Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
Index funds are investment options that clients should consider to put in their IRA, according to this article on Motley Fool. When choosing an index fund, clients may want to opt for an index fund that follows small companies. For example, small companies in one index fund stand to boost their profitability because of the lower corporate tax rate under the new tax law.

Clients can expect lower income once their spouse passes away, so they should look for a strategy to maximize their Social Security benefit, according to this article on USA Today. For example, their marriage should have lasted at least nine months to claim survivor benefits. However, this does not apply if they have a child dependent or the spouse dies in an accident or while active military service.
Before heading to retirement, men need to know a few things to be able to enjoy the golden years, writes a Forbes contributor. For example, they should not expect other people to do things as efficiently as they do and they should make more friends to build a strong social support. Men should also consider their wives when planning for retirement and live an active lifestyle to remain fit and healthy.
People should fend off their fears about retirement and keep a positive view to enjoy their golden years, writes a retiree on Federal News Radio. With a sound financial plan, life after retirement has been productive and fulfilling, as it gives freedom to do things that were ignored before, such as traveling, writes the retiree. "When people ask me how I like retirement, my standard answer is 'If I knew how good retirement was going to be, I would have done it 35 years ago.'"
Entrepreneurs will be better off preparing for retirement early than reserving it for a later date, according to this article on Huffington Post. They are advised to open a Roth IRA or a Solo 401(k). They should also avoid retiring early and diversify their retirement portfolio by investing in real estate.