Retirement Watch Weekly
A “Defective” Trust That Saves You Money
Sometimes when Congress closes one tax loophole it creates another. This is especially likely when Congress doesn’t coordinate the income and estate tax sections of the law. That’s how complicated the tax law is. And it opens up an opportunity for you with “grantor trusts.” A grantor trust in the income tax law is one […]
An Important Supplement to a Living Will
A document that is an essential element of every estate plan is one that gives directions for health care when you are unable to make decisions. Many people say they want to die with dignity and without running up a lot of costs for futile health care, sometimes called “heroic efforts.” But your wishes in […]
How To Do Good And Save Big On Taxes
For last-minute tax deductions, your best move these days often is to make charitable contributions. Whether you sold a business or investment or just have more income than expected, charitable contributions are a great way to bring taxes down. But you have to be careful. Charitable contribution deductions are such attractive tax reduction devices these […]
New Rules Help IRAs Last For Decades
New rulings from the IRS make it easier to preserve your IRA for a generation or more. Your children and grandchildren can use tax deferral even longer, and IRAs can be customized for each heir. But you have to take action to benefit from these rulings, and you should leave instructions for your heirs. Otherwise, […]
How To Really Beat Index Funds
Have you given up trying to beat the stock market indexes? Are you tired of actively-managed funds that tarnish their sterling performance records as soon as you invest? If so, you might be thinking of putting some or all of your stock investments in index funds. But why settle for only index fund returns? You […]
Strategies for Year End Tax Savings
Tax planning always is trickiest for senior Americans. And it will be especially tricky this year. The tax law has a number of traps designed specifically to get seniors. The biggest trap is the tax on those Social Security benefits that used to be tax-free. If your adjusted gross income exceeds $32,000 ($25,000 for single […]
Is A Paid Up House Right For You?
Not too long ago, debt was an asset. With high tax rates and deductible interest, debtors bore only a small portion of the interest expense. And with inflation high, it made sense to buy an appreciating asset with debt and pay back the debt with dollars that declined in purchasing power each year. The best […]
What A Will Can And Cannot Do
A will is one of the simplest yet most powerful documents you can write. A will can decide what happens to valuable property, even billions of dollars worth. It can decide who becomes the guardian of minor children, who controls a business or other entity, and how much of your wealth goes to the government. […]
