Barron's

Retirement and Well-Being

Read the latest from Barron's on how to live well and retire confidently.


Markets Enjoyed an Historic April. Why the S&P 500 Could Fall Short in May.

Markets Enjoyed an Historic April. Why the S&P 500 Could Fall Short in May.

Apple polishes quarter earnings and sales beat, AI spending juices outlooks for power providers, and more news to start your day.

Long Read

Trump Signs Plan to Expand Retirement Access. It Won’t Do Much Without Congress.

Trump Signs Plan to Expand Retirement Access. It Won’t Do Much Without Congress.

The administration’s efforts will include creating a new website that helps people find privately run individual retirement accounts that they can sign up for.

3 minute read

Retirees, Here’s What a Warsh Fed Could Mean for You

Retirees, Here’s What a Warsh Fed Could Mean for You

Stay the course in bonds and consider alternative ETFs that may hold up well if stocks and bonds falter.

3 minute read

Retiring Boomers Are Starting to Weigh on the U.S. Economy

Retiring Boomers Are Starting to Weigh on the U.S. Economy

An Implan analysis estimates that retirements among older workers are creating a $4.18 billion drag on annual U.S. GDP growth.

Long Read

Confidence in a Comfortable Retirement Is Faltering. Making a Plan Can Help.

Confidence in a Comfortable Retirement Is Faltering. Making a Plan Can Help.

Americans are worried their savings are no match for sticky inflation and rising healthcare costs.

3 minute read

What Was the Worst Year to Retire? Creator of the 4% Rule Says It Wasn’t 1929.

What Was the Worst Year to Retire? Creator of the 4% Rule Says It Wasn’t 1929.

The high inflation that characterized the ‘70s and ’80s ravaged retirement portfolios.

4 minute read

Why You Should ‘Test-Run’ Retiring Abroad Before You Make the Leap

Why You Should ‘Test-Run’ Retiring Abroad Before You Make the Leap

More Americans are thinking of retiring outside the country. What to know before you make the move.

2 minute read

Dreaming of That Tuscan Villa? How to Make Retiring Abroad a Reality.

Dreaming of That Tuscan Villa? How to Make Retiring Abroad a Reality.

More Americans are thinking of retiring outside the country. What to know before you make the move.

4 minute read

Retirees Feel the Sting of Inflation More Than Others as Energy Prices Soar

Retirees Feel the Sting of Inflation More Than Others as Energy Prices Soar

While gas pumps show the immediate hit, rising oil prices are quietly pushing up healthcare and utility costs for older Americans living on fixed incomes.

4 minute read

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early or Invest the Extra Money?

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early or Invest the Extra Money?

Barron’s talked to economists and financial advisors to explain both sides of the debate.

4 minute read

Couples With Age Gaps Face Financial Challenges. How to Navigate Them.

Couples With Age Gaps Face Financial Challenges. How to Navigate Them.

Most U.S. couples are close in age. But census data show that roughly 8% to 9% have age gaps of a decade or more,

Long Read

Social Security COLA Increases Suddenly Look a Whole Lot Higher

Social Security COLA Increases Suddenly Look a Whole Lot Higher

Higher gas prices drove the uptick in the projected cost-of-living adjustment.

2 minute read

Haven’t Filed Your Return? How to Get a Tax Break and Boost Your Savings.

Haven’t Filed Your Return? How to Get a Tax Break and Boost Your Savings.

Contributing to an IRA or HSA can lower your taxable income and lift your retirement savings. How to do it.

4 minute read

Warren Buffett Is Retired. His Latest Advice Couldn’t Be More Timely for Young Investors.

Warren Buffett Is Retired. His Latest Advice Couldn’t Be More Timely for Young Investors.

The Oracle of Omaha’s practical approach to investing focuses on finding undervalued stocks and holding them for the long term.

4 minute read

Americans’ ‘Magic Number’ for Retirement Just Jumped to $1.5 Million

Americans’ ‘Magic Number’ for Retirement Just Jumped to $1.5 Million

The latest annual survey from Northwestern Mutual shows Americans are growing more anxious about having enough money to retire.

2 minute read

Alternative Assets Are Coming for Your 401(k). Do They Deserve the Hype?

Alternative Assets Are Coming for Your 401(k). Do They Deserve the Hype?

They offer diversification and the potential—but no guarantees—for higher returns than publicly traded stocks and bonds. A final rule is expected later this year.

3 minute read

‘Pension Envy’ Is Driving Retirement Anxiety Among Gen Xers

‘Pension Envy’ Is Driving Retirement Anxiety Among Gen Xers

The first wave of Gen Xers are worried that healthcare costs and other factors could send them back to work after their formal retirement, a new survey finds.

2 minute read

The Labor Department Wants to Expand Access to Alts in 401(k)s. Financial Advisors Say Change Will Be Slow to Arrive.

The Labor Department Wants to Expand Access to Alts in 401(k)s. Financial Advisors Say Change Will Be Slow to Arrive.

Many advisors expect that alternative investments such as private credit will make up only a limited share of retirement plans’ portfolios if the agency promulgates its proposed rule.

4 minute read

Trump Might Declare Iran Victory. Why Energy Shocks Will Keep Coming.

Trump Might Declare Iran Victory. Why Energy Shocks Will Keep Coming.

Aluminum stocks are soaring, SpaceX IPO could use a little-known loophole, pro football kicks off new deal with American Express, and more news to start your day.

Long Read

The IRS Has Numerous Tax Traps. How to Avoid Them When You File This Year.

The IRS Has Numerous Tax Traps. How to Avoid Them When You File This Year.

Barron’s gives tips for avoiding unfair penalties, withheld refunds, or drawn-out grievances with the IRS.

4 minute read

Retirement Savers, Here’s How to Find a Trusted Advisor

Retirement Savers, Here’s How to Find a Trusted Advisor

A federal rule aiming to protect retirement investors has been officially scrapped. Take these steps to find an advisor you can trust.

4 minute read

How to Make Sure You Have Enough to Retire, No Matter What

How to Make Sure You Have Enough to Retire, No Matter What

Nothing is guaranteed, but financial advisors say these five steps can help clients live financially sound lives after leaving the workforce.

Long Read

Don’t Make This 401(K) Mistake. It’s More Common Than You Think.

Don’t Make This 401(K) Mistake. It’s More Common Than You Think.

About a quarter of Americans with retirement accounts maintain multiple accounts from their past or current jobs.

3 minute read

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