Retirement Planning Guide

Clear, jargon-free information about your 401(k), IRA, Social Security, and retirement.

The retirement plan I wish I'd had sooner.

Retirement Planning Resources

We point readers to authoritative, independent organizations for retirement information. The sources below publish reliable, official guidance, and most are free government services.

Accounts, taxes, and benefits

  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the official rules for 401(k)s, IRAs, contribution limits, Roth accounts, and required minimum distributions, with calculators.
  • Social Security Administration (SSA), retirement benefits, your earnings statement, and estimates of what you will receive at different claiming ages.
  • Medicare (Medicare.gov), official information on enrolling at 65, the parts of Medicare, premiums, and what is and is not covered.

Investing, regulation, and consumer protection

  • Investor.gov (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission), plain-language investing education and tools to check whether an advisor is registered.
  • FINRA, investor protection and the free BrokerCheck tool for vetting brokers and firms.
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), unbiased guides on retirement and money decisions.
  • Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), the federal agency that insures many traditional pensions.

Links to external sites are provided for reference only; see our Financial Disclaimer.