Retirement Upside

Actionable insights for financial advisors guiding clients through the strategies, products, and policy shifts shaping retirement outcomes.

Tax Tips

Housing Market Is Supercharging Retirement Readiness for Millennial Homeowners

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Housing wealth can be a powerful source of retirement income, but renters have a great opportunity to invest in stocks.

2 min read
Social Security

Has Customer Service Actually Improved at the Social Security Administration?

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Metrics shared recently by the Social Security commissioner are promising, but some experts aren’t buying them.

2 min read
Social Security

The Social Security Trustees Report Looks Gloomy. Don’t Let Clients Panic

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There’s plenty to be concerned about in the 2026 report, but advocates believe reforms are coming.

2 min read
Tax Tips

When Mom and Dad Retire, and Kids Still Need Financial Help

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Advisors must balance helping parents protect assets without making them feel they’re abandoning their children.

2 min read
Insurance and Annuities

LPL Lawsuit Raises Questions About Annuity Monitoring

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However the lawsuit shakes out, many retirement experts think advisors should be monitoring policies they’ve sold in the past.

2 min read
Insurance and Annuities

Why More CFPs Are Seeking Retirement-Specific Credentials

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Tax-savvy retirement income planning was once a niche for financial planners, but the silver tsunami has changed that.

2 min read
DC Plans

Nearly 1 in 5 Couples Leave Money on the Table in Retirement Plan Matches

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They’re foregoing an average of $757 per year, the Center for Retirement Research recently found.

2 min read
DC Plans

DOL’s Private Assets in 401(k)s Proposal Draws 40,000 Comment Letters

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Views on the proposal are complicated and decidedly mixed, including within the financial services industry itself.

2 min read
DC Plans

Retirement Anxiety Is Real, But Confidence Is Growing

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Fidelity IRA contributions jumped 29% year over year in the first quarter, a record increase.

2 min read
Tax Tips

Advisors Without Estate Planning Could Let ‘Money Walk Out the Door’

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The shift from attorney- to advisor-driven estate planning means firms need to upgrade their offerings — or get left behind.

2 min read
Tax Tips

These Costly IRA Mistakes Can Crush Retirement Savers

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Individual retirement accounts are powerful savings vehicles, but come with significant complexities.

2 min read
DC Plans

Most 401(k) Holders Don’t Seek Help from Plan Advisors (But They Want It)

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There are plenty of opportunities for advisors as Americans seek out more personalized recommendations.

1 min read
Social Security

How TIPS Bridges Can Maximize Social Security Benefits

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Though it can be tricky to model in financial planning software, using a TIPS ladder to delay Social Security is a powerful strategy.

2 min read
Insurance and Annuities

The ‘Not Great, But Not Bad’ Retirement Trap

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Clients who thrive in retirement aren’t necessarily the wealthiest, but have designed their next chapter before leaving the last one.

2 min read
DC Plans

How State Auto-IRAs Are Changing Retirement Savings

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Total assets in the programs reached more than $3 billion at the end of April.

2 min read
Social Security

Is Late News, Bad News? What to Expect from Delayed Social Security Report

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The 2026 Social Security Trustees’ report may show the program becoming insolvent even sooner than expected.

2 min read
Insurance and Annuities

Clients Flying Solo in Retirement Planning May Be Ahead of the Game

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New research suggests the stereotype that single people are more financially vulnerable than families or couples needs rethinking.

2 min read
DC Plans

America’s Small Businesses Are Booming, Just Not Their Retirement Plans

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Many small business owners feel like they don’t have the time or money required to offer a retirement plan.

1 min read
Tax Tips

Why New Widows Need More Than Just Financial Planning

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There are major planning challenges that widows face, but it’s important to allow time for grief.

2 min read
Insurance and Annuities

The Annuity Sales Tactic That’s Backfiring on Advisors

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The behavioral psychology technique of “social proof” has real persuasive power in many contexts, but not so much for selling annuities.

2 min read

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