Retirement Watch Weekly
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 […]
How to Reduce the Taxes Due on the Sale of Highly Appreciated Real Estate
Many Americans on the coasts or in resort areas are selling homes for far more money than they ever imagined. Their gains often exceed the tax-free limit under federal tax law. In some cases, the home sellers are looking at paying more capital gains taxes than their homes initially cost. There are strategies for reducing […]
The 2 Long-Term Care Insurance Mistakes Most Retirees Make
Only about 10% of seniors over age 65 have long-term care insurance. It is easy to understand why. The product is complicated, and costly mistakes are easy to make when buying it. There are two mistakes people make most often when purchasing long-term care insurance. More people would buy the insurance if they knew how […]
The Changing Picture of State Taxes
State and local taxes are a higher portion of retirees’ expenses than in the past. These taxes are a more important factor in people’s decisions of where to live in retirement. Yet, many people are making decisions with the wrong information. If state and local taxes are important to you, do not rely on information […]
When To Convert Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA
Converting a regular IRA into a Roth IRA has several advantages for seasoned citizens, and it can benefit their heirs. A recent law makes it easier for some seasoned citizens to convert their IRAs. This is a good time of year to consider converting your regular IRA into a Roth IRA. A conversion is allowed […]
Hedge Funds Without Fees, Disappointments
You might have read about the disappointing recent returns from hedge funds. Over the last few years, wealthy individuals and institutions poured money into these investment vehicles in search of less volatility and the potential for high returns. The results for the last year or two have been disappointing to many of these investors, and […]
How to Avoid Scams on the Recently Departed
People do a lot these days to protect themselves from identity theft. Few people, however, take steps to prevent the identity theft that is likely to occur after someone passes away. That time can be ideal for identity thieves. Loved ones aren’t likely to be focused on the possibility of identity theft. In the estate […]
How to Boost Returns with Year-End Tax Planning
Don’t wait until later in the year to do year-end investment tax planning. The start of fall is the best time to make and begin implementing your plan. Year-end planning – with accompanying asset sales – will occur later in the year for most people. Mutual funds will do their fiscal year-end sales in late […]
