Baby Boomer Without A Retirement Portfolio

My mother, bless her heart, has “some” idea of how investing works. She has a basic idea of how compound interest works, but has no $ to put to it. She makes a small income enough to make ends meet at the end of each month. She knows that she SHOULD invest, but doesn’t know where – She is 55 and isn’t looking to retire before 70 as she just got back into the workforce 6 years ago after raising kids. So she doesn’t have a big nest egg waiting for her (Dad isn’t around) at the end of the day, nor a big income to be putting $ away.

I’m helping her out with a ROTH IRA because she can still draw from it not at the standard 59 1/2, but at 60; meeting the 5 year min requirement for a ROTH.But aside from that she mentions that she doesn’t or hasn’t ever had anyone talk to her about money. Most of the folks I know and associate with now have a better knowledge of the ins and outs of investing for sure.

Maybe it is that I came from a small town in the Pacific Northwest that didn’t have a lot of time to put into saving, much less investing. We were always eating boloney sandwiches and macaronis every other meal and didn’t have a lot of $ to put into anything else but sustainment – but Mom is learning, slowly but surely I guess. She’s no spring-chicken, but she’s far from an old dog – she can still learn a few tricks of the trade and I want to be able to help her along the way. Does anyone else have any ideas that can help a Baby Boomer that has 10k to her retirement name? I’m willing to help, and the best I can think of is a ROTH for now – other ideas?

Filed Under: Compensation • Emergency fund • House • Insurance • Investing • Net Worth • Portfolio • ROTH IRA • Real Estate • Retirement • Timeshare • advice