Even with less itemizing, there are still tax documents you want to retain for years to come. Fewer taxpayers are itemizing in the wake of federal tax reforms. You may be one of them, and you may be wondering how many receipts, forms, and records you need to hold onto for the future. Is it okay to shred more of them? Maybe not. The Internal Revenue Service has not changed its viewpoint. It still wants you to keep a copy of this year’s 1040 form (and the supporting documents)

A recent poll of pre-retirees suggests that truth risks being ignored. Steady income or a lump sum? Last year, financial services firm TIAA asked working Americans: if you could choose between a lump sum of $500,000 or a monthly income of $2,700 at retirement, which choice would you make? Sixty-two percent said that they would take the $2,700 per month. Figuring on a 20-year retirement for today’s 65-year- olds, $2,700 per month comes to $648,000 by age 85. So, why did near

Why are they made again and again? Much has been written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, there are also some classic financial missteps that plague retirees. Calling them “mistakes” may be a bit harsh, as not all of them represent errors in judgment. Yet whether they result from ignorance or fate, we need to be aware of them as we plan for and enter retirement. Leaving work