Retirement Watch Weekly
Elements of Retiree Tax Reduction Plan
Most retirees were misinformed about taxes. They were told that their income tax rates would decline in retirement. The unfortunate truth is that for many people, income tax rates stay the same or rise after retirement. In fact, retirees often face the highest marginal tax rates (the rate on the last dollar of income earned) […]
How to Maximize the Benefits of a Roth IRA Conversion
Converting a regular IRA to a Roth IRA can be a shrewd financial move. See September’s visit for details. This month we’re going to discuss how to establish a plan that will multiply the benefits of a conversion. There are two key rules that can be used to develop the most effective Roth conversion plan. […]
Prescription Drug Plans Ready to Roll
It is getting close to the time when Medicare beneficiaries must decide whether or not to sign up for a prescription drug plan. Promotions are being rolled out. The enrollment period begins Nov. 1, 2005, and closes on May 15, 2006. The government has announced some good news about the program. (See the September 2005 […]
Is a Perpetual Trust for You?
Recent laws are making it easier to use dynasty trusts to make wealth last for multiple generations. Not too long ago creating a dynasty trust that lasted for generations was difficult. Those of us who took Estate & Trusts in law school tried to learn the intricacies of something called the Law Against Perpetuities, complex […]
Setting Up Your Financial Protection Plan – Insurance
Hurricane Katrina has a lot of people thinking about their insurance for homes, autos, belongings, and personal liability. Most people have a lot of their insurance wrong. They have coverage gaps or are paying too much. Don’t wait until you need the coverage to discover there is a problem. Review your insurance every year or […]
Your Personal Backup Plan
A natural disaster destroys more than property. It also destroys financial records and other important documents. Many evacuees from Katrina say that they cannot even prove who they are, because they lost driver’s licenses, passports, birth certificates, and other identification in the hurricane and its aftermath. The traditional advice is to preserve important documents in […]
Where to Find Today’s Values
The last few months have taught the benefits of diversification, balance, and a margin of safety. One of our investment themes of the last few years is that U.S. stocks and bonds are in a declining phase of the valuation cycle. It will be a while before investors are willing to take great risks and […]
How to Use ETFs
Exchange-traded funds are the fastest-growing but most misunderstood investment vehicle of the last few years. ETFs have been around only since 1993, and didn’t start to take off until the late 1990s. Let’s see how these mutual fund substitutes might fit into your investment strategy. An ETF is similar to a mutual fund. The investor […]
