Retirement Watch Weekly
Wills and Estate Planning: 6 Reasons Why your Will is Critical to Your Estate Plan
One of the most important tasks you undertake is to create an estate plan to ensure you’re taken care of for the rest of your life and then distribute your assets and provide for your loved ones after you die. A primary component of an estate plan is a will. It is crucial to outline […]
IRS Revises Tax Amounts for 2020, Issues New Rules on Gift Tax Exemption
The IRS announced the annual inflation increases for various tax provisions as of January 1, 2020. The lifetime estate and gift tax exemption is increased to $11.58 million (from $11.4 million). A couple can jointly exempt $23.16 million from estate and gift taxes. The annual gift tax exclusion remains $15,000 for 2020. The standard deduction […]
Update on SECURE Act
There hasn’t been much activity in Congress, so the Stretch IRA has survived a little longer. The Stretch IRA is on the verge of being eliminated by the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. The bill rolled through the House of Representatives by a 417 to 3 vote in May. Since then, […]
The IRS Proposed Regulations Won’t Solve Your RMD Problems
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are the bane of many IRA owners. The IRS recently issued proposed regulations that reduce the pain somewhat, but not a meaningful amount for those with significant IRAs. You need to consider other actions to solve the RMD problems. IRA owners older than age 70½ must begin taking RMDs no later […]
Mastering the Nuts and Bolts of Living Trusts
Many people, perhaps most people, have living trusts as part of their estate plans. Yet, the communications I receive indicate that the workings of living trusts are a mystery to most people. Living trusts, also known as revocable living trusts, are a key element of most estate plans, because the assets held in a living […]
The Fed’s New Paradigm and Your Retirement Finances: Investment and Economic Review December 2019
In my new Retirement Watch Spotlight Series, I’ll share my newest breakthrough strategies for protecting your assets and growing your portfolio, including how to prepare for the next market downturn. Click here now to learn more. […]
Bob’s Journal for 12/12/19
Some Notable Events Grabbed My Attention This Week I’ve frequently warned my readers to ignore the noise that dominates so much of the financial media. I’ve also warned you to closely scrutinize stories when planning your investments and finances. Nobel Prize laureate economist Robert Shiller recently published a new book that makes the same points […]
Are We About to Repeat 2015-2016?
The big question for investors hasn’t changed. Will 2019-2020 be similar to 2015-2016, or will we slide into a recession? In 2015, the U.S. economy was so slow that several historically reliable indicators of an imminent recession were waiving red flags. The global economy was even weaker. By early 2016, global stock markets were falling […]
