But there are several news sources that have risen to the top and we thought it useful to highlight them here, whether you have $18 to invest or $18 million.
1. The Wall Street Journal
Considered by many to be the gold standard, the Journal shares the high regard afforded international media outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, and The Financial Times. It’s also one of the oldest (first published in 1889) and most widespread (its daily circulation is 2.8 million copies, of which 1.8 million are by digital subscription). Daily topics can include the pros and cons of annuities in your 401(k), the role of social media in retirement, and a figure skater who returned to the ice at age 73.
2. NerdWallet
As the name suggests, this is the place to go for money news with a decidedly nerdy slant. It boils complex financial topics down to easily understandable posts, turns your personal spending habits into concrete investment recommendations, and provides nifty tools like smart calculators, simulators, and side-by-side comparisons of dozens of retirement vehicles, credit cards, and more.
3. Yahoo! Finance
Whether you have skin in the game or just like to follow the markets, Yahoo! Finance is a well-respected and comprehensive online player in the financial news scene. In addition to articles and blogs, it has made a substantial investment in streaming video, making it the only outlet on this list to offer eight hours of live programming, known as its “bell-to-bell” live market coverage. It also recently launched Yahoo! Finance Premium, a subscription service offering in-depth analysis that’s geared toward the retail investor and is not found on the free site.
4. Investopedia
In addition to regular articles and breaking news on industry trends, Investopedia has become the go-to financial literacy site for anyone needing definitions and explanations of basic terms, including a wide range of retirement news, plus savings and general money management topics.
5. Squared Away
What happens when a prestigious academic institution joins forces with a renowned economics and finance journalist? Squared Away, a collaboration between the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and former Boston Globe reporter Kimberly Blanton, utilizes academic research to go beyond the standard personal finance blog and focus on topics such as the psychology of retirement planning, why we spend and save the way we do and U.S. money culture at large.
6. Investing.com
If you want to see how the market’s active trading is treating your retirement savings at a moment’s notice, Investing.com provides real-time data on domestic and international markets, as well as in-depth reporting and analysis on the latest retirement and savings news. It also features calculators, personalized alerts, and a comprehensive calendar of major economic events in the U.S. and across the globe.
7. Investor Junkie
One of the most comprehensive how-to investment sites out there, Investor Junkie has a long list of step-by-step processes that walk you through everything from dipping your toe into the markets to the finer points of using your 401(k) as a down payment on your house. In addition, the site lets you smartly shop for everything from robo-advisors to credit cards to brokers with side-by-side comparisons of the industry’s top companies.
Read, Watch, Learn, Plan
Whether you prefer straight-up blogs, streaming video with live analysis, or a ticker that keeps tabs on your portfolio, there’s a place on the web that will suit your needs.
But all the top-quality retirement news in the world won’t be much help without a plan to put it into action. There are many financial sherpas who can guide you on this trek, and our e-book, Your Guide to Popular Retirement Plans, is a good place to start.