Retirement Watch Weekly
April 2011
April 29, 2011 08:00 p.m. A Turning Point in the Economy The economy is nearing a turning point, and few investors seem to realize it. We’ve been expecting it for a while and have our portfolios well-positioned for it. But as the point draws near, we’re becoming more cautious with the portfolios. The sell signals […]
The New Focus on Estate Planning Beyond Just Taxes
Estate Planning isn’t dead, not by a long shot. Traditionally, for many people estate planning means estate tax reduction. They figure if their estates aren’t going to be hit with federal estate taxes, they don’t need a plan. Now, with estates up to $5 million ($10 million for married couples) exempt from the federal estate […]
Reviewing Gift Tax Return Estate Planning Basics
Your estate may need to file gift tax returns even when gift taxes aren’t due. The IRS is cracking down on failures to file gift tax returns, with help from state databases. The IRS is checking state records of real estate transfers and matching those with gift tax returns, or the lack of them. Over […]
Avoiding Key Medicare Traps
Every government program has its technical requirements and details. Make a mistake or overlook a key point, and you lose some benefits or pay a penalty. Medicare is no different, but the consequences of an error can be very expensive. Here are some frequent mistakes to avoid. Medicare wants you to sign up when you’re […]
Using an IRA to Build a Business
In this tough job market, more people are opting to start businesses instead of seeking employment. To help fund those businesses, they often look to their qualified retirement accounts (401(k)s and IRAs). It can be a great financing strategy, but it’s also one fraught with potential tax traps and that the IRS is closely examining. […]
Reducing Taxes for 2010 and Later
Here are some tax tips that can help with your 2010 income tax returns and your planning for 2011 and later. Those in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans probably know that under the Affordable Health Care Act the coverage gap, or doughnut hole, is being phased out. In 2010, members whose prescription drug costs […]
New Pension Options for Small Business Owners
Folks age 50 and over, especially small business owners, generally are playing catch-up with their retirement savings. Many self-employed and small business owners don’t know all the retirement plan options available to them to enhance their savings. That’s understandable. There are many pension plan options available, and several were created quietly by Congress over the […]
Reading the Stats on Long Term Care
There are a lot of misleading and incomplete statistics quoted about long-term care. You need the complete story to estimate your future LTC costs and establish a plan. A frequently-quoted statistic is that 50% to 70% of Americans over 65 will need some LTC. The key word is “some.” LTCI covers care required when a […]
