Retirement Watch Weekly
Plan Now to Avoid Stealth Taxes this Year
Retirees and near-retirees need to worry more about Stealth Taxes than regular income taxes. Stealth Taxes include the amount of Social Security benefits added to gross income, the Medicare premium surtax (also known as IRMAA), the 3.8% net investment income tax and more. Some Stealth Taxes are directed specifically at retirees, such as the tax […]
The Three Strategies for Principal-Protected Lifetime Income Planning
In my new Retirement Watch Spotlight Series, I’ll share my newest breakthrough strategies for protecting your assets and growing your portfolio, including how to prepare for the next market downturn. Click here now to learn more. […]
Bob’s Journal for 5/11/23
Some Notable Events That Grabbed My Attention This Week The cost has dropped for one of the top long-term care (LTC) insurance policies, according to my favorite industry expert and friend, David T. Phillips. David’s favorite policy now provides 25% more benefits for your premium dollars than it did from June 2022 through March 2023. […]
Bob’s Journal for 5/4/23
Latest I-Bonds Still Are a Good Deal for Savers Yields are lower than their 2022 peak, but Inflation-Linked Series I U.S. Savings Bonds (I-Bonds) still are a good deal for savers. I-bonds pay two interest rates. One rate is fixed for the life of the bond. The other rate is adjusted every six months in […]
12 Essential Elements of a Successful Estate Plan
In my new Retirement Watch Spotlight Series, I’ll share my newest breakthrough strategies for protecting your assets and growing your portfolio, including how to prepare for the next market downturn. Click here now to learn more. […]
Bob’s Journal for 4/27/23
Banking Panic Causes Short-Term Rates to Plunge The runs on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank had historic effects on short-term interest rates. Short-term interest rates rose steadily for almost a year after the Fed began its aggressive tightening in May 2022. The rise in short-term rates during 2022 was the fastest in at least […]
The Fed Is Fighting a Two-Front War
The Federal Reserve is fighting simultaneously for both price stability and financial stability. Because the Fed pumped too much money into the economy in the years before 2022, high inflation became self-sustaining, causing the Fed in 2022 to engage in perhaps its fastest and most aggressive monetary tightening ever. Negative effects of the tightening are […]
Plan Now to Avoid Stealth Taxes in 2023
Retirees and near-retirees need to worry more about Stealth Taxes than regular income taxes. Stealth Taxes include the amount of Social Security benefits added to gross income, the Medicare premium surtax (also known as IRMAA), the 3.8% net investment income tax and more. Some Stealth Taxes are directed specifically at retirees, such as the tax […]
