I am 28, have a $60,000 a year job in Accounting and expect to be making close to $100,000 in seven years (after that, raises more uncertain). I want to retire some time in my early to mid 40s. I have a wife who is 34 and works as a retail manager (making about $40,000 a year). I am planning on living off of 20% of our after tax income (excluding mortgage payments). We currently do not have a mortgage but are planning on a house soon. We would like to travel at will and have the (option) of not working ever again. We also do not mind retiring in a cheaper location (Costa Rica, etc) to save on costs. What investment vehicles should I be considering given that I am retiring early? What kind of jobs that are part time could a retiree easily perform? How much money should be going in employee 401k type programs vs. individual investment options and IRA contributions. [more inside]
posted by locussst on May 4, 2013 - 12 answers

I'm taking a new job with a very small company that doesn't offer a 401k. My spouse's job does offer a 401k. Based on what I see on this page, with our income, we would not be able to deduct any contributions I make to an IRA, and we're not eligible for a Roth IRA. So what is my best retirement investment strategy? [more inside]
posted by primethyme on Apr 25, 2013 - 10 answers

What sort of things should an Australian living in Australia know about owning an investment (e.g., an index fund) in the USA? The investment would be part of a retirement fund that has a low (15%) tax rate in Australia.
posted by Joe in Australia on Apr 23, 2012 - 2 answers

Canadian RRSP filter: Does the Home Buyers Plan actually make sense? Can you crunch the numbers on my behalf? [more inside]
posted by Mrs. Rattery on Jan 24, 2012 - 12 answers

How do I pick bonds for the bonds portion of a retirement portfolio? [more inside]
posted by pwnguin on Oct 6, 2011 - 10 answers

My boss is a 45 year old director who has never bothered to invest or start a portfolio. Where should I have him get started? [more inside]
posted by JJkiss on Aug 8, 2011 - 11 answers

I'm going to be a part of a due diligence team speaking to the Manhattan financial services firm that manages the retirement plan for a mid-sized company. What should I know before going in? What should I listen for? What should I ask? [more inside]
posted by anotherpanacea on Dec 13, 2010 - 10 answers

Is it worth it for a student who makes less than $10,000/year to invest outside of a tax-sheltered account? [more inside]
posted by mahoganyslide on Nov 25, 2009 - 7 answers

Choice of retirement plans: TIAA-CREF, Vanguard, Fidelity? Mattress? [more inside]
posted by Clyde Mnestra on Sep 7, 2009 - 7 answers

I need to know what my options are for moving this thing, given that I have a negative net worth. Can I roll it into another brokerage-style Rollover IRA at a brokerage firm, not a bank, and avoid the money laundering law stuff? Or am I relegated to Bank IRAs until I'm out of school debt? Do I suck it up and take the $75/month hit until I can start depositing money again (I don't know when that will be), and hope that the investments make up the difference in the long run? I haven't lost as much as most in my portfolio, and I know I have time to make up the losses, the monthly fee just seems like an unnecessary loss I should be able to avoid. [more inside]
posted by blue andrea on Apr 20, 2009 - 5 answers

I am trying to figure out how to invest money for retirement and otherwise. I am in my late 20s, earn $55,000 annually, have no debt, and about $90,000 in savings. I am currently putting 5% of my salary into a 403(b) which is the maximum amount my employer will match. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 - 11 answers

Financial advice-filter. I'm a college student with no debt and negligible living expenses. Where should I be putting my income? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 27, 2008 - 8 answers

What, if anything, is a "Target Retirement" fund like VTIVX missing? [more inside]
posted by selfnoise on Jun 30, 2008 - 4 answers

Should I cancel my life insurance policy and use it to pay off most or all of my consumer debt? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 - 8 answers

With the housing market slowing, where are people "in the know" putting their money so that it generates income or equity for them? How did they find out? [more inside]
posted by salvia on Jan 5, 2007 - 19 answers

A friend in her mid-40s is, for various reasons, only now getting a belated start on planning for retirement. Help me point her in the right direction! [more inside]
posted by fizzyliftingdrink on Nov 3, 2006 - 13 answers

my new employer is offering a 401k package via fidelity investments that is, dare I say it, overwhelming to me. I am especially bothered by the fact that the only advise available on said fidelity investment choices is via the nice folks from fidelity investment. so I looked for financial advisors - but how to judge them? [more inside]
posted by krautland on Aug 28, 2006 - 19 answers

I'm confused - I want to plan for my retirement and have got as far as applications for a 401k and a Roth IRA; but then it all goes hideously wrong.... [more inside]
posted by forallmankind on Aug 13, 2006 - 19 answers

How can I start saving for retirement when my career will likely take me from the USA to New Zealand? I wish to benefit from the tax-free nature of a saving scheme like the 401k plans, but I do not expect to spend all that much of my career (or lifetime) in the USA. Is there any way to move 401k savings to a similar scheme in New Zealand without losing it all to the tax penalties for early withdrawal? Are there any cunning alternatives? [more inside]
posted by -harlequin- on Jan 4, 2006 - 11 answers

If you had US$100,000 drop into your lap (I wish), and you were employed and debt-free, how would you put it to work to make a bigger nest egg or retirement fund? How would your strategy differ if you had high or low aversion to risk? [more inside]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken on Nov 23, 2004 - 27 answers