Terms of Use: Table of Contents Single vs. Flexible-Payment Annuities Fixed vs. Variable Annuities Fixed and Variable Annuity Expenses Deferred vs. Immediate Annuities Withdrawing Money from a Deferred Annuity Why Buy a Deferred Annuity? Why Buy an Immediate Annuity? Options with Guarantees Before You Buy an Annuity Consider the Following Some Questions to Ask Before Buying Confused about annuities? You're not alone. Many people have difficulty understanding them. The main reason for all t  More...

Terms of Use: No, contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible. A Roth IRA allows you (if you do not exceed certain income limits) to invest money by making non-deductible contributions that grow tax-deferred.

Terms of Use An IRA is an Individual Retirement Account that provides several tax benefits . IRA accounts can be comprised of fixed income instruments, such as CDs/share certificates and bonds, and stocks and mutual funds, to name just a few options. The Traditional IRA enables individuals to save money in a tax-deferred account. What that means is that the earnings from your IRA account will not be taxed until you begin taking money out of the account. Traditional IRA Snapshot Contributions:   More...

Terms of Use The future of Social Security is in the spotlight these days. Social Security is primarily financed by payroll taxes. As long as people work, the system will never completely run out of money. However, Social Security is facing an uncertain financial future mainly due to demographics. We're living longer and healthier lives ... and this is good news. When the Social Security program was created in 1935, a 65-year-old had an average life expectancy of 12½ more years; today, i  More...

Terms of Use IRAs are a great way for you to save for the future. Your IRA can consist of a range of investments from savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and certificates of deposit or share certificates. You can contribute up to a certain limit each year into your IRA and if you're over 50, you are allowed an additional catch up contribution. The tax advantages of a Traditional or Roth IRA depend on your annual income and whether you are covered by your company's retirement plan. Below we   More...

Terms of Use What is a 403(b)? A 403(b) is an employer sponsored retirement savings plan that allows you to save pre-tax dollars for your retirement. A Roth 403(b) permits only after-tax contributions but allows you to diversify your tax risk by letting eligible participants make tax-free withdrawals after retirement. The IRS limits the amount you can contribute each year Participants can contribute up to $17,500 for 2013. This limit is applicable if you're under age 50 as of December 31st (re  More...

Terms of Use: Yes. Individuals 50 and older can make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 in excess of the annual IRA contribution limit.

Terms of Use: Yes, Traditional IRAs are individual retirement accounts, available to both you and your spouse. IRA rules allow normal contributions even if only one spouse is earning income, so long as you meet the income limitations.

Terms of Use: Yes, you can have as many Roth IRAs as you wish. If contributions are made only to Roth IRAs, your contribution limit generally is the lesser of: $5,000 per year if you are under age 50 regardless of the number of accounts you own. If you are 50 or older, your IRA contributions limit is $6,000 per year Your taxable compensation

Terms of Use: 1. Know your retirement needs Retirement is expensive. Experts estimate that you'll need about 70% of your pre-retirement income. Lower earners will need 90% or more to maintain your standard of living when you stop working. Understand your financial future. 2. Find out about your Social Security benefits Social Security pays the average retiree about 40% of pre-retirement earnings. Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 for a free Personal Earnings and Benefit E  More...