Retirement Watch Weekly
Why Life Insurance is An Important Tool in Estate Planning
After the 2001 tax law began a phaseout of the estate tax, many people concluded there was no longer a reason for life insurance and insurance trusts to be considered as part of an estate plan. Yet, there always were reasons to consider life insurance in plans, and there might be new reasons in the […]
Why You Must Plan Now to Escape Alternative Minimum Tax
More taxpayers than ever are paying the alternative minimum tax (AMT). If Congress does not act by the end of 2007, an estimated 25 million households will pay the AMT for 2007. Many of my readers are among those most likely to be snared in the AMT. Originally targeted at the very wealthy, the AMT […]
How to Maximize Medical Expense Deductions
Medical expense deductions are the elusive goal of many taxpayers. With higher medical expenses than others, retirees are the taxpayers most likely to be able to deduct their medical expenses. They can maximize those deductions by knowing the rules. The definition of deductible medical expenses is broad. Qualified medical expenses, however, can be deducted only […]
August 2007
August 27, 2007 11:00 a.m. When Will We Know It is Over? Investment markets had a good week and seem to be returning to what was normal a couple of months ago. Is the worst of the financial crisis over? What are the signs that it might be over? Last week things looked almost dire […]
The Safe Withdrawal Rate Revisited
The greatest retirement planning fear of most people is the possibility of outliving their money. One way to avoid that fate is to save a lot and invest well during the accumulation years. Those steps are widely discussed. Less attention is devoted to the second part of the retirement plan, the withdrawal phase. Gone are […]
The Estate Tax Marital Deduction – Dos and Don’ts
The marital deduction is perhaps the best-known estate tax reducer. It also is among the most misused planning devices. While powerful, the mari-tal deduction also can trigger higher taxes or other headaches. The marital deduction is straightforward. The estate executor totals the value of all assets owned by the deceased to arrive at the gross […]
Empty Nesters: Move or Remodel?
An as retirement approaches an important issue for empty nesters is what to do with the family home. The homeowners can move to a more suitable home, usually by downsizing into a smaller residence. The other choice is to remodel the home to make it more compatible with the new lifestyle. Often, remodeling was considered […]
Life Insurance: How Much Do You Need?
Few people own the right amount of life insurance, because there probably is truth in the adage that life insurance is sold, not bought. Most people avoid the topic until they have to address it. Those that do seek out life insurance often receive all their advice from one commissioned agents instead of from several […]
