Retirement Watch Weekly
Estate Planning to Provide for the Grandchildren
Providing for the grandchildren is one of the top concerns of today’s grandparents, according to surveys. That spurs ideas for setting aside money for grandchildren to use in the future. Let’s take a look at one not-so-good idea and two good ones. One heavily promoted idea is a trust for a grandchild’s retirement. You contribute […]
Three Estate Planning Strategies To Build a Legacy with Roth IRA
You can leave your heirs the gift of almost perpetual tax free growth. That’s not a small gift, and it is one your heirs are likely to appreciate as each year passes. It is easy to do, thanks to Congress, and it won’t cost you much. The vehicle you use to set up this tax-free […]
Smart Ways To Finance Long-Term Care
What is one of the major financial misconceptions among Americans? Many people incorrectly believe the government will pay for nursing home care or other long-term health care. The fact is federal and state governments pay very little of the cost of home health care, assisted living, independent living, and nursing homes. (See last month’s issue […]
Essential Estate Planning Strategies for Married Couples
Estate planning doesn’t have to be a complicated ordeal full of words and concepts that only lawyers understand. For most married couples, there are two tools that are part of almost every estate plan and three trusts from which to choose one or more. They are the foundation of every estate plan. There are other […]
Long-Term Care Options for Seniors
None of us likes to think about it. But the fact is that in any older married couple, the odds are pretty high that at least one of the spouses will spend some time in long-term health care. More than likely, it won’t be the traditional years’-long stay in a nursing home. The stay likely […]
How to Build a Better, Cheaper Life Insurance Trust for Estate Planning
You’ve probably seen the promotions for those tax-free “investments” that give a 10 to 1 return on your money. When you get past the initial pitch, you find that the investment is a life insurance policy that pays off for your heirs, not you. As part of the promotions, you’ll learn that the best way […]
Growth Bonds
Many of you have learned the disadvantages of bonds: Your yield is locked in for the life of the bond, and when the bond matures you have to reinvest at current yields. In an era of falling rates, that means taking a cut in income. Wouldn’t you prefer to get steady, reliable income that actually […]
Strategies for Income that lasts a Lifetime
Investing for income might not be the safest way to manage your retirement portfolio. Income investments certainly seem safe in the short-term. The income usually is secure. You can plan on it. The principal value doesn’t have the great gyrations you see in the stock market. But retirement can last 20 or 30 years. In […]
