Ground Picture / Shutterstock.com Key Points Most private-sector employers no longer offer pensions like in the past. The S&P 500 provides instant diversification across 500 large companies with a strong return history. Tech stocks dominate the S&P 500 by market cap and can drive significant losses during sector downturns. Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected. It used to be ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of early and consistent saving for retirement, suggesting that individuals can significantly increase their savings through disciplined investment strategies [1][2][4]. Group 1: Retirement Savings Recommendations - Fidelity recommends that individuals aim to have 2x their salary saved by age 35, 4x by age 45, and 7x by age 55, advocating for a 15% pretax income investment into a diversified portfolio [1]. - The average "magic number" for retirement savings among Americans is reported to be $1.26 million, with many individuals falling short of this target [4]. - Vanguard's findings indicate that only the top 30% of income-earning baby boomers are adequately prepared for retirement [5]. Group 2: Financial Challenges for Baby Boomers - Many baby boomers may face financial difficulties in retirement, potentially leading to increased debt, reliance on Social Security, or a return to work to maintain their lifestyle [3][6]. - A significant portion of Americans (51%) believe it is likely they will outlive their savings, highlighting the urgency of addressing retirement preparedness [4]. Group 3: Investment Strategies - Automated investing platforms like Acorns can help individuals start saving with minimal initial investment, allowing for consistent contributions to a diversified portfolio [7][8]. - Investing in blue-chip ETFs, such as those tracking the S&P 500, can lead to substantial growth in retirement savings over time [9]. - Diversifying retirement portfolios with alternative assets, including real estate and gold, can mitigate risks associated with stock market fluctuations [13][15]. Group 4: Real Estate Investment Opportunities - Platforms like Arrived allow individuals to invest in shares of rental properties with a low minimum investment, making real estate more accessible [17][18]. - Mogul offers fractional ownership in high-quality rental properties, providing investors with monthly income and tax benefits without the burdens of traditional property management [19][20]. - Each property on Mogul's platform is vetted for a minimum 12% return, with an average annual internal rate of return (IRR) of 18.8% [21].

Join Now to Access Our Top Picks for 2026!Your timing is perfect! We are about to release our top investment picks for 2026, and by joining today, you’ll gain immediate access to these exciting opportunities.We invest thousands of hours and over $100,000 annually into researching the most profitable investment opportunities—all to bring you high-yield strategies at just a fraction of the cost.Our approach has earned us ~200 five-star reviews from satisfied members who are already seeing the benefits. Don’t ...

If you’re newly upper class — and therefore perhaps new to investing — you’ll want to ensure that your retirement fund is on the right track. To help you spend less time researching and worrying about it, you might want to speak with a financial advisor.If you’re not sure where to start, you can check out some of Moneywise’s top picks for gold IRAs to compare your options for free. Just keep in mind that gold is often best used as one part of a well-diversified portfolio.A gold IRA allows you to invest in g ...

Core Insights - Investing in low-cost, diversified ETFs can help individuals achieve financial independence and retirement goals [1][2] - A disciplined approach to investing, including managing market volatility and making informed choices, is essential for long-term success [1] ETF Recommendations - **Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)**: Offers exposure to the entire U.S. stock market with over 3,500 stocks and an expense ratio of 0.03%, making it a cost-effective choice for investors [5][6] - **Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)**: Focuses on companies with a history of increasing dividends for at least 10 consecutive years, providing a balance of income and growth potential with a current dividend yield of 1.6% [7][8] - **Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)**: Mirrors the Nasdaq-100 index, primarily investing in large non-financial companies, with a significant portion in technology stocks, making it a suitable option for those seeking tech exposure [9][11]

If you're a retiree or nearing retirement, you should be thinking about investments with steady income streams. ...

Core Insights - Retirees are advised to be cautious with investments, particularly in cryptocurrency, due to the risks associated with volatile assets [1][3] - Financial experts recommend that if retirees choose to invest in crypto, they should focus on established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, while avoiding most altcoins [2][3] Investment Recommendations - Experts suggest that retirees should completely avoid investing in cryptocurrencies, citing a lack of valid reasons for such investments [3] - Vince Stanzione, a financial expert, emphasizes that retirees should not invest in crypto, despite having previously made significant profits from it [3] Cryptocurrencies to Avoid - **Solana (SOL)**: Once considered a leading cryptocurrency, it has faced numerous network outages, making it unsuitable for risk-averse investors [4][5] - **Dogecoin (DOGE)**: Described as a manipulated asset with no real use case, its value is highly dependent on social media sentiment, posing significant risks for retirees [5]

Core Insights - The importance of saving and investing for retirement is emphasized, highlighting the need for a diverse portfolio to achieve steady growth over time [1][2] Investment Strategies - For those overwhelmed by tracking multiple stocks, focusing on ETFs (exchange-traded funds) is recommended as they provide diversification with a single investment [2] - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) tracks the performance of the S&P 500 index, which includes the 500 largest publicly traded companies by market cap, making it a solid choice for everyday investors [4][5] - The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) tracks the Nasdaq-100 index, focusing on growth-oriented sectors like technology, and has historically delivered strong returns, albeit with higher risk due to concentration in growth stocks [6][7] Combination Benefits - Combining VOO and QQQ can provide a balanced investment strategy, offering stability from VOO and growth potential from QQQ, which may lead to stronger overall returns [8] - This combination simplifies portfolio management compared to investing in individual stocks, reducing the need for frequent rebalancing [9]

Core Insights - Retirement income is heavily influenced by investment strategies, requiring careful evaluation of risk levels to support desired lifestyles [1][2][3] Investment Strategies - Many retirees instinctively prefer safer investments, often shifting from equities to bonds and cash, but this conservative approach can lead to the risk of outliving savings [4][5] - The "cost of caution" is significant, as retirees may face 25 to 30 years of living expenses, and inflation can erode savings if investments are overly conservative [5] - Equities are essential for long-term wealth preservation, historically outpacing inflation, but retirees should adjust their allocations based on income needs, time horizon, and comfort levels [5][6] Risk Management - Risk management in retirement is not static; retirees can adjust their investment strategies over time to align with their longevity and financial goals [6]

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant risks associated with cryptocurrency investments for baby boomers, particularly those nearing or in retirement, emphasizing the need for caution in this volatile market [1][2]. Group 1: Capital Preservation - Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are in a life stage that necessitates a shift from growth investing to capital preservation, focusing on protecting accumulated wealth rather than seeking high-risk returns [3]. - Cryptocurrencies are characterized as speculative and volatile, which contradicts the recommendations of financial planners for retirement portfolios. A potential 50% to 80% drop in cryptocurrency value could take years to recover, posing a significant risk for retirees who may not have the time to wait for recovery [4]. Group 2: Hidden Risks - Many baby boomers are drawn to headlines of overnight millionaires in crypto without understanding the systemic risks involved, including the potential for significant financial loss [5]. - The collapse of major exchanges like FTX, Celsius, and BlockFi has resulted in billions being wiped out, with no FDIC insurance to protect funds held on these platforms [6]. - Scams targeting crypto investors have surged, with reported losses exceeding $3.9 billion in 2023, disproportionately affecting older investors. Scammers often use "pig butchering" schemes to build trust before defrauding victims [7]. - The irreversible nature of crypto transactions exacerbates the risk, as once funds are sent to a scammer's wallet, there are no avenues for recovery, highlighting the lack of customer service and investor protections in the crypto market [8].