Informational purposes only, not financial advice — always do your own research. See our full legal disclosure for details.

Retirement Planning: 401(k)s, IRAs, Annuities and More

The earlier you plan, the more freedom you have later. Learn how to save for retirement, choose the right accounts and turn your savings into reliable income.

Five Pillars of a Secure Retirement

401(k) Plans

Your employer’s plan may be your most powerful tool. Understand 401(k) plans and the match you could be missing.

Annuities

Turn savings into guaranteed income with annuities.

IRAs (Roth & Traditional)

Choose between tax-free growth and a tax break today with Roth and traditional IRAs.

Retirement Calculators

Find out how much you need with our retirement calculators.

Social Security

Know when and how to claim your Social Security benefits.

Learn, Compare and Get Inspired

Each category follows the same three steps. A detailed guide explains the legal, tax and practical rules in plain English. A comparison article then lists current options side by side. Finally, six real people share their stories: their situations, their problems and why they chose each approach.

Browse all retirement articles below.

  • Backdoor Roth IRA: How Bruce Avoids the Pro-Rata Rule Tax Surprise

    Jozsef Huszar

    By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 A backdoor Roth IRA can get high earners past the Roth IRA income limits, but one forgotten rollover account can turn a clean backdoor Roth conversion into a surprise tax bill. Bruce has already made use of most of the standard tax-advantaged retirement tools available to him.…

  • Roth IRA for Students: How Holly Learns Why Starting Small Beats Waiting

    Jozsef Huszar

    By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Is a Roth IRA for students really worth it? Here is how to open a Roth IRA with a part-time paycheck, how the earned income rule works, and why a custodial Roth IRA lets you start decades early. Holly just started earning money from a part-time job,…

  • Roth vs Traditional IRA for Freelancers: How Peter Chooses

    Jozsef Huszar

    By Jozsef Huszar • Updated: September 16, 2026 Roth vs Traditional IRA for freelancers comes down to one question: how do you save for retirement when your income never looks the same two years in a row? Peter doesn’t have an employer handing him a 401(k) enrollment form or a matching contribution. As a freelancer,…

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We may receive compensation from our partners when you click on links or apply for products featured here; this does not influence our editorial opinions or ratings. For complete terms, see our full legal disclosure.