Retirement Watch Weekly
Simple Estate Planning Strategies to Shield Assets
Lawsuits, accidents, and other unexpected events can put personal assets at risk of loss. Many people seek ways to protect their assets from lawsuits and creditors. While there are expensive asset protection packages offered by various finance professionals, there are much simpler ways to protect most assets that should be implemented before considering the more […]
How Markets Affect Estate Planning Strategies
In our visits the last couple of months we discussed how declining asset markets and interest rates affect estate planning. Since then, treasury interest rates appear to have hit a bottom. It is time to look at a few strategies that will produce greater tax benefits when interest rates are higher. Some estate planning strategies […]
Unitrusts and Your Estate Plan
Once upon a time all trusts were annuity trusts or income trusts. As the economy and markets changed, these trusts failed to meet their creators’ goals and often caused problems. To solve the problems, the unitrust was created. Like all financial planning solutions, the unitrust is good but not the tool for all situations. Estate […]
Finding Higher Returns with Low Risks – Equity Indexed Annuities
Market volatility and uncertainty spur the search for investment alternatives. Index fund investors broke even or lost money the last 10 years, depending on what the markets did in the latest week. Investors need their portfolios to grow if they are to meet retirement goals, but many investors want to avoid the risks and volatility […]
Reverse Mortgages Coming of Age
Reverse mortgages are booming. The number of reverse mortgages issued is growing at a rapid rate (though the actual number still is fairly small), and mortgage options available are increasing. More options give older homeowners more potential benefits but also increase the potential to make mistakes. The industry’s preferred term for reverse mortgages is Home […]
Should You Take that Early Retirement Offer?
With the economy slowing more people have to face one of work life’s more difficult issues: Should the early retirement offer be accepted? Evaluating the value and merits of a buyout offer can be difficult, because the offer contains many parts. Here is a summary of key points to consider when a buyout offer is […]
Trustee Strategies for the 21st Century
Trusts are part of more and more estate plans. Often trusts are used to hold and manage assets for younger generations. Sometimes the beneficiaries are too young or inexperienced to manage the assets. Other times the older generation is afraid the younger generation might not resist the temptation to spend direct gifts of the property. […]
How Market Fluctuations Create Estate Planning Gifting Opportunities
Few people realize changes in the markets and economy affect estate plans. The changes create opportunities. Strategies that were not viable or were borderline in the past will preserve more wealth today. When the markets or interest rates change significantly, it is a good idea to meet with an estate planner and take a fresh […]
