Invest & Retire

“Investing can seem so complicated that you might shut down and do nothing about it — or feel you need to hire someone to guide you. However, it doesn’t need to be complex. You probably already have the opportunity to get started right where you work.”

Essentials

Latest Investing & Retirement

How Much of Each Paycheck You Should Save or Invest
How Much of Each Paycheck You Should Save or Invest Investing & Retirement April 11th, 2023
As a country, the United States stinks at saving money. However, we collectively got our act together not long after…
Hybrid financial advisors are a favorite of money expert Clark Howard for investors of all kinds.
Comparing Hybrid Financial Advisors: Vanguard vs. Schwab vs. Fidelity Investing & Retirement April 11th, 2023
Are you looking for a financial advisor? Money expert Clark Howard loves to recommend the hybrid advisor options from Vanguard,…
Lost retirement accounts are a real problem in the United States. Here's how to track down those accounts.
How To Find Missing or Lost Retirement Accounts Investing & Retirement April 10th, 2023
Americans have reportedly lost or abandoned more than $1 trillion in retirement funds from previous employers. Fortunately, if you've lost…
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium offers a hybrid financial advisor option that Clark Howard recommends.
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium Review Investing & Retirement April 7th, 2023
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium provides a way to invest your money and get inexpensive access to a team of financial…
Fidelity Personalized Planning and Advice offers financial planning and coaching as well as robo-investing.
Fidelity Personalized Planning & Advice Review Investing & Retirement April 6th, 2023
Fidelity Personalized Planning and Advice offers robo-investing plus unlimited financial planning and coaching. In this article, I'll explain why money…
Clark.com's Acorns review will explain how the micro-investment platform works and examine its fees.
Acorns Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons Investing & Retirement April 5th, 2023
If you're looking for companies to help you invest your money, one big player is the Acorns platform. In this…
Pension statement
Should You Take Your Pension in a Lump Sum or Monthly Payments? Investing & Retirement April 4th, 2023
Pensions are increasingly rare these days. The reason is simple: Offering pensions requires companies to make an expensive, long-term commitment…
retirement money
Report: How Prepared Are Americans for Retirement? Investing & Retirement April 3rd, 2023
If you’re like millions of Americans, retirement is one of the most anticipated events in your life — but are…
Small plant tree and Wooden Blocks with the text INVEST on coins stack.
How To Start Investing for Beginners With Little Money Investing & Retirement March 31st, 2023
Want to learn how to start investing with just a little money? You're in the right place -- and more…
Gold bullion on American dollar banknotes close up
Clark Howard’s Advice on Buying Gold Investing & Retirement March 30th, 2023
Gold is one of the most popular investments in the world. In fact, according to the data-driven visual content site…
Managing your own investments well is very challenging, but it's possible for some people.
Should You Manage Your Own Investment Portfolio? Investing & Retirement March 28th, 2023
Thanks to the internet, managing your own investment portfolio has become more accessible than ever in the last decade. In…
Should you roll over your 401(k) to an IRA? It depends on several factors, money expert Clark Howard says.
401(k) Rollover: What You Need To Know & Options Investing & Retirement March 24th, 2023
Should you roll over your 401(k) or leave it with your old company? If you've recently left a job or…
The key parts of a 401(k) retirement plan include a company match, 401(k) contribution limits, withdrawal rules and traditional vs. Roth 401(k) plans.
What Is a 401(k) Plan and How Does It Work? Investing & Retirement March 23rd, 2023
You've probably heard of a 401(k) retirement plan. You may even contribute to a 401(k) plan at work. Even so,…
Once you decide to roll over your 401(k), it's important to understand how to roll over a 401(k).
401(k) Rollover: How To Roll Over a 401(k) Investing & Retirement March 23rd, 2023
If you've decided to move the funds from your retirement account at your former company, you need to understand how…
What is a financial advisor and how much do financial advisors cost? Clark Howard answers those questions and more.
What Is a Financial Advisor and Do I Need One? Investing & Retirement March 21st, 2023
Considering that as little as 1% of the U.S. population uses a financial advisor, there’s understandably some mystery about what…
Clark.com offers advice on who should use a robo-advisor for their investment needs.
Who Should Use a Robo-Advisor? Investing & Retirement March 21st, 2023
Robots are slowly invading society, but at least so far, the relationship isn’t adversarial like you see in the movies.…
An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is an investment similar to a mutual fund but trades like a stock.
What Is an ETF? Investing & Retirement March 21st, 2023
An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a type of investment that you buy and sell through a stock exchange or…
IRA vs. 401(k): Both of the major retirement plan tools have strengths and weaknesses, but money expert Clark Howard holds a clear opinion.
IRA vs. 401(k): Which Is Better? Investing & Retirement March 21st, 2023
If you're contributing to a retirement account in the United States, you've probably debated an IRA vs. 401(k). The good…
How to open a Roth IRA
How To Open a Roth IRA Investing & Retirement March 13th, 2023
Money expert Clark Howard thinks Roth IRAs are just about the best tool around when it comes to saving for…
Clark Howard names the best 529 savings plans by state.
Best 529 College Savings Plans By State Investing & Retirement March 10th, 2023
A 529 savings plan gives you a tax-free way to invest in your child's education. But what are the best…
Fractional Shares
What Are Fractional Shares and Where Can I Buy Them? Investing & Retirement March 7th, 2023
Fractional shares allow investors to create a diversified portfolio of stocks and ETFs without needing much capital. In this article,…
retirement accounts
What’s the Average Retirement Account Balance in America? Investing & Retirement March 6th, 2023
If you make the right money moves during your working years, retirement can largely be spent in enjoyment rather than…
Ask Clark money column
Can You Trust Retirement Calculators? Investing & Retirement March 3rd, 2023
The premise of a retirement calculator is fascinating. Based on my income, savings rate and assets today, when will I…
Ask Clark money column
What Fee Level Does Clark Consider Acceptable For a Company 401(k)? Investing & Retirement March 2nd, 2023
It's easy to find information about investing fees with the best investment companies. If you'd rather not wade through the…
retirement age sign
The Most Popular Retirement Ages Investing & Retirement February 28th, 2023
If you're like many U.S. workers, retirement can't come soon enough. Are you wondering when you can retire? And, how…
Calendar with date circled and 'Retire!' written on it
Target Date Funds: Clark’s Favorite Retirement Investment Investing & Retirement February 24th, 2023
Target date funds are the “easy button” for retirement investing. They can take the confusion and research out of investing…
Roth 401(k) versus traditional 401(k)
What Is a Roth 401(k) and How Does It Work? Investing & Retirement February 24th, 2023
If you agree with money expert Clark Howard’s investment philosophy and the term “Roth 401(k)” doesn't already make you smile,…
A SEP IRA is a great retirement plan for those who earn self-employment income.
What Is a SEP IRA and Who Is Eligible? Investing & Retirement February 23rd, 2023
If you're self-employed, contributing to a SEP IRA may be a great way to fund your retirement. In this article,…
What Is a Solo 401(k) and How Does It Work?
What Is a Solo 401(k) and How Does It Work? Investing & Retirement February 23rd, 2023
A solo 401(k) is a retirement plan for the self-employed. If you're a business owner, a solo 401(k) is a…
Empower Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons
Empower Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons Investing & Retirement February 20th, 2023
This retirement-centric company helps you track and optimize your retirement planning with free tools. It also combines automated investing with…