Retirement Watch Weekly
What Are the Four Basic Types of Wills?
A will is a legal document in which a person, known as the testator, sets forth his or her wishes on how to distribute an estate’s assets, pay debts, care for any minor children, donate to charity and perhaps other issues after the individual dies. It is a crucial part of any estate plan. The […]
What is a Will and Why Do I Need One?
A will is a legal document in which a person, known as the testator, sets forth his or her wishes on how to distribute an estate’s assets, pay debts, care for any minor children and perhaps other issues after the individual dies. Most often, the testator appoints one or more executors to administer the estate […]
What the Markets Are Telling Us About the Economy
Investment markets often tell us more about the economy than the economic data.These days, trends have changed before most of the standard economic data are reported. Plus, the data often are incomplete or based on estimates because so many businesses and government agencies have been fully or partially closed. The markets can give us a […]
Lining Up Your Cash Sources for the Next Emergency
Many people found they lacked a safe, reliable source of cash in March when investors became concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. Markets were falling. Businesses were closing. A credit crunch was spreading through the markets and the economy. The only option for many people was to raise the cash they needed to pay expenses by […]
The 2020 Election and Your Year-End Tax Planning
The 2020 election could have a significant effect on your finances over the next few years. There are actions you can take in the last quarter of this year to minimize your taxes now and over the next few years. I rarely write about politics and often caution against making major changes in your finances […]
2 New Cases Show Why Your Retirement Account Paperwork Needs to Be Done Right
Many people don’t take their IRA and 401(k) paper-work seriously enough, and that leads to terrible consequences. Here are two recent cases that will surprise and shock a lot of people. The first case involves an IRA owner who failed to notify the custodian that he moved. At least, the IRA owner’s new address didn’t […]
When You Can and Can’t Own Gold in an IRA
The price of gold recently reached new highs.Investors are looking for ways to profit from the gold rally. They’re seeing a lot of ads recommending they buy gold and silver through their individual retirement accounts (IRAs). You can own gold through your IRA, if you comply with the tax code’s limits. Not all gold investments […]
7 More Essential Trusts You Need to Know About
Trusts are vital to most estate plans, even plans of moderately valued estates. Trusts are likely to be more widely used in the coming years. Today’s generous estate tax exemption is slated to expire after 2025, and there is a good possibility that after this year’s election there will be a movement to reduce the […]
