Retirement Watch Weekly
High Inflation and Interest Rates on the Way? The Impact of an Aging Population
This paper argues that the low global inflation since the early 1980s is partly due to demographic changes. In particular, a growing global labor market kept a ceiling on wages, which kept a ceiling on prices. It also increased productivity. Those trend of a growing global labor market is reversing. Therefore, over the next few […]
How to Navigate the “Kiddie Tax”
Shifting assets and income to your children and grandchildren can provide many benefits, including tax benefits. That’s why Congress set up hurdles to keep you from enjoying all the potential tax benefits. When planning gifts of investments to your loved ones, be aware of the kiddie tax. This tax was created in 1986 to reduce […]
The Fed Makes another Historic Move
The markets are hoping and expecting that the Fed’s next moves will be boring. Investment markets largely were controlled by central banks from the time the Fed began its “extraordinary measures” in 2009 until it ended quantitative easing in 2014. In quantitative easing, the Fed purchased securities in the open market to inject cash into […]
A Long-Term Care Update
Here’s a video and article from Morningstar.com that gives an overview of the long-term care insurance market. It’s a big picture view that’s a refresher for Retirement Watch readers. But it has useful information. A recent example–in 2016, the federal government, for the long-term care policies that it was offering to federal government employees, those […]
Where to Look for the Next Stock Market and Financial Crisis
This article argues that Silicon Valley is more likely to be the source of the next financial crisis than Wall Street. The author believes all those new financial technology startups have been great for many individuals and small businesses, but they aren’t being careful enough. He thinks they’ll be the source of the next crisis. […]
How to Create an Estate Planning Strategy with an 8 Step Checklist – Part 2
Last week, we began our 8-point Estate Planning Checklist, including how to handle your will, and avoiding Probate. Today we’ll complete the checklist, starting with… Powers of attorney. You need these documents before you have a will, because you’re likely to become disabled or need help managing affairs before you pass away. There are two […]
Taxes and Investment Returns
The amount you keep after taxes is what counts, as this article makes clear. It’s nice to make a good investment, but you have to manage the taxes as well as the investments. The article shows just how important taxes are to your returns. Failure to manage income taxes can reduce the life of your […]
Reviewing History’s Most Hated Bull Market
Here’s a big “thank you” to all of you who voted for “The New Rules of Retirement” as the best retirement book. Seniorhomes.com informed me that we were successful. Thanks to you, Seniorhomes.com named my book the winner. As a further thank you, I am providing what I hope is a highly useful weekly update. […]
