Keeping retirement in mind Whitney and Ben want to live the best life they possibly can together - now and forever. They've seen their own parents struggle to afford daily expenses after retirement and don't want to repeat their mistakes. So they're planning for retirement now and maxing out their 401(k) contributions while taking full advantage of their employer's 401(k) match program. They know the money they put away now has the most potential for growth so they can retire comfortably together.

Preparing for the future Having had to think only about themselves up until now, Whitney and Ben never considered life insurance. But they've vowed to take care of each other forever and know grieving is tough enough without falling into debt or losing the home where they will create their memories. To plan for the unexpected as best they can, they purchased a term life insurance policy. The payments fit their budget and the coverage will help the survivor pay expenses for things like their house and car if one of them were to pass away.

Saving for the near future Ben and Whitney have always wanted to go to Scotland, where Ben's family is from. They've decided to start saving now so they can go for their 10th anniversary. They researched their savings options and found investing in mutual funds is a good fit for them. Their money has better growth potential over the 10-year period, and they can manage the level of risk while a professional manages the actual investments. Plus, if they need the money for an emergency, they can withdraw it to cover expenses.

Saving for a college education It's expensive to send five children to college, and that's why Pam and Brad have already started saving. They've opened up five 529 college savings plans - one for each of their children. They can add to the plans anytime, use the money for colleges in most states and enjoy tax advantages. Plus, their extended families and friends can easily contribute to any or all of the plans.

Preparing for the future Pam and Brad know that with five children, daily expenses demand their combined income and simply wouldn't be feasible if one were to pass away. So they re-evaluated their term life insurance plans and increased the benefit amounts. The higher payouts would supplement the remaining income to help cover day-to-day expenses, pay off the house or continue their college plans. The monthly payments to increase their financial protection are a little more, but still affordable in their budget.

Saving for the near future If there's one thing any recently married couple knows, it's that weddings are expensive. With three girls, they've started saving by investing in mutual funds. They like how easy it is to open an account and how they can convert the funds into cash at any time without penalties. They understand there will still be taxes and some fees to consider, but the growth potential is much higher than with a savings account at their local bank. Now Pam and Brad can look forward to being parents of the bride again and again and again.

Keeping retirement in mind Kyle and Perry's dream is to move to the country for retirement. Knowing that means they'll continue to have a mortgage payment after they retire, they need a way to make sure they'll have extra income. They are researching annuity options to find one with an acceptable level of risk, growth potential and payout schedule that can help turn their dream into reality.

Preparing for the future Kyle and Perry want to be with each other forever. But in the event one of them passes, they would like to take care of each other financially, too. They want to be in control of where their money goes, so they've purchased two variable universal life insurance policies naming each other as the beneficiary. It offers potential lifetime protection, they choose and manage the investments in the policy, and they can even borrow (which reduces the death benefit) against the cash value while they are together to enjoy it.