Retirement Article

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Why Every Retiree Needs to Make 20% a Year

There's no polite way to say it: Americans are over a barrel when it comes to retirement.

Two decades of slow-rolling growth and the worst crisis since the Great Depression mean around 40% of today's workforce has nothing saved for retirement.

Too many people have too little money and too little time. And too many of them don't even realize it.

There's no big conspiracy, no giant hose job going on; it's a tragedy of errors. People are settling for subpar returns...

...and it's dooming them to a dismal retirement.

This is a grim picture, sure, but I'm not finished yet.

Let me paint you another. It'll show you how we got here, and, of course, what you can do about it...

Two Easy Steps to Lock In a Comfortable Retirement

Retirement

According to Time.com, more than 50% of Americans age 35-54 have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. How we got to this point over the last 15 years is hardly surprising.

In the wake of the Great Recession, many people saw their 401(k)s wiped out, and they lost a lot of faith in the financial markets. Members of Generation X lost 45% of their average net worth during the financial crisis, according to the Financial Times.

If you find yourself in this group, let me start by reminding you of two things:

First, you are not alone. Millions of Americans are in the same situation.

Second, you have plenty of time to start building or rebuilding a retirement nest egg that'll put you on your way. According to retirement experts, most Americans have time to catch up and reach their retirement goals.

If you've already started saving money, consider yourself ahead of the game. But you still need to set aggressive goals if you want to retire at 60.

Get started with these immediate steps...

This Yellow Scrap of Paper Came Through 9/11

9/11

This time of year always puts me in a reflective mood.

Today, I'm thinking of a simple, crumpled sheet of yellow paper...

On it - scrawled in blue ink - is a hastily written note from wife to husband.

This simple note is one of the more interesting "artifacts" from 9/11.

And despite that simplicity, the note conveys a powerful lesson.

During the anniversary season of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington - and in the continuing aftermath of the Harvey and Irma disasters - this lesson is one folks must take to heart.

To help make that happen, let me share the tale of this simple yellow note - and the message it has for investors, retirees - everyone, everywhere...

Retirement Problems: Do Millennials or Baby Boomers Have It Worse?

retirement problems

Baby boomers and millennials both face daunting retirement problems right now. Social Security is failing, the Great Recession eviscerated trillions, the age at which you can afford to retire keeps getting pushed further and further.

A shocking 48% of boomers aren't on track to be able to afford basic expenses in retirement, according to a 2013 Fidelity Investment report. And millennials are the first generation in U.S. history to enter adulthood in worse economic shape than their parents.

Here's a look at which generation has it worse when it comes to retirement problems - and a three-step strategy members in both groups can use to tackle these issues to maximize their retirement savings...