Retirement Watch Weekly
Adding Flexibility with a Disclaimer Trust
It’s tough to keep your estate plan in tune with the rapid pace of change. The estate tax changes. Your family situation and the value of your assets also change. Any of those factors can trigger a need to change your will or other elements of your estate plan, and the pace of change seems […]
Timing is Right for Transferring a Business
The economic decline doesn’t have many positive effects, but it can increase the benefits of estate planning strategies, especially for business owners. The current environment allows you to transfer business interests to your loved ones at a low estate and gift tax cost. Business owners should meet with estate planners and consider accelerating plans to […]
Protecting Lifetime Income from Inflation
Seniors are realizing the advantages annuities can provide for their retirement portfolios. Annuities pay steady income. Investors don’t worry about the volatility of their principal or income or whether to change the investment in volatile markets. Yet, there is a key disadvantage to annuities that keeps more people from using them. In this visit we […]
December 2009
December 31, 2009 10:45 a.m. Happy New Year, and Some Important Items You Might Have Missed I wish all my readers a Happy New Year. We have great plans for Retirement Watch, and the markets and economy promise to provide another interesting year. There also will be changes in the income tax, estate tax, and […]
Choosing the Right Estate Planning Options: The Marital Deduction, Trusts, and Estate Tax
The foundation of every family estate plan is formed from the same tools and strategies. No matter the size of your estate and how simple or complex it is, you’ll begin by choosing from this basic menu. You don’t want a cookie-cutter estate plan. There are variations of these tools, and many plans need additional […]
Scrutinizing Your IRA Custodian
Few IRA owners give much thought to their custodians. Yet, the custodian can make or break your financial plan, and all custodians are not equal. Take a few minutes to learn about your custodian and its policies. Your IRA must be held by a custodian or trustee. Most financial services companies serve as custodians: brokers, […]
Warnings on Reverse Mortgages
We have to wave a yellow flag on reverse mortgages. While good ways for some seniors to tap their home equity, they also are a new and fertile ground for fraud, and new rules make them less attractive. Reverse mortgages are available to people age 62 and older. You receive cash, a stream of payments, […]
Understanding Medicare Supplement Plans
You’ve been inundated with advertising for the array of Medicare-related programs, for it is annual enrollment time. In recent months we reviewed Medicare Advantage plans, original Medicare, and Part D prescription drug coverage. In this visit, we review Medicare Supplemental coverage (or Medigap) policies. Many people who are covered by original Medicare also select a […]
