or a target date fund (TDF). A closer look at the pros and cons of these investment vehicles can help you determine whether an index fund or a TDF is the right move for your portfolio. Index Funds Index funds are collections of investments that track a specific market index. Fo

Your monthly budget has all your expenses covered, including some spending money and funds set aside for emergencies. But that doesn’t cover your wants — from taking a big vacation to buying a new iPad, your “wants” budget can help you get more “nice to haves” in addition to your “need to haves.” Understand Your Needs To start figuring out how to get what you want, you need to know what you have to work with. Analyze your budget and calculate your total discretionary income by separating needs

During the holiday season, our thoughts often turn to gratitude and the desire to make a difference in the lives of those in need. From gestures of kindness and support that don’t cost a penny to financial donations that help sustain ongoing charitable work, there are a wide array of options to make a meaningful impact for a good cause. The key to successful charitable giving is to assess your budget and then find the path that’s right for you. Big Heart, Not-so-big Wallet With so many charitab

Retirement can be an exciting new chapter — a time to redefine who you are, explore new interests and create a life that’s uniquely your own. After years of focusing on work and career goals, this stage offers a chance to shift gears and craft a lifestyle that reflects your true priorities and passions. To set yourself up for a successful transition, it can help to start by considering five key questions: Who will you be? What will you do? When will you do it? Where will you do it? How will yo

Small expenditures, over time, can add up to big bills. When it comes to your retirement, the effect can be the equivalent of death by a thousand paper cuts. If you’re not careful, you could easily blow a hole in your budget and imperil your financial future. In this second installment, we look at more little things that can derail your budget and retirement goals over time — and how to get back on track. Bank/ATM fees. The next time you review your credit card and checking account statements,

If you have big financial goals in mind — buying a house, paying cash for a car, retiring early — you need to mind your budget. But that budget should be a helpful roadmap, not a straitjacket. And like a road trip, small things can make a huge difference in how long it takes and how much you enjoy the ride. Paying attention to details can pay off big when you identify and eliminate small, repetitive charges from your monthly spending. To gauge the impact of these budget busters, start with a li

Are you familiar with the type of retirement plan your company offers? Maybe you’ve started a new job that provides a different option than your previous employer. Or perhaps you’ve been there for a while but haven’t yet enrolled in this valuable employee benefit. Either way, you may have access to a 401(k) or a 403(b) — but what are the differences? While both plans are designed to help you build retirement savings, each has unique features. Understanding how your plan works can help you make

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With winter edging onto the weather radar, you might be busy having your chimney cleaned and putting away your patio furniture for the season. But have you given any thought to winterizing your finances? The onset of low temps and fierce storms may snowball in unexpected ways that could challenge your life — and your bank account. Travel, holiday spending, monster energy bills and dead car batteries are only part of the story. Doing a little prep work can help keep you cozy and financially well

Manage your inheritance wisely to honor your loved one's legacy and secure your financial future.