You've probably heard many of these common pieces of retirement advice before, but they're worth repeating, if only to remind you to take action. After all, the key to a comfortable retirement is not to know every possible secret to build wealth, but to simply act on the knowledge you already have. Here are the most important actions you must take in order to reach a worry-free retirement:

Take steps to live below your means. You can be an investment genius, but still not be able to amass a sizable nest egg unless you have a solid base to compound your returns. For most people, the biggest determinant of how much money you can accumulate is how much you save. The more you can save each month, the more you have for the future. It's that simple. And the best part about not worrying about the Joneses is that eventually, you will actually be the Joneses.

Determine an appropriate asset allocation mix for your circumstances. The biggest benefit of coming up with a well thought out strategy is being able to stay the course when your investments do not perform well. "Buy low and sell high" is easy to say, but too many people will find it impossible to execute in the heat of the moment unless they truly understand their asset allocation strategy and how different investments are interconnected.

Ignore short-term market fluctuations. Any investment can be volatile in the short run, but most investments tend to increase in value over the long haul. Your investment in stocks, for example, will be worth more as the underlying companies make more money and throw off dividends. Your bond allocation, on the other hand, will throw off coupon payments to honor debt obligations. By investing as early as possible, you are allowing the forces of investing to work in your favor. Of course, compound interest won't hurt either.

Realize that money is just a tool. Many people in modern society are trained to think that more is always better. The result is a world with too many people who are willing to trade a great deal for more money. They work for too long, and often at jobs they absolutely hate. They spend too much time thinking about their assets, and not enough time building relationships with their friends and family. At the end of the day, your non-financial assets are at least as important as your financial ones. Don't let money concerns dictate your life and drive all your decisions. More money isn't always better. Sometimes, you need to decide that enough is enough.

Surround yourself with people who share the same values. The road to financial independence will be next to impossible unless you find others who also believe in marching toward the same path. Find a significant other who won't sabotage your efforts to prepare for a better life, and find friends who can be supportive of your ideals. They are out there, and chances are good that they are looking for you too.

None of these financial tips should be surprising. The important part is to begin to implement them as early as possible in your career.

David Ning runs MoneyNing, a personal finance site that shares money moves you can make to significantly increase your chances of having a comfortable retirement. He likes to share simple changes that anyone can make, such as picking the best online savings account and figuring out whether a 0 percent balance transfer credit card makes sense.

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5 Retirement Tips You Must Follow

As we get closer to an election that is "all about the economy," polls show that maybe that's not so true. Americans think the economy is getting better. Consumer confidence, the stock market, and home values are all up. Credit and debt problems are down. Unemployment remains unacceptably high but there are more jobs today than when President Obama took office.

Perhaps it's more accurate to say that this election is all about the government and how it deals with the economy. Neither political party has distinguished itself here, but at least voters will be provided with clear differences. Of course, these differences have produced mostly gridlock in recent years, and even the approaching fiscal cliff may not bring Congress to its senses.

[See Obama or Romney: Who's Better for Your Portfolio?]

With so much uncertainty in the short run, it's more important than ever for retirement plans to be based on longer-term trends. Many of these trends are cautionary, if not downright negative. But ignoring them or wishing things were different is a strategy only an ostrich could love. Here are eight key trends for people in or nearing retirement:

1. Real investment returns are staying low. The American consumer will not resume being the engine of growth for the domestic economy. There simply won't be enough people in their prime consumption years--their 30s to 50s--to buy enough material goods to provide us sustained annual growth rates of 4 to 5 percent. On the financial side, interest rates are not likely to rise for some time, and yield-sensitive investments will be hurt by low rates. So don't count on sizable investment gains to make your retirement dreams come true. Assume real returns of 1 or 2 percent and adjust your spending plans accordingly.

2. The public pension system is broken. If you work for state or local government, your pension will face growing pressures. Governments simply cannot deliver on the pension promises they have made to employees. Expect to see more multiple-tier plans as governments try to protect the pensions of existing employees by trimming plans for newly hired workers. This will not be enough to protect employees in many states, and their benefits will be under attack. So will retiree health benefits. If your employer retirement benefits were cut by 10 or 20 percent, how would you adjust?

[See 10 Essential Sources of Retirement Income.]

3. Governments have no money. In the short run, economic weakness and powerful anti-tax sentiments may extend the life of the Bush tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year. If tax rates stay low (and they are very low today in historical terms), they will be credited for any improvement in the economy. But make no mistake, there are not enough eggs left in the golden goose to close the country's enormous budget gap. Some combination of spending cuts and tax increases is in the cards. Seniors may be spared the brunt of any cuts, but they are likely to face at least a flattening in future benefits.

