Retirement Watch Weekly
How to Avoid the Retirement Medical Expense Surprise
The wildcard in every retirement plan is the cost of medical care. It probably is the cause of most retirement plan failures. There are several reasons medical expenses disrupt so many plans: Many people are used to employer-paid medical care. Before they retire, they do not realize the full cost of medical insurance. Employers used […]
Red Alert for Financial Frauds
The financial crisis means it is time to be on high alert for financial frauds. Scamsters know this is the best environment to find vulnerable targets. I dug through my files recently for a 2004 Wall Street Journal interview with imprisoned scamster Eric Stein. He laid out how frauds operate and why now is a […]
Year End Tax Planning for Possibly Reduced Taxes
This could be an especially profitable year to do year-end tax planning. The elections might lead to major income tax changes in 2009, and the gyrations of the markets provide some investors with tax planning opportunities. Tax planning is best done two years at a time. Taxpayers usually have flexibility over when to recognize some […]
Why Fixed Annuity Sales are Soaring
Fixed annuities are drawing many more investors these days, especially annuities sold through banks. Insurance companies report sales are 80% and more above last year’s sales. Several factors make fixed annuities more attractive relative to other investments than in the recent past: Volatility and steep losses in stocks and many types of bonds make them […]
Pay Off Debt or Continue Owing in Retirement?
Paying off the mortgage used to be part of the American dream and a prerequisite to retirement. Times have changed. These days many people enter retirement with mortgages and other debt, and some do not hesitate to increase debt during retirement. What is the best approach? Should you try to pay off the mortgage as […]
Why Most Estate Plans Fail
A large percentage of estate plans fail to achieve one or more of their goals, and many of them fail for a surprising reason. In past visits we discussed the ways trustees, heirs, changed circumstances, and new laws upend estate plans. What we have not discussed is the most surprising and perhaps most frequent reason […]
How to Avoid Tax while Helping Grandkids
Most people are concerned about the financial futures of their grandchildren and even great-grandchildren- more so than the security of their own children. After ensuring their own retirement years are secure, many people tell survey takers the security of the third and fourth generations is their next worry. Apparently they believe their children can take […]
The Key Tool for Investing Today
Quality has been the place to be during this great unwinding, and it still is the best place for your capital. The trick is to distinguish real quality from apparent quality. In addition, even some quality assets have faced significant price declines during the last year. A key to success in this environment is patience. […]
