Retirement Watch Weekly
Which Life Insurance to Buy?
Most Americans are confused about life insurance. They admit this and aren’t doing anything about it. That is unfortunate, because changes in the life insurance industry are very favorable to insurance buyers. Let’s take a look at the traditional debate of term insurance vs. whole life insurance. Term insurance is a “life insurance only” policy, […]
Is it a Good Time to Shop for Life Insurance
Anyone who bought term insurance more than five years ago should consider shopping for a policy again. Because of much longer life expectancy and higher investment returns, premiums on term life insurance have declined significantly. In fact, over the past decade term premiums have declined by about 50%. Insurers also are being more generous in […]
Should you Stay in the 401(k) or Roll Over?
Handling the 401(k) balance at retirement once was an easy decision. In almost all cases, it made sense to have the balance rolled over into an IRA. Things are changing. New retirees might find it advantageous to stay with their 401(k) plans after retirement. There are many reasons to transfer out of the 401(k) plan […]
How to Shield Home Sale Gains from Taxes
Rising home prices raise a tax problem that many people have not worried about for years. To avoid paying high taxes on gains from home sales, home sellers need to keep track of the tax basis of their residences. Long-time homeowners, especially on the coasts and resort areas, have substantial home equity. The tax law […]
How to Make Your Portfolio Last Forever
Managing your assets as you roll into retirement is a lot different than it used to be. Or at least it should be. The days of rolling all your assets into bonds or CDs are over. Traditional retirement or financial plans make a number of simple assumptions. At retirement, the plans assume the retiree will […]
Biggest Retirement Mistake
Americans approaching Retirement remain mistaken about key aspects of retirement. Becauase of this, they risk going into their nonworking years with inadequate resources. Retirement could be full of surprises for a number of Baby Boomers. An annual survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute shows many Americans are confident about their retirement years. In the […]
6 Easy and Legitimate Ways to Protect Assets
Many people consider asset protection to be part of an estate plan. Protecting wealth from creditors, lawsuits, and other claims during life can be just as important as protecting it from taxes. A good plan also can protect assets from claims against your heirs. Assets can be protected without elaborate schemes that involve multiple levels […]
Should You Buy or Rent the Second Home
The real estate markets are changing, especially those in resort and vacation areas. Home prices streaked upward from 2000-2005, causing us to address the possible “housing bubble” several times in this newsletter. Those articles are on the web site Archive. Now, the forecasts we made the last few years are looking accurate. The hottest housing […]