4. You will live longer and longer. The biggest money story for many seniors will be just how long their nest eggs need to last. If you're healthy and 65, you should plan on living another 30 years. That's 10 to 12 years longer than the average life span. But if you take care of yourself, that shouldn't be a surprising outcome. This raises the possibility that you would need to live more frugally than you'd like for a long time. One tool worth considering is longevity insurance--an annuity that doesn't begin payments until you're 85. Because the odds favor you dying before then, you can get attractive terms from insurance companies selling these products. With such an annuity, you can spend down your nest egg by the time you reach 85, and then the annuity payments will begin. You can live better now and, if you're lucky, continue living better when you're 85.

5. You will work longer and longer. Because of poor retirement planning and longer life spans, millions of us will need to find encore careers. Each year we delay retirement can increase the size of our investment savings, raise our Social Security benefits, and shave a year off the funding workload of our nest eggs. For many baby boomers, continuing to work will also be a preferred lifestyle.

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8 Long-Term Retirement Planning Realities

COLUMBIA, MD--(Marketwire - Oct 2, 2012) - Sourcefire, Inc. ( NASDAQ : FIRE ), a leader in intelligent cybersecurity solutions, today announced the retirement of the Company's chief executive officer John C. Burris, effective immediately. Mr. Burris had been on medical leave from the Company. Martin F. Roesch, founder, chief technology officer and member of the Board of Directors, will continue to serve as the interim chief executive officer while the Board of Directors conducts a search for Mr. Burris' successor. Mr. Burris remains a member of the Board of Directors and will participate as his health permits.

Lt. Gen. Steven R. Polk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, commented, "John is a great leader and friend, and we are sad to see him retire from his day-to-day responsibilities at Sourcefire. We wish him the best as he continues to focus on his health.

"Upon becoming CEO in 2008, John laid out a clear vision for Sourcefire's next phase of development and during his tenure Sourcefire has achieved sustained profitability, expanded its relationship with the indirect sales channel to increase reach and drive revenue growth and become a multi-product company. These initiatives have positioned Sourcefire for sustained long-term growth and we are confident in the foundation and team John helped to build," continued Lt. Gen. Polk.

John Burris, retiring Chief Executive Officer, stated, "While I am sad to announce my retirement, I am excited and confident about the Company's Agile Security vision and the strong team we have assembled to execute on the growing opportunity in front of Sourcefire. I feel that a dynamic company like Sourcefire deserves a CEO that can solely dedicate his or her efforts to the future of the company and therefore, I believe my retirement at this time is in the best interest of our shareholders, customers and employees."

The Board has retained Chartwell Partners to assist in the search for Mr. Burris' successor.

The Company today also announced preliminary unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. The Company currently expects revenue and adjusted net income per share to be slightly above the high end of the guidance ranges given on July 31, 2012. These financial results are preliminary in nature, are subject to the Company completing its third quarter review process, and are subject to change. The Company expects to release its third quarter 2012 financial results after the market closes on October 30, 2012.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties.

Management cautions the reader that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to a number of both known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance, and/or achievements of Sourcefire, Inc. may differ materially from the future results, performance, and/or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. These factors include, that the preliminary unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 are subject to the Company completing its third quarter review process and may be revised, that expectations of future growth could change, and also include, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the reports filed by Sourcefire, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Sourcefire, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

About Sourcefire

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Sourcefire Announces Retirement of CEO John Burris

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02-10-2012 02:14 Arun Jaitley, former Law Minister, has shared a scathing assessment of judges, saying, "Pre-retirement judgements are influenced by post-retirement jobs." BJP chief Nitin Gadkari too suggested a two-year wait should be mandatory for judges after they retire and before they are appointed to judicial commissions or tribunals. Watch full discussion:

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Should judges have a 'cooling-off' period before post-retirement jobs? - Video

NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today, the Stable Value Investment Association (SVIA) will kick off the industry associations Fall Forum and Annual Membership Meeting -- Searching for Success: Stable Values Place in Defined Contributions Plan -- in Washington, D.C. at The Fairmont Hotel.

This year, SVIA members will explore the major challenges facing plan sponsors and stable value providers as they work to ensure defined contribution plan participants have sound investment choices that can help them achieve their retirement savings and investing goals, said James King, client portfolio manager, Strategic Relationships, Prudential Retirement. King began his tenure Jan. 1, 2012 as Chairman of the SVIA Board. Prudential Retirement is a business unit of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU).

King, Bill McCloskey, vice president, Product Management, Prudential Retirement and Robert Tipp, managing director and chief investment strategist for Prudential Fixed Income Management will address the membership during the three-day forum. McCloskey will offer an overview of the stable value market from an insiders view and Tipp will provide members with a global economic outlook for fixed income in investments.

