Retirement Watch Weekly
How to Spot and Avoid Scams
Corporate accounting and mutual fund scandals are not the biggest scam risks to investors. Identity theft is a big risk, but you don’t want to focus on it so much that you lose track of the other frauds coming your way. Versions of the old-fashioned Ponzi scheme proliferate. Retirees and those close to retirement still […]
New Looks in Annuities
Recent changes are making annuities hot again. At least that’s what the annuity sellers want you to believe. Some of the new annuity features are attractive. But others are just sales gimmicks. The biggest changes are in fixed annuities. The bear market in stocks initially drew investors to safer investments, such as fixed annuities. But […]
A Few Ways to Save Money
There are two ways to save money. One way is to cut nickels and dimes off each purchase. The other way, which we’ll look at in this visit, is to save a lot of money on a few big dollar expenses. Let’s see how you might be able to save big dollars on a few […]
Singles Need Estate Planning
Estate Planning discussions often assume that a married couple is involved. We all know that frequently isn’t the case. People can be widowed, and the divorce rate among older Americans is rising. The Census Bureau reports a doubling since 1989 of the number of older couples living together without being married. A single person ? […]
Estate Planning to Make a Family Business Last Generations
Why do only 10% of family businesses reach the third generation? Perhaps one reason is that only 28% of family businesses have a succession plan. Yet, 40% to 60% of current owners say they want their businesses to stay in the family. Unfortunately, few have a plan to make that happen. Estate lawyers and financial […]
Equity Indexed Annuities
Equity indexed annuities are back. Sharp stock market moves seem to stir sales of these annuities. A strong stock market draws conservative investors to them, seeking higher returns than their fixed income investments. A bear market causes other investors to look for a safer way to invest in stocks. Unfortunately, few investors really know what […]
Estate Planning Protection Package
The most unexpected events can cause a will to be challenged. A carefully planned estate becomes a mess as legal fees lay waste to the family wealth and acrimony drives members apart. It doesn’t have to happen. In most cases, a will contest and related lawsuits could have been avoided with a few preventive steps. […]
Updated Estate Planning for Family Limited Partnerships
Soon after I updated the tax status of family limited partnerships for our July visit, the Tax Court ruled in another FLP case. The decision went against the taxpayers and again dimmed the enthusiasm of many tax advisors for FLPs. I’m not as pessimistic about the decision, but it does add some uncertainty and should […]
