Rissa Sawyer receives $486 per month from Social Security — it's low because for most of her adult life she didn't have jobs that paid into the system. Chris Arnold/NPR hide caption
Your Money And Your Life NPR explores how to save and invest for retirement and helps listeners and readers plan ahead.
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Your Money And Your Life
Kent Smetters, economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Courtesy of Kent Smetters hide caption
Yami Chavarria with her infant daughter, Ayla Kimberley. Andrea Seabrook for NPR hide caption
Robin Bunevich and Alex Rivas in the Astoria, Queens, apartment they own. The unmarried couple set an agreement for how to handle the sale of their apartment if they break up. Courtesy of Robin Bunevich and Alex Rivas hide caption
Not all financial education classes help us make better financial decisions. But some do. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption
Not All Financial Education Is Effective. Here Are 4 Ideas That Work
Greg Deckard with his two sons, Julian (left) and Andrew. Courtesy of Gina Deckard hide caption
Do you know if you paid any fees when rolling over a 401(k)? Gary Waters/Getty Images/Ikon Images hide caption
When Fees Attack: Rolling Over A 401(k) Can Trigger Big-Time Charges
Alex Browning works at a farm in Hamilton, Mass. The 26-year-old says that unlike some of her friends who work at places with retirement plans, she knows she has to figure out how to save for herself. Chris Arnold/NPR hide caption
To pay for college, experts say it's impossible for most parents to save all the money they'll need. They say it's reasonable to tap a mix of resources: a 529 plan, some home equity and some student loans. ImageZoo/Corbis hide caption
Many Americans with 401(k) plans don't know if they're paying any fees. Pay too much, and it could take a chunk out of your nest egg. Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR hide caption
Automatically enrolling workers into a savings plan and then deducting their pre-tax contribution from their paycheck means workers don't see or feel any loss. It sort of tricks our brains into doing the right thing. Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR hide caption
Picking someone to help you plan for retirement can be challenging. The fees can add up quickly. But a good adviser can help protect you from your instincts when markets turn volatile. Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR hide caption
Jack Bogle wants Americans to make more money in the stock market and give less away to financial firms. Courtesy of Vanguard hide caption
More than half of working people in this country have saved less than $25,000 for retirement and many pay crippling investment fees that eat away at gains. Automated financial advisers called roboadvisers offer a low-fee alternative. Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR hide caption
High fees are eroding the retirement savings of millions of Americans, but employers who shop around can often find much better options for their employees' 401(k) plans. Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR hide caption