If you’re like most people, when you hear the phrase “legacy planning,” youprobably think about how you’ll pass your assets to your heirs. 

I write a lot about the state of retirement in America and how certain saving behaviors can help set you up for success. But until recently we hadn’t fully addressed the elephant in the room: the costs of health care and long-term care in retirement.

If you work and save from age 18 to age 63, you’ll spend around 45 years preparing for a retirement that spans about half as long—just over 22 years.* Your personal circumstances will determine whether you remain in the workforce (and continue saving) longer.

When Jerome Powell presides over his first Federal Open Market Committee meeting as the new Federal Reserve chairman on March 20–21, the seat will be less comfortable than it was just two months ago, when the U.S. Senate approved his nomination.

Over the past few months, I’ve been asked this question more than any other. In 2017, Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, rose by almost 1,200%, prompting excitement and bafflement. My answer: I’m enthusiastic about the blockchain technology that makes Bitcoin possible. In fact, Vanguard is using such technology. As for Bitcoin the currency? I see a decent probability that its price goes to zero. 

 Remember the days before theinternet? It was almost impossible to access certain information, like songlyrics. People would go years singing the wrong words while insisting they wereright. 

A recent online study,* which had a significantly larger sample size, foundthat only one-third of retirees are confident in their ability to livecomfortably throughout retirement. 

Most adults have seen enough detective movies to know that no 2 fingerprints are alike. 

In my last blog post, I asked for comments, tips, and strategies for getting through market volatility—and I wasn’t disappointed. Thanks to everyone who shared a personal experience!