Retirement Watch Weekly
Bob’s Journal for 2/29
Artificial Intelligence Stocks Lead the Markets Stocks in general have had solid returns since November 2022, but artificial intelligence (AI) stocks are responsible for most of the returns of the major indexes. There are eight exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with investment strategies related to AI, and 67 stocks in the S&P 500 are in at least […]
Bob’s Journal for 2/22/2024
What the Key Inflation Indicators Are Saying Consumer price inflation is at or near the Fed’s target. Or is it? Economists and analysts debate the best way to measure inflation and argue over its true level. It is an important discussion today because investors’ inflation expectations fuel changes in interest rates and prices of stocks […]
Investors Still Are Misreading the Fed
For at least 15 years, investors erred when anticipating the Federal Reserve’s actions, and they’ve done it again. Futures markets tell us what investors anticipate. In 2021 and early 2022, interest rate futures indicated the Fed would cut rates. Yet, in 2022, the Fed executed the fastest increase in interest rates in at least 40 […]
Maximize the Legacy of Your Health Savings Account
The main benefits of a health savings account (HSA) are delivered during your lifetime. But an HSA also can build a legacy, and so it should be carefully considered as part of your estate plan. An HSA is not a use-it-or-lose-it account. You can name a beneficiary to inherit the account. When you don’t name […]
The Underused Retirement Planning Power of Health Savings Accounts
The most powerful retirement planning tool probably is the health savings account (HSA), but many people fail to take full advantage of its benefits. Use of HSAs is soaring. In 2022, there were more than 32 million HSAs holding about $100 billion, according to an estimate from Devenir, a firm that offers investment services to […]
Know The Few Times When RMDs Can Be Delayed
Sometimes required minimum distributions (RMDs) from qualified retirement plans don’t have to begin right after the owner reaches the required beginning age. The exceptions don’t apply to IRAs. You must take RMDs from traditional IRAs after your required beginning age. But the exceptions do apply to some qualified employer retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans. […]
How to Plan for the Largest-Ever IRAs and RMDs
The surge in stock and bond prices in late 2023 brought benefits but created tax problems for some IRA owners. Some IRA owners must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year. The year’s RMD is based on the IRA’s value on Dec. 31 of the previous year. The rise in stock and bond prices means […]
Your Home and Your Estate Plan: Sell It or Hold It?
Current income taxes aren’t the only factor to consider when deciding whether to sell a longtime residence or hold it for the rest of your life. In the February 2024 issue, we discussed how a gain from the sale of a home is taxed when sold by the owner who used it as a principal […]
