When it comes to securing your retirement, you need to take stock of all your needs. Any adviser you hire should do the same.

Question: I’m a 56-year-old teacher and my husband recently passed away. I don’t own a home or have a pension or any investments, but I will receive a considerable sum from my husband’s life insurance policy. My question is how should I invest this money? A financial adviser at my credit union wants me to put it into a variable annuity, but I’ve heard that this type of annuity is good only for the person selling it. What should I do? –Val, California Continue reading →