Retirement Watch Weekly
Key IRA Decisions for 2005
It’s another year, and many IRA owners have to focus on required minimum distributions (RMDs). The right strategy for these and other aspects of an IRA can make the account last longer. RMDs are mandatory after an owner is age 70 1/2. The rules apply to all qualified retirement plans, though we’ll focus on IRAs […]
Little-Known New Tax Laws
The American Jobs Creation Act is a major tax law enacted quietly just before the elections. While primarily a corporate tax law, several provisions affect individuals and small businesses. Sales tax. In 2004 and 2005, individual taxpayers who itemize deductions have the option of deducting either state and local sales taxes or state and local […]
New Estate Planning Danger in State Taxes
Federal estate taxes are shrinking for many estates. That shifts the focus of savvy estate planners to state death taxes. State death taxes now loom prominently over many estates for several reasons. Before the 2001 tax law, there was a credit against federal estates taxes for state death taxes paid. Because of the credit, the […]
Estate Planning: New Looks in 529 Plans
States are making big changes in their 529 college savings plans. These are the tax-advantaged plans that help people save for the education expenses of their children or grandchildren, or anyone else for that matter. Numerous forces caused the changes. It has been pointed out, in this newsletter especially, that after the 2003 tax law […]
Tapping Real Estate Equity, Part 2
The rapid real estate appreciation of recent years endowed many families with substantial real estate wealth but not enough cash. Real estate appreciation does not produce cash. But it does result in higher property taxes, and there are maintenance expenses to pay. Some families also are disappointed with having paper wealth that cannot be spent […]
How to Buy the Right Amount of Life Insurance
Most Americans ignore what insurers tell them about the amount of life insurance to buy. That’s probably a good thing for them. Even so, most people own the wrong amount of insurance. They ask the wrong question and get the wrong answer. The insurance industry generally recommends buying life insurance benefits equal to seven times […]
How to make the best of a rollover of a retirement plan?
One of the biggest obstacles to effective retirement planning is the number of complicated decisions that are made only once or twice in a lifetime. A lot of research is required to make the right decisions, and the wrong decision can cost thousands of dollars in taxes or more in reduced benefits during retirement. Yet, […]
Estate Planning Strategies For Winning The Trust Revolution
There’s a revolution taking place in trusts used for estate planning, and just in time. Trust use is soaring. Trusts are used frequently by middle class people, not only by the ultra-wealthy. The centuries-old law of trusts is changing in many states. Many of the alterations provide more protection and flexibility for estate owners. But […]
