Retirement Watch Weekly
Estate Planning for Your Funeral and Burial Arrangements?
The post-mortem activities involving baseball great Ted Williams spotlight an issue that rarely is discussed. Who has the final say on the funeral and burial arrangements? Most of you will recall that after Ted Williams passed away, his son apparently had the body flown to a firm in Arizona, where the body was frozen in […]
The New World Of Mortgages
Mortgage rates still hover near their lowest levels in decades. That keeps refinancing near the top of many lists-of-things-to-think-about. If you are one of the millions thinking of refinancing a mortgage, you should know that the rules of the mortgage market changed in the last few years. Until recently, refinancing didn’t make sense unless current […]
How College Saving Plan Can Enhance Your Estate Planning
Section 529 college savings plans aren’t just for higher education. While great education planning tools they can be used as valuable Estate Planning tools, especially by grandparents. To ensure you and your family get the maximum benefit of these plans, don’t forget 529 accounts when drafting your estate plan. We’ve reviewed the advantages of 529 […]
Five Strategies for Underwater Investments
We’ve done better than most investors since the market peak in March 2000, including the most recent market decline. Even so, you still might own some underwater investments, especially in your Core Portfolio. For example, American Century Income & Growth has declined with the general market. These underwater investments can be used productively to minimize […]
Deductions For Diets?
The IRS surprised tax advisors and generated a lot of headlines last spring by expanding tax write offs for weight loss programs. In the past, the IRS had ruled that no part of the cost of weight loss programs was deductible. The new ruling reverses that, expanding the medical expenses that are potentially deductible by […]
How to Get The Best Deal on a Car
Car buying has changed dramatically. Not long ago, the route to a good deal on a car was simple. Find the manufacturer’s invoice price of a new car and offer enough above that to give the dealer a reasonable profit. For a better deal, wait to buy during the traditional sale season from November through […]
Estate Planning Strategies for Heirs and Inherited IRAs
IRAs are the most valuable assets in many estates, often exceeding the value of the family homes. Despite this, IRAs often don’t get the attention in estate planning that they should. Estate planning for IRAs requires more work and consideration than for most other assets. First, the IRA has to be fully integrated into your […]
Two Estate Planning Documents You Must Have
An estate plan might contain many documents. Estate plans that fail, however, often do so because of two key and often overlooked documents. Take care that these documents are in your estate plan and meet your needs. The first document to consider is the durable power of attorney. Most of us won’t ever use this document, […]
