The absence of universal automatic portability, or transferring balances between retirement plans upon changing jobs, is among the primary obstacles to consistent retirement saving.

A Roth IRA conversion allows you to transfer funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, but you must pay taxes on the converted amount upfront while benefiting from tax-free withdrawals later.

Learn the 401(k) early withdrawal penalty rules, exceptions and smart ways to avoid taxes and fees so you can protect your ...