Retirement Watch Weekly
An Easy Way To Beat Most Other Investors
Simplify your investment portfolio and your returns will increase. That’s part of the philosophy behind our investment approach, especially our Core Portfolios. Most investors own too many assets. Many others complicate investing by trying to decide the best time to buy and sell. The result often is that they neither buy nor sell – or […]
Strategies to Reduce Alternative Minimum Tax
This year for the first time Renee and I were hit by the alternative minimum tax. A large capital gain, over which we had no control, triggered this tax and increased our bill. Many of you recently had the same experience, and many others will in the next few years. More people will pay this […]
When To Begin Social Security?
Big changes are coming to Social Security. I don’t mean anything Congress or the President might do. These changes were put in place in the 1980s and are just taking effect. These changes affect the retirement of everyone who won’t begin receiving Social Security benefits by the end of 2002 and will influence when people […]
Pros and Cons of Joint Ownership of Assets for Estate Planning
Joint title is perhaps the most common form of Estate Planning. Lawyers often call it a “will substitute” and “the poor man’s will.” Unfortunately, joint title is not the best option for many people. In fact, it can be a bad option. Joint title can add risk and also can increase taxes on capital gains, […]
Low-Cost Estate Planning Ways To Get Your Grandkids Started
Mutual funds and brokers are making it more difficult to put your grandchildren on the road to wealth with a modest initial investment and small regular additions. Fortunately, there still are ways to build a modest sum into a meaningful legacy. Suppose you open an investment account with $1,000, add $50 each month for 10 […]
How to Keep Prospering in Retirement?
We were safety-first investors before it was trendy, and it has paid off. I’ve noticed that recent ads for financial service companies emphasize diversification, balance, and safety. Meanwhile, media stories have started focusing on income, valuations, and long-term stability. It is a little late, but we’re happy to welcome them to the club. Over two […]
Changes in Homeowner’s Insurance
Natural disasters and terrorism affect more people than realize it. One way almost all of us are paying for these events is through homeowner’s insurance. Those who don’t learn about recent changes and adapt to them risk paying more for insurance. More importantly, many homeowners are now unwittingly underinsured. Problems for insurers started with Hurricane […]
Maximize Your Interest Deductions
Most of us prefer to be debt-free. If you do borrow, a loan against your home often is the least expensive debt. A mortgage also maximizes interest deductions, which further reduces the cost. Borrowers need to learn a few tricks to boost cash flow and to avoid some traps set for unwary taxpayers. There are […]
