Retirement Watch Weekly
Special Tax Problem of Retirement
Today’s retirees are the wealthiest generation in history, and that makes them a target for the tax man. A special tax problem for many retirees is the required quarterly payment of estimated income taxes. After decades of having taxes automatically deducted from their paychecks, many have trouble adapting to the system of writing a check […]
Adding Spice to Your Portfolio
The markets are down, and that is a good time to consider adding some spice to your portfolio. Our recommended portfolios hold investments with a margin of safety and the opportunity for solid, steady profits. For those of you who want to branch out, I’ve found additional opportunities. One of these investments carries more risk […]
Estate Planning to Hand Down the House – The Qualified Personal Property Trust
Your home is among the most valuable assets in your estate, perhaps the most valuable. That makes it a key part of your estate plan. The home also is among the most difficult assets to incorporate into your plan. You always need a place to live, so the home cannot be given away as easily […]
Family Limited Partnerships Considerations for Estate Planning
family limited partnerships are evolving, and people are finding more uses for them. Until recently, family limited partnerships (FLPs) were considered primarily vehicles for reducing estate and gift taxes. But these vehicles are so flexible that families are finding many practical uses for them, even when taxes aren’t an issue. You might find that they […]
Finding A Solution For Long-Term Care
Americans are seriously misinformed about Medicare’s coverage of long-term health care. The oldest Americans – those most likely to need long term medical care – are the most misinformed. In a recent survey by Carequest, Inc., 63% of respondents age 65 and older either didn’t know or gave the wrong answer to a basic question […]
Is It Time To Buy A Second Home?
A second home appeals to many people these days. Part of the appeal is status. It is a sign of financial success. I’ve seen polls indicating that a second home is the ultimate sign of success to a majority of people. Another reason is that a second home traditionally has been a good investment. Most […]
How to Boost Your Investment Income
Our “growth bonds” and Income Growth Portfolio continue to offer high and growing dividends to investors. These are great alternatives for income investors who have been burned by traditional income investments. The last decade was difficult for income investors. Yields on bonds and stocks slid all through the 1990s. The average money market fund now […]
Tax Breaks Increase For 2002
You’ll be able to give away more money tax free in 2002. Inflation indexing finally has pushed the annual tax-free gift amount to $11,000. The annual amount has been indexed for inflation since 1997, but adjustments are only to the nearest $1,000. Tax-free gifts can be made to anyone. You don’t need a relationship with […]
