A digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement

This man spent decades teaching retirement planning. Here’s what he learned from planning his own. | Money

Like many on the cusp of retirement, David Littell felt excited and little nervous. But the 65-year-old differed from his peers in one key way: He spent the bulk of his career teaching retirement planning to financial advisors. He’s a pro at turning a lump sum of savings into a reliable income stream that will last for life. And as he approached retirement himself, Littell discovered some key differences between what the textbooks say and the way things play out in real life.

457(b) vs. 401(k) plans: What’s the difference? | SmartAsset

When saving for retirement, your employer may offer a tax-advantaged savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan or a 457(b) plan. Both allow you to contribute money toward retirement on a tax-deferred basis. And while there are similarities between plan types, there are also key differences to keep in mind that can affect how a plan will work for you and your retirement.

Saved Enough for Retirement? Well, That Depends | Kiplinger

People frequently ask how much money they’ll need to retire, as if there’s a one-size-fits-all dollar amount. But they’re asking the wrong question. Instead of starting with how much should be saved for retirement, start with how much you expect to spend.

What Retirement? People Over 65 Are Launching Encore Careers and Finding Fulfillment Like Never Before | Money

A growing number of older Americans are challenging the idea of traditional retirement, as more retirees decide they want to keep working or pursue passions after leaving the rat race behind. The number of Americans age 65 and over who continue to work has doubled since 1985, according to a study by United Income.

More Americans are leaving their money in 401(k) plans after retirement. Should you? | MarketWatch

Millions of workers contribute to a 401(k) plan so they can have more money when they retire. But some don’t touch those accounts for the first years of retirement. More than half of workers choose to leave their assets in their former employer’s 401(k) plan for a year into retirement, compared to 45 percent four years ago, according to Fidelity data on its workplace retirement accounts.