Retirement & Long-Term Investing

Saving and investing for decades, and making it last.

1. How Much Is Enough? — A retirement target starts with your expected spending, not a magic number. Here is how to estimate what you will need, using the 25-times rule of thumb and what other income will cover.
2. The Power of Starting Early — Time is the biggest advantage in long-term investing. Here is how compounding rewards early savers, with side-by-side numbers, and the tax-advantaged accounts that make it easier.
3. Target-Date Funds — A target-date fund is a complete portfolio in one fund that gets more conservative as your retirement year approaches. Here is how the glide path works, what to check and the common mistakes.
4. Withdrawal Rates & Sequence Risk — How much you take out, and when bad markets happen, can matter as much as average returns. Here is how the 4% guideline works and a real-returns example of sequence risk.
5. Social Security & Pensions Basics — Social Security and pensions provide income that lasts for life. Here is how Social Security benefits are calculated, why claiming age matters so much and what the latest trust fund report says.
6. Staying the Course for Decades — Long-term investing works only if you stay invested through the scary parts. Here are real numbers on what missing the market’s best days cost, and habits that help you hold on.