Retirement Watch Weekly
Estate Planning Strategies: UGMAs vs. 529 Plans
I have an UGMA account for my grandchild (or child). Can I (or should I) switch to a college savings plan or a trust? I regularly get variations of that question. A Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) account is the traditional vehicle to save and invest for a youngster. (It’s UTMA in some states.) […]
A Stock Portfolio Update
Things will be looking up for many of our individual stock picks. In September 2000 I recommended a portfolio of individual stocks for readers who wanted to branch out from mutual funds. These are long-term investments, but it was not an auspicious time to start a stock portfolio. Now it is time to make a […]
Year-End Tax Planning
Year-end tax planning is special this year. The new tax law, the market downturn, and other factors provide some unique opportunities and traps. With the right moves in the next few months you can substantially reduce taxes this year and in coming years. The wrong moves, or failure to act, can cost you. The math […]
Easy Ways to Put More Money In Your Pocket
Are you being nickled-and-dimed to death? With investment returns down, watching expenses is as important as investing for income and capital gains. My forecast is that we are entering an era when 6% to 12% stock market returns are more likely than the 18% annual returns of the bull market. To meet your wealth accumulation […]
How Adjust Your Estate Planning to Make the Most of the New IRA Rules
Note: These regulations were updated ago about a year after this article. Please see the article in the June 2002 Grandkid’s Watch for an update on the final regulations. Click here. An important decision faces many of you. Make it carefully and the odds are greatly reduced that between estate taxes and income taxes the […]
Guide to Helping with a Grandchild’s Education
College costs are escalating, even at public universities. USA Today recently described how the slowing economy is reducing donations to colleges and causing state governments to cut funding. The result is that tuition is climbing faster than ever – as much as 40% at some institutions. Students, parents, and grandparents need to maximize both their […]
Beating The Stealth Taxes
There are hidden income taxes. I call them stealth taxes. More Americans fall prey to these taxes every year, especially older or retired Americans. There are three main stealth taxes: the alternative minimum tax (AMT), the Pease tax (the itemized deduction reduction), and the PEP (personal exemption phaseout). These stealth taxes are in addition to […]
The Result of Market Change on Your Estate Plan
A new tax law isn’t the only reason to revisit your estate plan. Investment market changes and falling interest rates change the effects of many estate plans, often without their creators knowing the consequences. Here’s a guide to some the effects the changes of the last 18 months might have on your estate plan. The […]
