How much do you really know about retirement benefits? If you’re like most Americans, it’s not that much. In fact, most of us have fairly poor “retirement literacy,” especially when it comes to the finer points of retirement benefits. 1 That may not seem like a big deal, but it can give rise to all sorts of landmines in the future, possibly derailing your retirement plans and goals. It could also impact your quality of...

A power of attorney (POA) can grant you certain authority and specific responsibilities. While the extent and limitations of POAs can vary based on many factors, stepping into the role of power of attorney can be unlike anything else. That’s because it puts you in the driver’s seat to make key decisions and oversee vital needs for someone else. That doesn’t mean that POAs come with carte-blanche powers or that one power of attorney will mirror another. Explaining how POAs work, this guide shares more fundamentals, detailing some common types of powers of attorney and the responsibilities you may have as an agent of one of these devices.