Retirement Watch Weekly
When It Pays to Mix IRAs and Annuities
There are many strategies to consider when it is time to take distributions from an IRA. In this visit we are going to cover two unique strategies that combine annuities with IRAs. Generally it is not a good idea to mix annuities and IRAs, because the annuity and IRA both have tax deferral. There often […]
Evaluating Investment Life Insurance
The bear market in traditional assets has investors in search of different ways to invest their savings. One strategy investors are trying, if sales figures are an indication, is to invest through life insurance policies. Investment life insurance is nothing new. It was widely-used from after World War II through the 1980s. As the stock […]
Taxes and Gold Investments
All the money the Federal Reserve has pumped into the economy is not leading to higher prices yet. Fed officials say they will be able to withdraw the excess liquidity before it leads to inflation. If so, it could be the first time a central bank successfully made such a reversal. Investors are concerned the […]
June 2009
June 26. 2009 10:00 a.m. Highlighs from the Week I don’t usually comment on Federal Reserve’s actions or the statements that go along with its policy announcements. But this week’s announcement is worth a note. While the statement is very similar to the last statement, it definitely is more cautious and even pessimistic about the […]
Estate Planning Basics for Everyone
Now, only the very wealthy have to worry about Estate Planning. Many Americans are starting to think that way. Congress will not let the estate tax expire in 2010. Instead, it is likely to enact a permanent law with an exemption equal to or exceeding 2009’s $3.5 million level. To many people that means their […]
Changes Coming to Medicare Advantage Plans
The Medicare Advantage plans have been one of the more popular innovations in Medicare. Enrollment is up to 10.5 million, from only 5.4 million in 2005. But these plans will see some changes later this year, and that could increase costs or decrease benefits for enrollees. Traditional Medicare is a fee for service program that […]
May 2009
May 27, 2009 03:45 p.m. Don’t Worry About Missing Out U.S. stock indexes are about 40% above their lows of March 9. Many international markets, especially emerging markets, have returned even more. Many investors are becoming impatient to join the markets and capture whatever is left of the rally. I hope they will refrain from […]
The Four Goals of Legacy Estate Planning
Over the years we stressed to our members that Estate Planning is about much more than taxes. For many decades, people believed estate planning and estate tax planning were the same thing. That was understandable when the lifetime estate tax exemption was $600,000. Many “modest millionaires” who considered themselves middle class would be hit by […]
