Retirement

Retirement is often a time full of mixed feelings. On one side you may be glad to finally put that 40 hour week behind you. For those who work more hours or have a high stress job, it is even more of a welcomed relief. On the other side you may be wondering what you will do with all your free time or worried about the financial impact of retirement. To make the transition to retirement something joyful that you look forward to, prepare for it early.

Many of us make the mistake of not planning ahead for retirement because it can be decades away. However, that time does eventually come, and you can be left in a panic if you haven’t prepared for its arrival. Even if it is too early to decide what you want to do once you retire, start investing now. If your employer offers a 401k then start contributing to it monthly. Individual Retirement Accounts known as IRA’s are possible. You can also invest with stocks and bonds. Personal savings accounts will help you accumulate money for retirement but they don’t yield the same return as these other options.

If you aren’t sure where to start planning for retirement get a book with the different worksheets to fill out. Online calculators are very helpful too. Doing these worksheets will help you find out exactly how much you should be saving for retirement as well as the age you can expect to retire at. If the answers you come up with don’t sit well, then you are going to have to make some changes to your budget now. Saving more at an early age will prepare you for retirement and the expenses that come with it. A retirement planner can help you go over your information as well as device a realistic savings and investment strategy for your retirement.

If you are self employed, it is even more essential that you set up an IRA because you likely aren’t paying in anything for social security. This means you won’t have any government benefits to access once you retire. Many self employment sectors such as truck driving and small business have retirement plans you can find out about investing in. Contact the small business administration or search on the internet for such programs.

While we all enjoy living in the moment, being responsible for your future takes planning and commitment. Do your part now to ensure your retirement will be something you can look forward to physically, emotionally, and financially.

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Retirement pop quiz! How well do you know your finances? (USA Today)

We can't give you all the answers for your retirement here, but we can help you check your knowledge in four key areas: taxes; saving and investing; Social Security; and Medicare/Medicaid. Try our quiz. Answers and explanations are below each question. Try not to peek.

Palestine Named ' GO TEXAN ' Retirement Community (Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples commended the City of Palestine Thursday for earning the state's certified retirement community designation, saying that growing communities will help Texas become the most popular retirement state in the nation.

MDC seminar on Monday to discuss retirement planning (Miami Herald)

Everyone must prepare for the emotional, physical and financial realities of retirement. There is no single formula, but with knowledge, better decisions can be made.

Unwise Spending Can Sandbag Retirement Security (Palatka Daily News)

(ARA) - When it comes to financial health in retirement, how much you set aside for your senior years is only half the story. Equally important is how you invest and spend what you've saved, and a recent survey indicates more than 50 percent of retirees aren't spending wisely.

Florida for Obama, Sen. Cardin seeking input in Port St. Lucie on Baby Boomers retirement (Fort Pierce Tribune)

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, will be in Port St. Lucie Aug. 10 seeking input on Baby Boomer Retirement Security for Florida for Obama. Cardin, who serves on the Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Environment and Public Works, Budget and Small Business committees, will be at the River Plantation House Club, 450 NE Lazy River Parkway, Port St. Lucie, according to Bobby Gravitz, South Florida ...