Retirement Watch Weekly
Estate Planning for Singles (with and without Kids)
A perusal of Estate Planning literature gives the impression that every senior in America is part of a married couple with two or more kids. We know that is not true, and those who do not fit the profile need estate planning guidance at least as much as the stereotypical couple does. Unmarried estate planning […]
The Roth IRA Opportunity
Roth IRAs are one of the best tax-advantaged investment vehicles. Right now they are available to only taxpayers with incomes below certain levels. In a couple of years, all investors will be able to take advantage of this opportunity by converting traditional IRAs into roth iras. Those whose incomes make them ineligible for Roth IRAs […]
How to Beat the Retirement Tax Ambush
The days of tax advantages for retirees are long gone. In the old days, most people could count on being in a lower tax bracket in retirement than during their working years. Now, many people stay in the same tax bracket. For other retirees the marginal tax rate (the rate on the last dollar of […]
Increase Annuity Income by 20%
Fixed annuities or immediate annuities can make a portfolio last longer. They can provide steady income for life and smooth the portfolio; it won’t be as subject to fluctuations from market activity. Annuities are not all the same. Yields and rates of return vary considerably. Insurers have different investment experience, life expectancy assumptions, and expenses. […]
March 2008
March 24, 2008 01:00 p.m. Finally, a Bottom? There have been several false bottoms in the markets since the mortgage and credit crises began in August 2007. Last week’s holiday-shortened market action looks more positive than the previous bottom attempts. It was accompanied by several prominent forecasts that we had reached a bottom, including a […]
What If Your Broker Goes Broke
Investors suddenly are concerned about something they haven’t considered for years: That their securities broker might go out of business. The credit and mortgage crises revealed that some brokers are more exposed to subprime mortgages than their customers realized. Merrill Lynch was a big player and took substantial write downs of its assets. E*Trade has […]
February 2008
February 24, 2008 03:00 p.m. A Digest of Analyses and Forecasts This past week I was treated to a range of presentations by a number of top investment professionals. You haven’t heard of many of them, but they are well regarded and worth listening to. I attended a seminar in Stamford, Connecticut and also heard […]
Handling Retirement Financial Surprises
Financial surprises in Retirement can blow a hole in your plans. Particularly for early retirees, surprises are very damaging to well-laid plans. The scenario occurs with frequency. A couple diligently worked up a detailed plan that covered all the expenses of their desired lifestyle. They ventured into retirement secure in the belief that they were […]
