Retirement Watch Weekly
Critical New Trends in Long-Term Care
Many people do not realize that long-term care insurance has been a mainstream product only since the 1980s. It still is evolving, and insurers are learning more all the time. Also, there are dramatic changes occurring in the population and in medical care that affect the pricing and terms of long-term care insurance. In this […]
The Coming Wave of Scams
The headlines seemed to be filled with investment frauds and scams. Bear markets tend to reveal Ponzi schemes and other frauds. But do not get the impression the scams are only a product of the bull market. Tough times tend to produce more scams than good times, because people are more desperate for help. The […]
Making the Business Last Generations
What is the key to making a family business last beyond the first generation? If you are a business owner you likely are familiar with the statistics that only a small percentage of businesses last much beyond the first generation, and a tiny percentage make it through the second generation to the third. The fate […]
Why to do Year-End Tax Planning Now
It could be profit-able for you to make a traditional year-end tax planning move early this year. Waiting could reduce a significant tax planning benefit. Usually I tell you to use the last quarter of the year to go through your portfolio and consider selling assets in your taxable accounts that have paper losses. Tax […]
Write Offs from Renting a Home
After deciding it makes economic sense to rent your old home or vacation home instead of selling it (see last month’s visit), learn the tax rules. Structure your rental activity so the rental income is at least partially tax sheltered. The amount of your tax deductions depends on how the rental property is used. When […]
How to Use the Annuity Ladder for Higher Security
Immediate annuities can enhance retirement financial security. They are not perfect, but some of their disadvantages can be reduced by purchasing annuities using an annuity ladder. When hearing “annuity,” most people think of variable annuities or deferred annuities. The immediate annuity (IA) is a very different vehicle. Regular payments begin soon after the IA is […]
April 2009
April 30, 2009 03:00 p.m. Contracting Less First, for those who are interested in more details about the Bernard Madoff scam, the most details to date have been published by Fortune online. The article indicates Madoff was not acting alone but says there is no evidence is family was involved. You can read the article […]
Be Ready for Big Estate Tax Changes
The estate tax is due to expire after the end of 2009. Control of Congress and the White House have changed since that law was enacted, so it is a safe bet the estate tax won’t be allowed to expire. Congress might be too preoccupied with other matters to agree on the details and extend […]
