“Defer retirement,” advises Olivia Mitchell, executive director of the Pension Research Council.  “Working longer generates two positives: Increased savings and improved social security.”  It makes sense. The more you save, the more future income you get. 
Before plunging it’s vital to analyze your finances.  How much do you spend annually; how much WILL YOU spend the next 15 or 30 years?  Compare anticipated expenses (including inflation) against anticipated income.  If you defer social security payments by three years, your benefits increase over 23%.  Presumably your retirement will also include assets generating …

Turn your 401k from a “tax deferred” to a “tax free” instrument – and use it to help pay for college. Early distributions for higher-education expenses escape the usual 10%  IRS penalty. (Early distribution penalties also disappear once you reach 59½.)
Qualified expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and a limited amount of room and board.  However, penalty-free withdrawals aren’t necessarily the same as tax-free withdrawals. Check IRS Publication 590 to determine if your IRA withdrawals for college expenses need to be reported to the IRS.
Also, consider the impact of IRA withdrawals …

It’s you against the world … at least when it comes to currencies. The dollar’s changing value can be portrayed in a 2005 tale: Had you then put your nest egg in a Canadian bank (regardless of interest rates), a year later your egg would’ve been worth 25% more than in a comparable US bank.  If you don’t know, it was because the Canadian dollar (Loonie) gained 25% relative to the US dollar. 
(On September 7, 2010 the Bank of Canada was hinting on yet another rate increase, threatening to take …

Originally designed to encourage college savings, 529 plans became a broken promise for many. Sponsored by states and colleges, 529s promise investment gains with no federal or state taxes when earmarked for education. (Some are tricky, so get tax advice before investing.)  
Typically, states offer deductions to in-state investors, putting more money in savers’ pockets for future expenses. But this benefit may not be enough to overcome disadvantages of poorly performing accounts.
The PROS: A 529 plan offers one-stop shopping for novice investors. Most provide age-appropriate portfolios that become more conservative the …