Retirement Watch Weekly
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 […]
New Rules for Donating Used Cars
Plans need to be revised by taxpayers who intended to reap big tax breaks by donating used cars, boats, or planes to charity. Congress rewrote the law in 2004, and the IRS recently issued rules explaining the new law. Under the old law, a taxpayer could donate a used car to charity and deduct the […]
Are You Putting Enough Money Away?
The biggest planning mistake most people make is not realizing how much retirement will cost and how much money they will need. Fortunately, those who remember a few principles and use today’s low-cost technology can substantially reduce the margin of error. Surveys of future retirees abound. An interesting recent survey from Merrill Lynch found that […]
Some Classic Uses of Trusts
Trusts have been an essential estate planning tool for centuries. Once used only by the very wealthy, today trusts are widely used by the non-wealthy. Longer lives, more widespread wealth, second marriages, and blended families all cause greater interest in trusts. That is even before considering tax reduction strategies. Trust use is so widespread that […]
Estate Planning Update on Estate Tax Reform
There could be big changes in the estate and gift tax law by this fall. The House of Representatives passed a permanent, full repeal of the estate tax. The Senate is not willing to go that far but is likely to pass a bill that repeals the estate tax for all but a small number […]
