Retirement Watch Weekly
Monitoring Converted IRAs
In 2010 a record number of traditional IRAs were converted into Roth IRAs. Financial services firms report a stampede of IRA owners rushed to convert in December. Now, it’s time for the next stage. Those of you who converted shouldn’t completely move on to other matters. You should monitor converted IRAs and re-evaluate whether you […]
Overcoming the Fear of Financial Advice
People need financial advice. People don’t trust financial advisors. That’s the unfortunate conundrum facing most Americans these days. Americans now are responsible for much of their support during their post-career years. Employer-provided pensions and medical expense reimbursements are fading into the past. Even those who retire with those benefits should expect them to be reduced […]
March 2011
March 23, 2011 10:45 a.m. Cohen & Steers Preferred Securities & Income In the April 2011 issue I recommended purchasing Cohen & Steers Preferred Securities & Income. Some of you report that you are unable to buy the fund through your preferred broker. Others want an alternative in your current mutual fund group. Here’s what […]
Changing Your Estate Planning Strategy Under the New Tax Law
One of the major surprises in the December 2010 estate tax law is known as portability. Under the old law (and the law that is scheduled to return in 2013 if Congress doesn’t act before then) each person had a lifetime estate tax exemption with a use-it-or-lose-it feature. If your estate didn’t use all your […]
Do You Want a Private Pension Plan
Immediate annuities solve the problem most people say is their biggest fear: outliving their money. Buy an inflation-adjusted immediate annuity and you ensure the lifetime stream of income retains its purchasing power for the rest of your life. Yet, sales of immediate annuities are low among those who are in the age group of likely […]
The Working Retirement
For a long time, the average retirement in the U.S. steadily declined. It started to rise again around 2000, and in recent years many people below retirement age said they planned to work after age 65. The number of people who said they planned to delay retirement rose after the 2000-2002 bear market and rose […]
February 2011
February 25, 2011 04:45 p.m. Gundlach, Gross and More Events in North Africa and the oil markets dominated the last week’s news. Our portfolios have held up well because of their diversification and hedging, so we don’t need to make adjustments until we get a better idea of how events will play out longer term. […]
Benefiting from the New Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages received several changes in the last six months or so. The changes make the mortgages more attractive in general and, unlike in the past, they can make some sense for relatively short-term cash needs. In a reverse mortgage, the homeowner with little or no mortgage on his home receives a loan. The loan […]
