Retirement Watch Weekly
Four Overlooked Estate Planning Moves
Most Estate Planning discussions involve big picture issues, such as trusts, gifts, and how to handle a business. Too often, however, the success or failure of a plan depends on small details that seem unimportant. Shortchanging these issues could mean shortchanging your heirs. Carefully consider all of your non-probate assets. They avoid the probate process, […]
The 80%-2% Retirement Savings Solution
The best financial move a person can make is to start saving and investing early. That also is the hardest lesson to teach young people. Retirement is a distant, abstract concept, and young people tend to be present-oriented. Young people also are daunted by the amount of money they should accumulate by the time they […]
New Kiddie Tax Rules: Implications and Strategies
In last month’s visit I pointed out that the kiddie tax rules changed recently and would change again soon. The amendment occurred sooner than expected. The tax changes were put in the Iraq War funding bill in May (along with an increase in the minimum wage), and the details make the Kiddie Tax more restrictive […]
The New Tax Law & Your Grandchildren
Congress snuck a provision into the recent tax law that could change how many people help fund education and other expenses for their children and grandchildren. For a couple of decades the tax law has contained the kiddie tax, designed to limit the tax reduction that is available when parents and grandparents shift investment income […]
Long-Term Care Insurance Is Now More Lucrative
Changes are occurring that could make long-term care insurance more attractive to consumers. These changes, plus some shrewd moves by policy buyers, can ensure that more consumers have protection from the expense of long-term care at an affordable price. One change that has been taking place over the last few years is consolidation of the […]
How to Invest IRA Accounts
IRAs seemed so simple when they were started. Make the maximum contribution; invest the money until retirement; and then take money over time to pay for retirement. Managing IRAs, however, requires more thought if one wants to maximize after-tax retirement income. One issue that is not considered enough is which investments are best held in […]
How to Get Paid for Giving – Charitable Gift Annuities
A way to combine two tax benefits and receive a stream of income for life is the charitable gift annuity. Once an obscure vehicle, gift annuities are becoming more popular as the Baby Boomers age and charities become more sophisticated. The charitable gift annuity is a simple concept. An individual transfers wealth to a charity. […]
Are the New Life Insurance Annuities Worth the Cost?
Insurers want you to buy more annuities. They expect that as the Baby Boomers age they will need dependable sources of lifetime income, and annuities will provide a large portion of that income. The sticking point is that many people do not want to buy annuities, because the annuity payments last only for life. If […]
