There is a variation of the traditional defined benefit plan called a cash balance defined benefit plan. This hybrid plan contains elements of both a defined benefit plan and a 401(k) plan. Instead of a guaranteed benefit, each year the company sets aside a dollar amount attributed to your individual retirement account and applies either a fixed or a variable rate of interest to the deposit. The value of this account then becomes your retirement plan after you vest, which is in five years. (more…)

If we look at defined benefit plans, it has a slumped down popularity among business owner in recent years. It is more like traditional pension plans where the plans are altogether financed by the employer. Annual contributions founded on actuarial computations involving employer’s years of service and salary are set aside for employees. (more…)

Not every Florida condominium complex built around a golf course is secretly a continuing care retirement community, but some may be. This type of community may offer options that range from completely independent living in retirement, all the way to round-the-clock nursing home care, with a variety of possibilities in between. Sometimes this housing arrangement is called a life care community. To join, residents must buy their unit and also pay a monthly fee. The community may provide transportation to the grocery store, the mall, or the concert hall, amenities that (more…)

The maximum 401k contribution per year to a 401(k) plan in 1998 is not to exceed 25% of compensation. Although there is no legal minimum contribution requirement, in order to reduce the plan’s administrative costs, some plans establish a minimum amount that must be contributed.

There is also a limit on total 401 k contributions that employee and employer together can (more…)

When you retire, are you going to have enough money to meet all your expenses and keep up with inflation? If you are like the vast majority of us, your answer will be a resounding, “NO”!

Statistically, 95% of people retire with too few financial resources. (more…)

Employees of small businesses often end up left out of employer-sponsored retirement plans simply because small businesses do not have the funds available to provide this type of benefit for their employees or small business owners do not know the different retirement plan options available to them. However, small businesses owners can create simple retirement plans to assist employees in their retirement planning. Below is an outline of two different simple approaches for retirement plan comparison. (more…)

Defined benefit pension plans are retirement plans that are largely funded by employers and benefits are based on employee years of service, employee age and earnings. This type of pension plan has been declining in popularity, largely because the risk is mostly borne by the employer rather than the employee.

Contributions are largely made by the employer – for some employees this is definitely a pro, since the employer determines how much of a contribution is made and there are no caps on the total amount an employer can make to the plan annually. (more…)

You are eligible for your employer’s pension plan if you have worked there for one year and at least 1000 hours. Employers offer two basic types of retirement accounts—defined contribution plans or defined benefit plans.

Defined contribution plans are characterized by an annual contribution being made for each employee. (more…)

Some early retirement survey focused almost exclusively on men when making retirement decision. Until recently, woman may have some decisiveness which affected retirement decision for her and her husband. Recognition of the difference point of view add some complexity on making retirement decision. Off course, the retirement decision is varied beyond gender and economic issues. Substantial differences in health condition, employment market, family finance situation, and care giving responsibility can lead to the differences timing of retirement. (more…)

In the simplest sense, a retirement plan is your formula for determining what you want your retirement source of income to be and how you will finance that income. That retirement money doesn’t accumulate overnight; on the contrary, you will probably have to stick to your retirement plan for most of your adult life. Working on your retirement plan is called retirement planning.

Your retirement plan involves at least three things:

Goals : The first step in retirement planning involves setting realistic goals for your retirement. You probably have a vision of what you want your retirement to be like, but you also need to have a reasonable expectation about the lifestyle you’ll have when you retire — a practical and realistic goal of what retirement can be for you. (more…)