Changing jobs? Don't let them forget 401(k) accounts: Retirement Scan

Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.

Clients changing jobs? Don't let them forget 401(k) accounts
Workers who change jobs should keep track of their 401(k) assets with their previous employer, according to this article on personal finance website Motley Fool. It's easy for employees to lose track of 401(k) accounts if they don't take the accounts with them. As years go by, companies get sold, restructured or go out of business. Consequently, old 401(k) plans also may close or merge with other plans. Employers may also lose contact with their former employees as workers change addresses. Clients who opt to leave their 401(k) assets with their former employer are advised to monitor their investments and adjust their goals and risk tolerance over time. They should also make sure the plan has their current contact information and they should stay on top of the past employer's status and stay up on mergers or any financial difficulties of the company.

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Safely traversing retirement danger zone
Clients are advised to be careful with the decisions they make during the three years before and the three years after retirement, according to an expert in this article in Kiplinger. "This crucial six-year window is like the 'retirement danger zone,'" the expert says. "Any serious mistakes in this narrow window of time can have devastating effects on your retirement, driving you to postpone retirement plans, reduce income expectations or even work longer than planned."

How your clients should invest in retirement
People who are investing for their golden years should view retirement as a phase that consists of various stages, according to this article on U.S. News & World Report. Advisers identify these stages as "go-go," "slow-go," and "no-go" years. "Unfortunately, most financial planning programs look at retirement as one constant season, where spending remains the same year after year," says a financial adviser. "In reality, the first five years of retirement look vastly different than the last five years."

Why retirees need to forget Clinton and Trump when it comes to their portfolios
As the presidential election draws near, clients should keep their political beliefs out of their retirement plan, according to this article on the MarketWatch website. The election results may have an effect on the market, but historical data show that this impact does not last and stock prices normalize after the election.

5 questions with retirement expert and author Emily Brandon
Deciding on what age to start collecting Social Security benefits is one of the crucial retirement decisions that people have to make, as it is a major factor in computing their benefit payouts, says an expert in a Washington Post article. "Those who delay claiming Social Security until age 70 are eligible for bigger monthly payments," the expert explains. "Married couples have additional Social Security claiming options. You can coordinate benefits with a spouse to maximize your benefit as a couple or boost the benefits a surviving spouse will receive."

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Retirement readiness Retirement education Retirement benefits 401(k) Social Security
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