Retirement Watch Weekly
Pros and Cons of Joint Ownership of Assets for Estate Planning
Joint title is perhaps the most common form of Estate Planning. Lawyers often call it a “will substitute” and “the poor man’s will.” Unfortunately, joint title is not the best option for many people. In fact, it can be a bad option. Joint title can add risk and also can increase taxes on capital gains, […]
Low-Cost Estate Planning Ways To Get Your Grandkids Started
Mutual funds and brokers are making it more difficult to put your grandchildren on the road to wealth with a modest initial investment and small regular additions. Fortunately, there still are ways to build a modest sum into a meaningful legacy. Suppose you open an investment account with $1,000, add $50 each month for 10 […]
How to Keep Prospering in Retirement?
We were safety-first investors before it was trendy, and it has paid off. I’ve noticed that recent ads for financial service companies emphasize diversification, balance, and safety. Meanwhile, media stories have started focusing on income, valuations, and long-term stability. It is a little late, but we’re happy to welcome them to the club. Over two […]
Changes in Homeowner’s Insurance
Natural disasters and terrorism affect more people than realize it. One way almost all of us are paying for these events is through homeowner’s insurance. Those who don’t learn about recent changes and adapt to them risk paying more for insurance. More importantly, many homeowners are now unwittingly underinsured. Problems for insurers started with Hurricane […]
Maximize Your Interest Deductions
Most of us prefer to be debt-free. If you do borrow, a loan against your home often is the least expensive debt. A mortgage also maximizes interest deductions, which further reduces the cost. Borrowers need to learn a few tricks to boost cash flow and to avoid some traps set for unwary taxpayers. There are […]
When To Begin Social Security?
Big changes are coming to Social Security. I don’t mean anything Congress or the President might do. These changes were put in place in the 1980s and are just taking effect. These changes affect the retirement of everyone who won’t begin receiving Social Security benefits by the end of 2002 and will influence when people […]
Six Things You Need To Know Before You Buy Annuities
Fixed annuities are popular and getting more popular. Beaten down by the bear market, many investors suddenly like the safety of fixed annuities. A tax-deferred yield of 5% looks good compared to recent stock market returns. Fixed annuities can be a valuable of any portfolio, as I’ve said for years. Years ago most retirees could […]
Should you go back to work after retirement?
Sometimes work doesn’t really pay. The sad fact is that older Americans have to analyze this issue carefully before taking a job. While the situation improved after 1997 and 2000 law changes, if you are receiving Social Security benefits returning to paid employment actually could cost you money. I regularly hear from subscribers whose marginal […]
