When you stop working, your retirement income, the steady stream of money you live on after leaving the workforce. Also known as post-career income, it’s not just about having savings—it’s about turning those savings into reliable, predictable cash flow that lasts decades. Most people think retirement means living off their 401(k) balance, but that’s like drinking from a firehose—you’ll run out fast. The real goal is to build multiple income streams that work together, so you never have to worry about running out of money.
That’s where Social Security, a government-backed monthly payment most retirees rely on. Also known as federal retirement benefits, it’s the foundation for most people’s retirement income plan. But it’s rarely enough on its own. Combine it with a pension, a fixed monthly payment from a former employer, often tied to years worked and salary. Also known as defined benefit plan, it’s a rare but powerful tool that gives you a paycheck for life. If you have one, treat it like gold. If you don’t, you need to replace it with something else—like dividends from stocks, interest from bonds, or payments from an annuity, an insurance product that turns a lump sum into guaranteed monthly income. Also known as lifetime income product, it’s designed to solve the problem of outliving your money. And while you can’t control interest rates or market swings, you can control how much you save, when you claim benefits, and how you structure withdrawals.
Some of the posts below show you how to review your investment policy to make sure your portfolio still supports your retirement goals. Others break down hidden fees that eat into your returns, or explain how taxes can shrink your monthly income faster than you realize. You’ll find real examples of how people use floating-rate notes to protect against rising rates, how to balance stocks and bonds for steady income, and why timing your Social Security claim can add thousands to your lifetime payout. There’s no magic formula, but there are clear, proven ways to build a retirement income plan that doesn’t rely on luck.
