Morningstar, Inc., a well-respected provider of independent investment research and advice, recently choose four of NADART’s fund options in its “Analyst Picks” (pdf). The “Analyst Picks” are 187 funds listed as favorites by Morningstar fund analysts and are chosen out of a field of 2000 mutual funds.  The funds are listed by asset class and are chosen based on several factors, including the funds’ historical risk and return, costs, strategy and management experience.

A recent article on msn.com, "8 Ways to Botch Your Retirement", lists the numerous ways that workers put their plans for retirement in jeopardy. The list ranges from the obvious, such as spending too much or not saving enough to the not-so-obvious, for instance, disregarding tax implications, overestimating portfolio earnings, miscalculating lifetime earnings and not counting for things such as health care and long-term care costs.

You’re never too young to start saving for retirement. That’s one of the messages conveyed by a recent question-and-answer session posted on the CNN Money Web site.

Only 16 percent of small businesses have a 401(k) retirement plan, according to a recent article in “U.S. News & World Report”. The article, which quotes a survey done by financial services firm ING Direct, defines a small business as one with fewer than 50 employees. However, the article points out that small businesses, even those with a single employee, can still have a 401(k) plan.

More employers are expanding their 401(k) plans, according to an Association Press article on msnbc.com. Companies are adding features such as automatic enrollment, more investment options and increased matching contributions in an effort to meet employee demand.

The intricacy of preparing for retirement can make both genders today anxious, especially in today’s market. However, in a recent article on CNNMoney.com, women should be compelled to save more and retire later than men, mainly because they live longer. According to a study, women live an average of 22 years after retirement versus 19 years for men. And while women may not earn as much money as men and are more likely to be in and out of the workforce during their career, the biggest concern is that their gender isn’t saving early enough in life for their retirement. According to a study, these factors have resulted in women’s median retirement income to be just 58% of men’s.