As of June 30, 2012, Prudential Retirement has more than $98 billion in Stable Value retirement account values, including more than $58 billion in Institutional Stand-Alone Third Party Stable Value.

The SVIA is a non-profit industry organization dedicated to educating retirement plan sponsors and participants about the importance of saving for retirement and the contribution stable value funds can make toward achieving retirement security.

"Stable Value is a core competency for Prudential, King added. We're committed to the business and we are delighted to provide a product that helps our clients create retirement stability and security for their participants."

As of December 31, 2011, the SVIA members managed over $646 billion invested in stable value funds by more than 25 million participants. The SVIAs 75 member companies represent all segments of the stable value community, including public and private retirement plan sponsors, and numerous insurance companies, banks, and investment managers.

Stable Value products are issued by either The Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC), Hartford, Conn., or The Prudential Insurance Company of America (PICA), Newark, N.J. Both are Prudential Financial companies. Each company is solely responsible for its financial condition and contractual obligations. Guarantees are contingent on the claims paying ability of the issuer.

Prudential Retirement delivers retirement plan solutions for public, private, and non-profit organizations. Services include state-of-the-art record keeping, administrative services, investment management, comprehensive employee investment education and communications, and trustee services. With over 85 years of retirement experience, Prudential Retirement helps meet the needs of over 3.6 million participants and annuitants. Prudential Retirement has $244.8 billion in retirement account values as of June 30, 2012.

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Prudential trio address advantages of stable value funds in retirement portfolios

OXNARD, Calif., Oct.2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --A new book from one of the nation's most experienced retirement experts answers two of the most important financial questions retirees and soon-to-be retirees will ever face:

With the decline of traditional defined benefit pension plans and the rise of self-directed retirement plans including 401k plans, addressing these questions is one of the most important challenges facing individuals, employers and the entire retirement industry today. Many surveys show that older workers and retirees are struggling with these questions and need help. And Steve Vernon delivers much needed help with his latest book, Money for Life: Turn Your IRA and 401(k) Into a Lifetime Retirement Paycheck.

Money for Life is an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand book that outlines specific action steps and includes illustrations and graphs to support Vernon's points. The book shows in simple terms the three methods for generating a "retirement paycheck" from retirement savings. It explains the pros and cons of these methods, as well as their many varieties and permutations, to help soon-to-be retirees understand just how to generate the money they will need to live comfortably in retirement. One critical factor is the amount of the "retirement paycheck," which can vary widely depending on the method chosen to generate retirement income. This understanding will remove the mystery and frustration around this critical retirement planning decision.

Money for Life also includes these unique features:

Money for Life delivers these powerful messages:

"Workers and retirees usually don't learn about the variety of viable methods to generate a retirement paycheck," says Vernon. "In fact, many people only hear about one or two methods, often from financial planners who have a financial stake in their decisions. Americans want choice in most everything they buy, and that's particularly important for their retirement security."

The book also addresses the behavioral finance issues by debunking common myths and misperceptions about generating retirement income.

This exciting new book provides critical help for boomers who are approaching their retirement years as well as their financial advisors. It's also a great tool for employers and retirement plan sponsors who want to help their employees and participants better prepare for retirement.

About the Author

Steve Vernon, FSA, has more than 35 years of experience as a consulting actuary, helping Fortune 1000 companies design and manage their retirement programs. He provides trusted, unbiased guidance on retirement planning through his regular blog column for CBS MoneyWatch and his four previously published books. For more details on his experience, books, and services, visit Steve's website, http://www.restoflife.com. Steve can be reached directly at steve.vernon@restoflife.com.

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New Book Reveals How to Turn IRAs and 401(k) Plans Into Lifetime Retirement Paychecks

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

More than one third of adults in the U.S., 37 percent, are interested in working with a professional to help manage their retirement accounts but dont think they have enough savings and investments to do so, according to a survey released by E*TRADE. The survey found that many Americans are unaware or overwhelmed by their options for retirement savings.

E*TRADE has a long history of empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures and planning for retirement is a key component, explained Lena Haas, SVP, Investing and Retirement at E*TRADE. By providing investors with simple ways to make informed decisions in their retirement planning we are helping them avoid unnecessary expenses and focus on reaching their financial goals.

E*TRADE offers a wide range of free tools and educational resources to help investors plan for retirement. For one-to-one retirement planning support, E*TRADE has Rollover Specialists and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) in every branch and available over the phone. Recently, E*TRADE launched the OneStop Rollover, an online program that makes it faster and easier for individual investors to invest their 401(k) savings from a previous employer into a professionally-managed portfolio with a low minimum of $25,000. Investors can access E*TRADEs OneStop Rollover at http://www.etrade.com/retirement, where theyll also find tools like the Retirement Calculator to create or review their current retirement plan.

