Retirement Watch Weekly
How Markets Affect Your Estate Planning
The financial markets have changed many estate plans, and most people don’t even know it. Estate planners don’t always realize what the markets have done to their clients’ plans. After the market upheavals of the last year, it is a good idea now to review your estate plan to see how its results might have […]
What To Do with REITs Now
The markets have seen a lot of changes, but changes aren’t required in our Managed Portfolios. We were well-positioned for the turn in interest rates. Let’s get right into the specifics. Sector and Balanced Managed Portfolios Real estate investment trusts saw the most action in the last month. Cohen & Steers Realty Shares was up […]
Medicare Drug Discount Rolled Out
Medicare announced its first group of endorsed prescription drug discount cards. Medicare members can enroll in one of the discount programs after May 2, 2004. The cards can be used beginning June 1, 2004. The web site www.medicare.gov has a feature that makes it easy to find the discount card programs that are available to […]
How to Put Real Estate in Your IRA?
Does your IRA have to be invested in publicly-traded securities or mutual funds? Few people realize that the answer is “no.” The IRA actually is one of the most flexible investment vehicles available. An IRA can be invested in real estate, private companies, hedge funds, separately managed accounts, mortgages, and a host of other assets. […]
Homeowner’s Hidden Tax Time Bomb
Many older homeowners are facing a problem that a few years ago was considered unthinkable. These homeowners face taxable capital gains on the sale of their homes, despite the generous $500,000 exemption for married couples. The red hot real estate market of the last five years in many areas has pushed many longtime homeowners into […]
How to Beat Higher Property Taxes
Real estate values are climbing, and local property taxes are soaring with them. If the real estate tax rate stays the same and your home appreciates, your real estate tax bill rises at the same rate as the appreciation. In my recent trip to Naples, Fla., I learned that the prices of most residences there […]
The Right Mortgage for Today’s Market
Alan Greenspan recently pointed out that over the past decade homeowners would have saved a bundle by having adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) instead of conventional fixed rated home loans. Is an adjustable rate loan still the right decision today? A fixed rate mortgage definitely is more expensive in the short-term. Recently, the average interest rate […]
New Tax Break for Annuities
The IRS in a recent ruling handed a break to annuity owners who are under age 59 1/2 and need cash. The ruling allows these annuity owners to restructure payments they receive from the annuities. Until the ruling, annuity owners had only one opportunity to determine the payment stream to take before age 59 1/2. […]
