Retirement Watch Weekly
Types of Trusts and Reasons for Using Them
Trusts are not used primarily for reducing taxes any more. And trusts are not only for the wealthy. The non-wealthy are more financially sophisticated and have more wealth than in the past. The non-wealthy turned to trusts in recent years and for reasons other than tax reduction. In this part of the visit, we’ll review […]
Estate Tax Still in Limbo, Estate Planning Might Need Adjusting
Congress still is struggling in its attempts to make some sort of estate tax permanent. The current law will eliminate the estate tax in 2010 but restore the pre-2002 tax law in 2011. Without a change that means in a few years a large number of middle class estates will pay significant estate taxes. Attempts […]
Should You Keep Your Mortgage or Pay it Off?
A home is the most valuable asset owned by most Americans. A key and confusing financial issue for many is how to manage the home equity. Proper management of the equity can increase net worth and enhance one’s life style. Managing home equity means determining the trade off between a mortgage and unencumbered home equity. […]
Estate Planning Mistakes – How to Avoid Mismanagement of Inheritance by Heirs and Beneficiaries
Many estate plans ultimately fail. The problems are not with the plans. The owners spent a fair amount of time and money preparing and executing the plans. The problem with many estate plans is the final stage. The heirs are not prepared to receive the wealth. So they mishandle it. Or they did not know […]
How To Avoid Costly IRA Mistakes
Though set up to help regular people save, IRAs are fraught with complicated tax rules. Missteps can be made without the owner knowing it until it is too late to correct the problem. The result often is higher taxes and penalties. Sometimes the result is reduced IRA options. Here are some little-known but very common […]
Discount Brokers: Changes and Updates
Changes have been sweeping the world of discount and mutual fund brokers. Just a few years ago the brokers were re-trenching and, in many cases, chasing away customers they considered unprofitable. Higher fees and minimums were the order of the day. Those trends are reversed at most discount brokers, and additional changes are occurring. One […]
How to Put Together a Disaster Recovery Document Kit for your Estate Plan
The 2005 hurricane season caused many people to focus on an issue that had seemed remote. But millions of people realize they are more vulnerable to disasters than they had thought. A surprise to many people is that the potential damage to their persons and property is not the only concern. Personal information and documents […]
Factors to Consider when Using Home Equity as a Retirement Fund
Is home equity the mainstay of your retirement fund? Apparently it is for a number of people. Both anecdotal evidence and some consumer surveys indicate that a number of Baby Boomers plan to “retire on the house.” The plan is especially prevalent along the coasts and in resort areas. These are the areas in which […]