Additional key findings from E*TRADEs survey include:

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of E*TRADE from August 20-22, 2012 among 2,399 adults ages 18 and older. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Jaime Stein (646-521-4418; jaime.stein@etrade.com.)

About E*TRADE Financial

The E*TRADE Financial family of companies provides financial services including online brokerage and related banking products and services to retail investors. Specific business segments include Trading and Investing and Balance Sheet Management. Securities products and services, including IRAs, Rollover Specialists, CRPCs and the Retirement Calculator are offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC). Advisory products and services, including OneStop Rollover, are offered through E*TRADE Capital Management LLC an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of E*TRADE Capital Management's Form ADV Part 2A, which describes, among other things, affiliations, services offered and fees charged, is available at no cost upon request. Bank products and services are offered by E*TRADE Bank, a Federal savings bank, Member FDIC, or its subsidiaries and affiliates. More information is available at http://www.etrade.com. ETFC-G

Important Notices

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Investors Underestimate Retirement Savings Opportunities Says E*TRADE Survey

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Corporate Insight, the leading provider of competitive intelligence to the financial services industry, has announced the launch of a new subscription research service, Retirement Plan Monitor. This new Monitor service will track the website capabilities and marketing materials that retirement plan sponsors provide to plan participants. Corporate Insight will offer subscribers an unbiased, first-hand view of the user experience by monitoring live accounts that are held by actual plan participants at each firm.

Retirement plan participants are increasingly turning to the web to manage their plan investments. Unfortunately, the resources available to them are sometimes sub-par compared to what many brokerages and banks provide to their customers, explains Drew Maresca, senior analyst for Retirement Plan Monitor. Retirement Plan Monitor will provide firms with an informed look at the online capabilities and participant communications that their competitors provide, along with Corporate Insights analysis of industry trends and best practices. We are confident this will make it easier for our subscribers to create a best-in-class online user experience for plan participants.

Corporate Insight will track a number of the industrys top defined contribution plan providers including:

-- MassMutual

-- Mercer

-- New York Life

-- Principal

-- TIAA-CREF

-- T. Rowe Price

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Corporate Insight Launches Retirement Plan Monitor

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0k7d8io2I

30-09-2012 22:14 As it should be, no one will ever wear No. 20 in Eagles history again. The Eagles retired Brian Dawkins' No. 20 during the nationally televised showdown against the New York Giants on Sept. 30.

Link:
Brian Dawkins No. 20 Retired - Halftime Ceremony 9.30.12 at Lincoln Financial Field-Philadelphia - Video

Dear Dr. Don, My husband is 69, and I am 67. Ninety percent of our nest egg is in the stock market, which is presently doing much better on rate of return than any certificate of deposit or other option. Should we have such a large part of our retirement tied up in the market?

Thanks, -- Wendy Worries

Dear Wendy, Stocks are having a great run in 2012. The major U.S. stock market indexes have reached highs they haven't seen since 2007, before the financial crisis. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up almost 18% year to date (as of mid-September) and by a little more than 27% over the past 12 months. You're not going to get that kind of yield in a CD.

While your nest egg may be heavily invested in stocks, you need to look at your overall financial picture before deciding you're too much into stocks. Are you both receiving Social Security benefits, or are you eligible to receive those benefits once you file for them? Social Security retirement benefits are like an inflation-indexed annuity payment that you'll receive over time. Do either of you receive a pension? The pension payments may not be inflation-indexed, but they also act as an annuity payment.

What I'm getting at is that you should consider how far your low-risk pension and Social Security benefits go toward filling your retirement needs and how much of a gap must be filled by your retirement nest egg. If the investment portfolio is largely for discretionary spending, you can take on more risk than if there's a large income gap not met by your other income sources. Owning your home free and clear also provides a financial safety net with the option to take out a reverse mortgage.

All that aside, your portfolio is probably over-invested in the stock market. I'd suggest paying for a few hours of time for a fee-only financial planner to review your retirement income sources, your retirement income needs and how your portfolio should be invested to meet those needs over time.

Bankrate's content, including the guidance of its advice-and-expert columns and this website, is intended only to assist you with financial decisions. The content is broad in scope and does not consider your personal financial situation. Bankrate recommends that you seek the advice of advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances before making any final decisions or implementing any financial strategy. Please remember that your use of this website is governed by Bankrate's Terms of Use.

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Is My Retirement Bet Too Heavily on Stocks?