Retirement Watch Weekly
Nuts & Bolts of Estate Planning
Most discussions of Estate Planning, including in this newsletter, focus on discrete topics and strategies. Once in a while, especially early in the year, it is good idea to step back and look at the broader picture. There are concepts and strategies common to every estate plan and estate owner. Use these concepts and strategies […]
When to Change Long-Term Care Insurance Policies
This could be an auspicious time for owners of long-term care insurance policies to consider upgrading or exchanging. While many people have not purchased the policies those who purchased them in the past should take a look at what is available. The biggest gripe of LTC policy owners is premium increases. There are a few […]
How Life Insurance has Turned Into a Valuable Hidden Asset
Most people do not use of all their assets. In fact, many people have assets they unaware of that could be exploited to better achieve their financial and personal goals. In this visit you are going to learn how recent changes have turned life insurance and insurability into very valuable hidden assets for some people. […]
Estate Planning for IRAs
Unique Estate Planning strategies are required for Individual Retirement Arrangements. Many people focus on how to build their IRA balances and how much to withdraw. The treatment of IRAs in estate planning often is overlooked. An estate plan for IRAs should answer these questions: What will be the estate tax and income tax bills? Who […]
How to Take Advantage of the 0% Tax Rate
We are finally here. It is 2008, the year the tax rate drops to 0% for some taxpayers on some types of income. We covered this tax break a couple of times over the last few years. In this visit we review who can take advantage of the 0% tax rate and the different strategies […]
The New Retirement Income Funds
The big financial services companies are heatedly competing for the assets of retiring Baby Boomers. In decades past these companies competed for the easy business of servicing those who need to accumulate capital for retirement. The firms emphasized convenience, cost, and growth potential. Things are more complicated as the Boomers begin to enter the draw […]
A Shrewd Look at Power of Attorney – Part 2
The Power of Attorney is an essential part of every estate plan, but few people understand it or give it much thought. Last month we discussed some details of POAs that help ensure your wishes are followed. This month we will look at a few more details of the documents with an eye toward protecting […]
A Fresh Look at Family Limited Partnerships
Family limited partnerships have been a key element in many estate plans, and that is why they have been targets of the IRS for years. The tax law regarding FLPs has fluctuated, but there now are enough court cases decided to develop a road map for securing the benefits of an FLP. An FLP is […]
