Retirement Watch Weekly
The Fed, China and More Upset the Markets
The global economy and investment markets are being roiled by policy actions in the three largest economies. Japan is the third-largest economy and the largest nondomestic holder of U.S. Treasury bonds, when both private and public sector holdings are considered, owning $1.3 trillion in treasuries. The Bank of Japan continues to try to stimulate its […]
Don’t Let the IRS Take Your Charitable Contribution Deductions
Congress is making it harder and harder to deduct charitable contributions. Know the latest rules so the IRS won’t be able to deny tax breaks for your charitable donations. The increase in the standard deduction in the 2017 tax law means you have to give more to receive a tax break. You deduct charitable contri- […]
Straight Talk About Long-Term Care
Some of the greatest fears about retirement concern long- term care (LTC). Many people worry the need for LTC will deplete their nest eggs and reduce or eliminate the leg- acy left for loved ones. Though they worry about LTC, many people don’t want to talk about it, much less plan for it. One of […]
What the SECURE Act, New IRS Regs Mean for Spouses Who Inherit IRAs
Surviving spouses need to know the special options and opportunities they have when inheriting IRAs, 401(k)s and similar retirement accounts so they’ll maxi- mize the after-tax value of the accounts. Retirement accounts often are among the most valuable assets in- herited. Making the wrong decision with an inherited retirement account can trigger thousands of dollars […]
What Spouses Need to Know About Portability of the Estate Tax Exemption
Many people have heard that the “portabili- ty” rule essen- tially doubles the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption for married couples, but most people don’t know important details about how the rule works. Before portability was created in 2010, the lifetime estate and gift tax exemption was a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. When one spouse’s estate […]
The Checklist of Estate Planning Essentials
Improving the estate plan is a top concern for more people these days for several good reasons. The pandemic showed many peo- ple that delaying estate planning isn’t a good idea. The aging of the Baby Boomers naturally increases the number of people who know it is time to button down their plans. Also, various […]
Bob’s Journal for 5/19/22
Capture Safe 9.62% Yield Now The best deal in the investment world continues to be Series I Savings Bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury (known as I bonds). A new I bond purchased today will carry a yield of 9.62%. You can buy I bonds at this rate through October 22, 2022. The bonds carry […]
The Estate Plan Questions Your Spouse & Children Must Be Able To Answer
Most estate plan failures aren’t due to flaws in the documents or the strategies. A high percentage of plans fall short of their goals, and it’s often because the people implementing them didn’t have all the information they needed. You see, an estate plan covers more than the property you leave to others. It covers […]
