Retirement Watch Weekly
February 2011
February 25, 2011 04:45 p.m. Gundlach, Gross and More Events in North Africa and the oil markets dominated the last week’s news. Our portfolios have held up well because of their diversification and hedging, so we don’t need to make adjustments until we get a better idea of how events will play out longer term. […]
Benefiting from the New Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages received several changes in the last six months or so. The changes make the mortgages more attractive in general and, unlike in the past, they can make some sense for relatively short-term cash needs. In a reverse mortgage, the homeowner with little or no mortgage on his home receives a loan. The loan […]
Updating Estate Plans for the New Tax Law
It’s time to pull out your estate plan, make an appointment with your planner, and begin a thorough review. Congress finally pass-ed a new estate tax last December, and each of us should revise our wills and other documents to reflect the changes. The changes are only for 2011 and 2012, but you need to […]
Protecting Wealth from the Silver Effects
Living to the far side of 50 increases the odds each of us will make financial mistakes, and the odds are much higher than most of us realize. Losses, both from mistakes and being victims of scams, are more likely because of changes in the brain, according to recent scientific research. Fortunately, you can take […]
Still More Changes in the New Tax Law
Congress passed a big tax law in late December 2010. We cover parts in this month’s Estate Watch and IRA Watch, and we reveal other key provisions here. – The big news is the individual income tax rates from 2010 are extended for 2011 and 2012. The tax tables will be indexed for inflation in […]
Slashing Costs While Protecting Your Property
The most neglected part of personal finance could be property and casualty insurance. It’s a close contest with disability insurance. Most people either overpay or are underinsured for homeowner’s and auto insurance. Some do both. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have enough coverage for liability, complete loss of your home, and damage […]
Managing IRAs for the Latest Changes
IRAs and other retirement accounts were changed by Congress’s last minute laws in December 2010. The changes included the extension of the Bush tax cuts and some other provisions and generally are positive for IRA owners. ? Among the provisions that were extended is the special treatment of charitable contributions from some IRAs. The provision […]
The Classic Retirement Oversight
There are two big mistakes many people make in their retirement (or post-career) planning. One is to underestimate inflation and its effects during your silver years. The other mistake is to underestimate life expectancy, or longevity. For example: A Society of Actuaries survey in 2005 found two-thirds of retirees underestimate the average life expectancy at […]
