Retirement Watch Weekly
Knowing When Not to Delay Social Security
Most people don’t delay Social Security retirement benefits. They begin benefits as soon as they are able to at age 62 or shortly thereafter. That’s one reason why I frequently explain the advantages of delaying benefits for at least one spouse in a married couple. Yet, there are two sides to this issue. There are […]
Another Family Business Fortune Destroyed
Quite often someone builds a successful business and it becomes a family business. At least some of the children are active in the business, and all or most of them have ownership interests. But such businesses often don’t make the transition to established, functioning institutions, and that’s because the founder or latest patriarch doesn’t properly […]
More on End of Life Care
The recent report from a panel selected by the Institute of Medicine is spurring some debate about end-of-life-care, powers of attorney, medical directives, and related topics. Here’s an article that summarizes some key points of the report but mostly explains how LaCrosse, Wisconsin was able to establish a program under which about 86% of its […]
Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
Kiplinger’s has sifted through state tax laws and come up with its list of the most tax-friendly states for retirees. You might find surprises. Florida, for example, only comes in 10th. The story also has a link to the 10 worst states for retirees. Be careful when using its list. It only covers how the […]
The Debate About Dying at 75
Earlier I linked to an article by Ezekiel Emanuel arguing that he doesn’t want to live beyond age 75. Here’s a response to Emanuel’s argument, making the case that it is desirable to live longer and that Emanuel probably doesn’t appreciate many aspects of his life today. It is easy for me to see how […]
When Should Children Inherit from Trusts?
Many people put their money in trusts because they know their children or grandchildren aren’t ready to directly control the wealth. The question they struggle with is when money should be released from the trust directly to the beneficiaries. Here’s a succinct summary of the factors that show a person is ready to inherit wealth. […]
Changes to End of Life Health Care
A panel appointed by the Institute of Medicine issued a report recently calling for major changes in end-of-life health care in the U.S. The report says that the current system is broken, leading it to cost far too much while not giving patients the care they really need or want. Its basic assertion is that […]
Buy-and-Hold Investing Mistakes
Most investors trade too much. They’d be better if by changing their investments less frequently. But buy-and-hold investors also are prone to mistakes. This article identifies several key mistakes to avoid. I’d also add that many buy-and-hold investors don’t understand the importance of low correlations between their investments if they want the benefits of diversification. […]
