Retirement Watch Weekly
Boosting Social Security Income
Most people begin taking Social Security retirement benefits at the wrong time. The decision can cost them and their survivors quite a bit of money over their lifetimes. It’s not surprising. Several factors must be considered to make the right choice, and some key elements changed over the years. A majority of people claim Social […]
Playing the New Credit Card Games
Congress passed a couple of laws to save you from being ravaged by credit card issuers and banks. In late 2009 there was the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act to restrict credit card fees and interest rates. In the Fall of 2010 there was the financial reform law. Not surprisingly, banks and credit […]
How to Complete Your Estate Planning Strategy
Most estate plans are woefully incomplete, and heirs and loved ones often suffer. Of course, too many people don’t have any estate plan. Of those that do, some think a living trust or joint title to assets with their spouse is all they need. Others think a will and trust is a complete estate plan. […]
Crisis in Long-Term Care Insurance?
Headlines the last couple of months pointed to serious problems in long-term care insurance (LTCI). The Wall Street Journal blared: “Long-Term-Care Premiums Soar.” This shortly was followed by news that a major player in LTCI, MetLife, was stopping the sale of new policies. The first article detailed sharp proposed premium increases on existing policies by […]
Stretching Retirement Accounts to Last
A major fear of retirees and those nearing retirement is running out of money. You can stretch your retirement funds by planning the order in which to spend your different investment accounts. Paying attention to the drawdown order increases after-tax wealth and makes your money last longer. Most people have more than one type of […]
Dealing with Seniors Preying on Seniors
The silver generation is where the money is. That’s why seniors so often are targets of scams and why one estimate says one of five of those over 65 have been scammed one way or another. What many seniors don’t realize is that a potential scammer is likely to be a contemporary. In more and […]
Navigating the New Broker Reporting Rules
Brokers and mutual fund companies soon will be reporting to the IRS and to you the cost basis of assets sold during the year. You soon will have to make a decision that will affect these reports. In 2008 Congress passed the requirement, and phased it in. The first reports occur on Form 1099-B in […]
Taking RMDs for 2010 and Later
Required minimum distributions are back for 2010 and later years. Congress waived RMDs for 2009 only. You have to take yours by the end of 2010 if you haven’t already and continue taking them in the future. RMDs are required after age 70½. You must take your first RMD by April 1 of the year […]
