Retirement Watch Weekly
Why the Solo Years are Critical and How to Plan for Them
Married couples in or near retirement should know that the solo years, the period after one spouse passed away, usually are the most difficult period in retirement both financially and emotionally. As I say in Chapter 17 of my book, “Retirement Watch: The Essential Guide to ‘Retiring in the 2020s’” the solo years are when […]
New Law Allows Tax-Free Rollover from a 529 Plan to a Roth IRA
The tax-free nature of money in a 529 tuition savings plan can be continued, even after the education spending need has passed, thanks to a provision in the SECURE Act 2.0. But numerous hurdles must be cleared to take advantage of the 529-to-Roth rollover, and those hurdles might mean the rollover isn’t available to many […]
Recent Law Simplifies QLACs, Increases Their Benefits
The benefits of adding a qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) to your IRA were increased and made easier to take advantage of in a recent law. A QLAC delays some required minimum distributions (RMDs) and generates guaranteed lifetime income after that, ensuring you never run out of income during retirement. Some people also consider them […]
7 Tools to Prefund Inheritances and Reasons to Exploit Them Now
The current lifetime estate and gift tax exemption is scheduled to be slashed in half after midnight on December 31, 2025. It’s time to put together your plan for that potential reduction in the exemption. A lot could happen between now and 2026. A majority in Congress might agree to continue the current exempt […]
Bob’s Journal for 8/17/23
Household Allocations to Stocks Near Record Highs The percentage of household assets invested in stocks is near all-time highs. The other periods when stock ownership was this high turned out not to be good times to own stocks. At the end of the first quarter of 2023, households had 16.57% of their total assets invested […]
How to Minimize the Most Important Number on Your Tax Return
It’s the most important number on your federal income tax return. The number I’m referring to is your adjusted gross income (AGI). In your retirement years, AGI is more important than for most other taxpayers. Before retiring, taxable income probably is the most important line on your return, and many people believe it still is […]
Scams Directed at Seniors Skyrocketing: What You Need to Know
In my new Retirement Watch Spotlight Series, I’ll share my newest breakthrough strategies for protecting your assets and growing your portfolio, including how to prepare for the next market downturn. Click here now to learn more. […]
Bob’s Journal for 8/10/22
Why Interest Rates Could Move Higher Soon We’re probably at a turning point in the treasury bond market. Over the last 18 months, interest rates on treasury bonds didn’t increase as much as many observers expected. The Federal Reserve rapidly increased the short-term interest rates it controls. Other interest rates increased, but not as rapidly […]
