Retirement Watch Weekly
The Real Retirement Planning Problem
Our focus most of the time is on the financial aspects of retirement and planning for it. But there’s an ultimate goal involved. Yes, we want financial security and freedom. But the ultimate goal is to be happy or satisfied. That’s why periodically I report on surveys of people’s happiness and what makes people happy. […]
Evaluating Inflation-Adjusted Annuities
A lifetime stream of guaranteed income is a goal for many people. Even better is to have that income stream increase with inflation. You can have a lifetime stream of guaranteed income that increases with inflation. You must study the options, plan, and shop carefully. An immediate annuity is the prime way to receive guaranteed […]
February 2013
February 22, 2013 04:25 p.m. Your Retirement Finance Week in Review A couple of factors were at work in the markets this week. After opening the year with seven weeks of gains, including the strongest January since 1997, many investors were looking for a reason to sell. They got it with the release of the […]
Maximizing Spouses’ Social Security Benefits
Most people make the wrong decisions about their Social Security benefits and in doing so leave a lot of money on the table. Married couples have the most flexibility and options. When a couple coordinates their Social Security retirement benefits, they increase by tens of thousands of dollars the amount of lifetime income they receive. […]
Estate Planning for Your Legacy
There are no more excuses for procrastination and delay. The estate and gift tax law finally is set. There are no more temporary or expiring pro-visions or transition periods. People no longer can say they don’t want to incur the cost of Estate Planning that might have to be re-written in a few months because […]
Don’t Overlook Filing Gift Tax Returns for Your Estate Planning
You might need to file a gift tax return for your Estate Planning, even when no taxes are due. It might seem like a technicality, but the IRS penalizes people for not filing returns even when no tax was due. It’s been searching public records in some states, such as real estate title records, and […]
Avoiding Scams in 2013
You’re a target for scams and financial abuse. That’s a fact we all need to acknowledge. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your risk, and many of these steps are very easy to do and cost little or no money. Fraud and financial abuse are not the same thing. You know what fraud is. […]
Exploring the New Tax Law
You know that around New Year’s Day the crowd in Washington finally put agreed to a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, titled the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. In this visit we review the deal in detail. We start with a couple of provisions that haven’t received much media attention but are important […]
