Retirement Watch Weekly
Bob’s Journal for 7/3/19
Several interesting and important data points caught my attention this week and merit your attention. You might have seen reports noting that this month, the U.S. economy set a new record. The 121-month recovery since June 2009 is the longest period the economy has gone without a recession. The previous record was set from March […]
Bob’s Journal for 6/27
It is a good idea for investors to keep an eye on the market performance of semiconductor companies. I don’t recommend using only one indicator to assess where the market is likely to head, but the semiconductors have a good history of tipping us off to market and economic downturns. This makes a lot of […]
Why Portfolios Need More Diversification Now
We’re clearly in the late phase of the economic and investment cycle. The big debate is about how late we are in the cycle. The U.S. economy is past the cycle peak. Jobs are being created and workers are being hired at slower rates than a year ago. Corporate spending and investment are down. Industrial […]
A College Football Star Has Financial Lessons for Your Grandkids
Your children and grandchildren probably won’t take much financial advice from you. But a college football star might persuade them to save and invest. Christian Wilkins was a defensive lineman on Clemson’s national championship team and was the 13th pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Wilkins also […]
This Valuable Social Security Strategy Isn’t Closed Down Yet
A few million people still are eligible to use a Social Security benefits strategy that’s so valuable Congress banned it. But time is running out for them. The strategy is known as filing a restricted claim for benefits. It is available to married couples and some divorced people. Normally, when you file to claim Social […]
Interest Rate Trends Changed the Annuity Market and Created an Opportunity
Interest rates changed dramatically in little more than six months, and that’s changed the landscape for annuity shoppers. Payouts on immediate annuities, deferred income annuities (also known as longevity annuities) and fixed deferred annuities usually change with the interest rate on the 10-year treasury bond. Late in 2018, those annuities were offering their most attractive […]
Congress Plans to Kill the Stretch IRA, But You Can Do An End-Around
We’re nearing a critical time for many Individual Retirement Account (IRA) owners. Advance IRA planning will be imperative if you want to maximize the after-tax value of your IRA for heirs and avoid the new tax burden Congress has in mind. As I explained last month, despite the deadlock and division in Washington, the Setting […]
The Rich and Famous Estate Planning Mistakes Have Important Lessons For You
Celebrities and the very wealthy frequently make headlines with Estate Planning problems that provide important lessons for the rest of us. Their lifestyles might be different, but the rich and famous deal with as many estate planning issues as the rest of us. Here are some celebrities whose estates made headlines and what you can […]
