Retirement Watch Weekly
Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums Rise Again
This article reviews the latest survey of the market. It finds that premiums are rising (no surprise) and that more and more of those over age 50 aren’t purchasing because they believe the premiums are too high. But this tells only part of the picture. Many people are buying the hybrid annuities or life insurance […]
Staying Alert in This Transition Period
This is not the time to be complacent about the markets or our portfolios. There still are opportunities for safe, solid profits, but there also are potential problems ahead we need to keep on our radar screens. The economy is humming along. It is growing a little above capacity and at a faster rate than […]
Profiling Scam Victims: Who’s in Jeopardy?
Anyone can be caught in a financial scam, but some people are in greater peril than others. Importantly, the most vulnerable are not who most people would expect, especially the potential targets. A clear profile of the most likely financial fraud victims emerges from research over the last few years, including two recent projects conducted […]
Deducting Medical Expenses and Claiming Tax Benefits for Supporting Others
Households are a lot different than they used to be. You might be supporting adult children and your parents (or in-laws) or both. There also might be people who aren’t related to you by blood or marriage living in your home. You could be supporting or helping to support someone who doesn’t live with you, […]
Best and Worst Cities for Successful Aging
The Milken Institute’s rankings of localities is different from others directed at retirees. MI ranks areas based on successful aging. Unlike the others, it looks at a wide range of data that costs a lot to gather and process. It doesn’t focus on weather and activities, though those can be factors. A key distinction of […]
Leveraging Cash to Pay for Long-Term Care
New ways to plan for potential long-term care expenses continue to be developed. There are many more ways available to secure their own and their families’ financial independence than most people realize. We discussed in previous issues the problems traditional long-term care policies have had in the past. See our November 2012 issue, for example. […]
Trusts as IRA Beneficiaries: Reaping the Benefits, Avoiding the Pitfalls
There are many good reasons to name a trust as an IRA beneficiary. But there also are some hazards to avoid. Trusts can make an Inherited IRA last longer. Through the trust terms and appointment of the trustee, you control how much money is distributed to the trust beneficiaries. For example, the trust can retain […]
Why You Still Might Need Life Insurance
Your estate isn’t likely to be subject to the federal estate tax, so you don’t need life insurance. Right? Maybe not. Permanent life insurance was a mainstay of estate planning when even most middle class families faced the federal estate tax. It ensured taxes were paid and loved ones had a legacy. With estates valued […]
