Key Points Don't assume a Roth account is right for you. Don't assume you can raid your Roth IRA or 401(k) at any time. Don't assume that you should keep your entire retirement nest egg in a Roth. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › When it comes to saving for retirement, you have choices. You could contribute money to a traditional IRA or 401(k) for the tax break on the funds you put in. Or, you could save for retirement in a Roth IRA or 401(k). Roth retirement ...

Quick Read Taxable account gains face 15% capital gains tax. IRA withdrawals are taxed at 22% ordinary income rates on the full amount. Spending taxable accounts first shrinks the IRA before RMDs start at 73. This prevents IRMAA surcharges and higher tax brackets. Heirs inherit taxable accounts with stepped-up basis and pay no capital gains tax. IRA beneficiaries pay ordinary income tax on withdrawals. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved r ...

When a 401(k) balance starts to matter more than a bragging point, people in their 50s begin paying attention. This is the decade when retirement savings should be strongest and the stakes highest. According to Empower data, the average 401(k) balance for people in their 50s is $635,320. That looks solid until you see the median balance of $253,454. The median is a better reflection of what a typical person in their 50s actually has because it is not pushed upward by a few very large accounts. Don't Miss ...

The old retirement playbook is cracking under pressure, and self-made millionaire Sam Dogen wants Americans to wake up before it’s too late. Under the classic model, American workers were said to be able to rely on three major sources of income in retirement: Pensions, Social Security and personal savings. But for Dogen, who retired at age 34 and now runs the popular personal finance site Financial Samurai, that model no longer works. Dogen, now 47, was able to walk away from his full-time job thanks to ...

Contribution Limits Changes - The IRS announced that contribution limits for 401(k) and 403(b) plans, as well as governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan, will increase to $24,500 in 2026, up from $23,500 in 2025 [1] - The IRA contribution limit will rise to $7,500 in 2026 from $7,000 in 2025 [1] Catch-Up Contributions - Individuals aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $1,100 to their IRA starting in 2026, an increase from $1,000 in 2025, due to the SECURE 2.0 Act's cost-of-living adjustment [2] - For workers aged 50 and up participating in 401(k), 403(b), government 457 plans, and the federal Thrift Savings Plan, the catch-up contribution limit will increase to $8,000 in 2026 from $7,500 in 2025, raising their total contribution limit to $32,500 [5] - Workers aged 60 through 63 will have a higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250, which remains unchanged in 2026 [6] Phase-Out Ranges for IRA Deductions - The phase-out range for single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan will increase to between $81,000 and $91,000 in 2026, up from $79,000 to $89,000 in 2025 [9] - For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out range will increase to between $129,000 and $149,000 if the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan [12] Roth IRA Phase-Out Ranges - The phase-out range for individuals contributing to a Roth IRA will rise in 2026 to between $153,000 and $168,000 for singles and heads of household, an increase of $3,000 [13] - For married filers, the phase-out range will increase to between $242,000 and $252,000 in 2026, an increase of $6,000 [13] Expert Commentary - A national director of strategic wealth and business advisory noted that the new 2026 retirement plan limits provide more room for savings, which is beneficial as retirement becomes longer and more expensive [15]

Group 1: Cryptocurrency Market Overview - The cryptocurrency market has not recovered since the significant drop on October 10th, with Ethereum (ETH) and Dogecoin (DOGE) struggling to regain previous highs [1][3] - Ethereum reached a low of $2.6k in late November and has been trading around $3k, showing limited movement in early December [1][2] - Dogecoin's price has declined sharply, currently trading below 13 cents, down from nearly 50 cents a year ago, indicating a bearish trend [3] Group 2: Ethereum's Positioning - Ethereum is well-positioned to support real-world assets (RWAs) due to backing from major institutions and the SEC Chair's advocacy for on-chain financial markets [2] - The robust infrastructure and liquidity of Ethereum suggest potential for better price action as the year ends, especially with significant buying from institutional players [2] Group 3: Dogecoin Developments - Despite its price decline, Dogecoin is undergoing development with initiatives like DogeOS being worked on by dedicated engineers, indicating ongoing interest and potential for future growth [3] - The market for DOGE, similar to other cryptocurrencies, is awaiting a catalyst to stimulate a price recovery [3]

James Leynse / Corbis Historical via Getty Images This article will be updated throughout the day, so check back often for more daily updates. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) lost 0.6% last week, but may gain nearly all that back in just one day Monday. The ETF is up 0.5% premarket as investors get set to receive a whole raft of economic news this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will report nonfarm payrolls figures for November, giving us our freshest data yet on the ...

Market Catalysts host Julie Hyman takes on the day's biggest market stories on December 10, 2025. Athene USA co-president and Athene Holding COO, Michael Downing, speaks with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi about how investors can close the savings gap while continuing to save for retirement. Athene USA is a subsidiary of Yahoo Finance's parent company, Apollo Global Management. Humilis Investment Strategies CEO and Chief Investment Officer Brian Belski also comes on to talk about why he finds al ...

Core Insights - Young American men are increasingly investing in cryptocurrency, with 26% owning crypto and 28% owning any crypto-based asset, surpassing the 21% who have traditional retirement accounts [2] - Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency among young men, with 53% reporting ownership, while 18% own ether or Solana [3] - Higher-income and college-educated young men are more likely to own both cryptocurrency and retirement accounts, indicating a shift in investment behavior [3][5] Group 1: Cryptocurrency Ownership - 26% of young men own cryptocurrency, and 28% own crypto-based assets, which is higher than the 21% who have a 401(k) or similar retirement fund [2] - Among crypto holders, 53% own Bitcoin, while 18% own ether or Solana, with less than 20% investing in "memecoins" [3] Group 2: Demographics and Investment Behavior - Young men with family incomes of $100,000 or more show higher rates of cryptocurrency ownership (42%) and retirement fund ownership (33%) compared to those earning under $60,000 [3] - 39% of college-educated young men own cryptocurrency, compared to 23% of those without a college degree [3] Group 3: Employment Status and Retirement Access - Full-time employees have more balanced portfolios, with 37% owning cryptocurrency and the same percentage having retirement accounts [4] - Among part-time workers, 27% hold cryptocurrency while only 16% have a retirement account, highlighting a gap in financial security [4][5] - Almost half of full-time American workers lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, particularly affecting young workers in unstable jobs [5]

Many Americans are turning to 401(k) withdrawals to stay afloat. Learn how tapping retirement savings can derail your financial future—and what alternatives exist instead. https://t.co/sZvZzMk3t0 ...