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“Spend less and save more.” That’s always sound financial advice, but it may seem easier said than done. Saving more is probably not as hard as you think, however—all it takes is a little creativity. A few dollars here or there may not seem like much, but if you make a deliberate effort to save, those extra funds can really add up. Here are some tips to help you find extra cash to put toward a more comfortable retirement.

When an account beneficiary predeceases the owner with a Per Capita designation, the deceased beneficiary’s portion of assets is automatically allocated to the remaining primary beneficiaries (or contingent beneficiaries, if there are no more living primary beneficiaries). But the account owner may elect to have assets be distributed Per Stirpes to one or more beneficiaries instead. In this case, if a beneficiary were to predecease the account owner, the descendants of that beneficiary would be entitled to the assets that the deceased would have received if he or she were alive when the account owner passes away.

Do you know enough about financial management to take care of all of your investing on your own? Or do you need help from a seasoned Certified Retirement Counselor® or  Accredited Investment Fiduciary®  ?  That question comes up for millions of Americans each year, and is always surrounded by a fair amount of anxiety and uneasiness. Regardless of your financial state, everyone can benefit from taking stock of what stability means for them, and oftentimes, a financial adviser can help you find this mindset.

 In our household, there is constant tension for what foods should be purchased and consumed.  My husband is a brownie and ice cream kind of guy, whereas I am kale salad with cranberries.   The refrigerator has become the portfolio of risky food vs. boring and healthier.  Determining what kind of investor you are depends a lot on how much risk you can stomach and how much time you have until retirement. 

An important part of managing your personal finances is keeping your financial records organized. Whether it's a utility bill to show proof of residency or a Social Security card for wage reporting purposes, there may be times when you need to locate a financial record or document--and you'll need to locate it relatively quickly. By taking the time to clear out and organize your financial records, you'll be able to find what you need exactly when you need it.

It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are 11 ways to help keep yourself from making hasty decisions that could have a long-term impact on your ability to achieve your financial goals.

Estimate Your Retirement Income Needs.  Planning for your retirement is important, and the first step is to estimate how much income you will need to fund retirement. Retirement planning is not an exact science, so an Independent Financial Consultant may help define and address specific needs depending on your goals and other factors.   A starting point is your current income   One method is calculating annual retirement income as a percentage (typically 60% to 90%) of your current income. The appeal lies in its simplicity, and there is a common-sense analysis underlying it: If your current income sustains your present lifestyle, taking that income and reducing it by a specific percentage to reflect discontinued expenses such as payroll taxes, theoretically can you sustain your current lifestyle?

As you grow older, housing issues become an integral part of your retirement plans. You may be living on a fixed income and want to get additional cash by borrowing against the equity in your home. You may feel isolated in that big house you bought 30 years ago when your children were young. Perhaps your health isn't what it used be, and you may desire more convenient access to medical services or may need around-the-clock care. Maybe you want to leave your home to your children and avoid estate taxes if possible. These are just a few of the personal residence issues you may be facing in retirement. It is important to make a timely examination of the primary residence issues in your life. Financial, emotional, and physical considerations will drive your decisions. Careful planning may allow you to enrich the quality of your retirement years, get the health care and services you need, and maximize the financial benefits of homeownership for you and your family.

With age comes responsibility, so if you're a young adult in your 20s or 30s, chances are you've been introduced to the realities of adulthood. While you're excited by all the opportunities life has to offer, you're also aware of your emerging financial responsibility. In the financial realm, the millennial generation (young adults born between 1981 and 1997) faces a unique set of challenges, including a competitive job market and significant student loan debt that can make it difficult to obtain financial stability. Poor money management can lead to debt, stress, and dependency on others. Fortunately, good money management skills can make it easier for you to accomplish your personal goals. Become familiar with the basics of planning now, and your future self will thank you for being responsible.

Selecting beneficiaries for retirement benefits is different from choosing beneficiaries for other assets such as life insurance. With retirement benefits, you need to know the impact of income tax and estate tax laws in order to select the right beneficiaries. Retirement Plan Consultant offers effective retirement solutions that are designed to support participants on their way to retirement effectively.  Although taxes shouldn't be the sole determining factor in naming your beneficiaries, ignoring the impact of taxes could lead you to make an incorrect choice. In addition, if you're married, beneficiary designations may affect the size of minimum required distributions to you from your IRAs and simple IRA retirement plan while you're alive.