Retirement Watch Weekly
Taking IRA Distributions in 2012
Every IRA owner needs to consider IRA Distributions and changes in 2012, regardless of your age. The tax law and potential changes require everyone to take a hard look at their situation and consider moves to make in 2012 and beyond. Anyone who was age 70½ or older in 2011 needs to take required minimum […]
Income Tax Planning for 2012-2013
It’s time to sharpen your pencils or tighten up your spreadsheets. Income tax planning for 2012 and 2013 is likely to be more important and trickier than in the previous few years. Key provisions expired at the end of 2011. Others expire at the end of 2012. New provisions are kicking in. And Congress could […]
New Tax Rules for Investment Sales
There are new forms and rules for reporting some capital gains and losses in 2011 and following years. For sales of stock purchased after Jan. 1, 2011, on Form 1099-B brokers report the cost basis as well as the sale proceeds. For stock purchased before 2011, only the proceeds are reported. Also reported is whether […]
February 2012
February 25, 2012 04:50 p.m. Your Retirement Finance Week in Review The big news this week came largely from overseas. One action that didn’t receive enough attention was from China. It decided to engage in another major round of its version of quantitative easing. That shows that China’s economy is slowing more than many observers […]
Estate Planning to Protect Assets, Heirs with a QTIP Trust
The marital deduction is a widely used, but often misused, Estate Planning tool. It’s powerful, but it also can create problems and headaches when not used properly. Here’s how to achieve your goals while avoiding the minefield of potential marital deduction problems. The marital deduction is simple and has two advantages. Under the estate […]
The Importance of Updating Your Trusts for Estate Planning
Trusts are one of the most important Estate Planning tools. They’re not only for the very wealthy, as we’ve discussed in past visits. When everything isn’t done right and kept up-to-date, however, a trust can cause more problems than it overcomes, especially for heirs. Financial advisors are spending a lot of time resolving problems with […]
Reducing 2011 Taxes Reduces 2013 Medicare Premiums
Your 2011 income taxes can affect the level of your 2013 Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, even if you’re not currently a Medicare beneficiary. Higher-income beneficiaries pay higher premiums, with the premiums rising as income rises. Modified adjusted gross income of a Medicare Beneficiary from two years earlier determine their premiums. There are […]
The New Looks in Homeowners’ Policies
Homeowner’s insurance is under-going major changes. You can’t take for granted important details about your homeowner’s insurance policy, and you can expect premium increases soon and probably over the next few years. The good news is you could receive a much higher level of service at little additional cost. Insurers are under a lot of […]
