Retirement Watch Weekly
Managing Changes in Reverse Mortgages
The reverse mortgage market was roiled over the summer. But there’s no reason for panic. Those who already have reverse mortgages won’t be affected, and those who want them in the future should have adequate options, perhaps more options than before. There are more changes on the way, however, and these will affect those who […]
Maximizing Tax-Free Gifts for Estate Planning
Stock prices are down. Real estate still is on the floor in many areas. Family members probably could use some financial help. The estate and gift tax exemptions are higher. Add those facts, and you find this is a great time to do spme Estate Planning and give away assets to loved ones, avoiding estate […]
The Estate Planning Tricks of Withdrawing Cash from 529 Plans
Tax-saving vehicles never are as straightforward as they seem. Section 529 college savings plans sometimes fall into that category. You need to consider a few Estate Planning tricks when taking distributions from the plans. The basics of 529 plans are simple. Anyone can put money in a plan for the benefit of someone else. There […]
Knowing When a Rollover Is for You
An important decision needs to be made when you leave an employer. It doesn’t matter if your leaving is due to retirement, taking a new job, or a layoff. You have to decide what to do with any retirement accounts at the employer you’re departing. The right answer varies from person to person. In this […]
The Right Way to Take a Lump Sum
Once you decide to roll over an employer plan to an IRA or new employer plan, you work isn’t finished. There are different ways to do the rollover, and you need to be sure it’s done right. One way to roll over an account is to have the plan make out a check to you. […]
Protecting Yourself from the Life Cycle of Scams
There are good reasons why the silver generation is the main target of financial abuse, and you don’t have to stand still for them. Outright frauds and scams aren’t the only source of financial losses for seniors. Too often, they pay too much or accept bad deals. Fortunately, after you understand why seniors are susceptible […]
How You Buy Gold Matters
It’s no secret that gold’s been rising rapidly. But not all investors who saw this coming and sought to profit from it are doing well. Some investors bought shares of gold mining companies or mutual funds that do the same. Normally, that’s a good move. The mining companies usually rise more than the price of […]
Time to Buy Stocks?
With stocks in a downdraft and well below recent highs, it’s time to consider the unthinkable question: Is this a good time to add to your stock positions? Let’s look at two pieces of data. The first is the net flows of mutual funds. Investors have been pulling money out of equity mutual funds for […]
