40-year-old millionaire who retired early only lasted 5 months—here’s what made her go back to work

40-year-old millionaire who retired early only lasted 5 months—here’s what made her go back to work

My entire life used to be about maximizing my time for work. I spent over a decade building a career in New York’s tech scene. I worked at Foursquare and Google, and in 2014, I started my business, Tech Ladies. My goal was to help women in the industry find jobs, negotiate and network. I hired … Read more

How to know when to claim benefits

How to know when to claim benefits

Majamitrovic | E+ | Getty Images How to find your Social Security full retirement age If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. The full Social Security retirement age gradually increases from 66 to 67 … Read more

3 things I’m so relieved I did in my 20s and 30s

3 things I’m so relieved I did in my 20s and 30s

As a retiree, when I look back at my life and reminisce with friends, it’s easy to focus on the negative. So for 2024, I’ve resolved to acknowledge and congratulate myself for things I did in the past. There were many choices I took for granted that turned out to be wise decisions. They’ve brought … Read more

How much money you need to retire in every U.S. state

How much money you need to retire in every U.S. state

The cost of retirement can vary by as much as $1.36 million depending on where you live in the U.S., according to an analysis by personal finance website GOBankingRates.com. To determine the amount of money needed to retire, GOBankingRates calculated the annual expenses for housing, food, utilities, transportation and health care in each state for … Read more

How Laguna Beach, California, is helping residents age in place

How Laguna Beach, California, is helping residents age in place

Laguna Beach, California Luciano Lejtman | Moment | Getty Images When most people think of Laguna Beach, California, they think of its scenic coves and beaches. But the small coastal city — with a population of around 22,600 — is also pioneering a new model for elder care. About 77% of adults ages 50 and … Read more

Here’s what happens to your Social Security benefits when you die

Here’s what happens to your Social Security benefits when you die

Tanya Constantine | Getty Images Once you start Social Security retirement benefits, you are generally guaranteed to receive monthly checks for life. But that will stop once you die — with some exceptions for your loved ones. A one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 may be available, provided your survivors meet certain requirements. For example, … Read more

How high earners can maximize their 401(k) contributions in 2024

How high earners can maximize their 401(k) contributions in 2024

Klaus Vedfelt | Getty Images To live your best life in retirement, it helps to make the most contributions while you’re working. Employees who participate in 401(k) plans can put up to $23,000 in pretax or post-tax Roth contributions in 2024. But there’s another limit, $69,000, including employee and employer contributions, that may let workers … Read more

4 factors affect how much Social Security retirees receive in 2024

4 factors affect how much Social Security retirees receive in 2024

Adamkaz | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a retiree who relies on Social Security benefits for income, you will see some changes in 2024. You will get a benefit boost to adjust for inflation. But just how much extra money you see will depend on the size of your Medicare Part B premiums and … Read more

Why you still need a long-term retirement savings approach in your 40s

Why you still need a long-term retirement savings approach in your 40s

Clemens Porikys | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images If you’re in your 40s, you probably have seen articles on how much you should have saved by now to comfortably retire. One guideline from Fidelity Investments calls for having three times your starting salary saved by 40, with the aim of growing that to six … Read more

Early retirement is changing — here’s what to consider, according to the experts

Early retirement is changing — here’s what to consider, according to the experts

Ascentxmedia | Istock | Getty Images Retiring early is a dream for many, but can often appear impossible unless you’ve made millions throughout your career. “Twenty years ago rates of early retirement were fairly similar across different wealth levels,” Heidi Karjalainen, a research economist for retirement, saving and aging at the Institute for Fiscal Studies … Read more