Retirement Spending
Found 156 Articles.
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Reviewing the Safe Spending Formula
You can spend a maximum of 4% of your retirement fund the first year and increase the distribution for inflation each year after. That’s standard spending advice for retirees and has been since the mid-1990s, when studies of past investment returns indicated 4% plus inflation was the maximum “safe spending rate.” Yet, surveys still show […]
Understanding Changes in Inflation Data
How inflation data are compiled usually interests only economists and statisticians, and only a few of them at that. Yet, retirees and those planning for retirement have more than a passing interest in the debate. The reported inflation rate determines increases in Social Security benefits and adjustments to Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). It also determines […]
Warnings on Reverse Mortgages
We have to wave a yellow flag on reverse mortgages. While good ways for some seniors to tap their home equity, they also are a new and fertile ground for fraud, and new rules make them less attractive. Reverse mortgages are available to people age 62 and older. You receive cash, a stream of payments, […]
The Coming Wave of Scams
The headlines seemed to be filled with investment frauds and scams. Bear markets tend to reveal Ponzi schemes and other frauds. But do not get the impression the scams are only a product of the bull market. Tough times tend to produce more scams than good times, because people are more desperate for help. The […]
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How to Revise Your Spending Plan
The swift declines in most asset classes in late 2008 damaged many portfolios. For those who are retired or near retirement, one step you have to take after such an event is to re-evaluate retirement spending. Specifically you have to check the rate at which you are withdrawing money from your retirement portfolio and decide […]
Bernard Madoff and Classic Frauds
Most investment frauds, especially Ponzi schemes, last five years or less and steal relatively modest sums. Two of the many remarkable aspects of the Ponzi scheme of Bernard Madoff are that the fraud apparently persisted for decades and cost investors billions of dollars. Yet, many aspects of the scheme are classic, unremarkable features of run-of-the-mill […]
How to Safely Reduce Insurance Costs
Times are tight, so people are looking for ways to slash expenses. Insurance is a good target for many people. There are a couple of ways to safely reduce insurance costs. You might have unneeded or duplicate coverage. Those expenses can be eliminated. You also might be paying too much for coverage you need. Shopping […]
How Safe Are Your Assets?
Is your money safe? It is amazing how quickly investors went from not worrying about risk to having that be the first question on their minds. As the financial crisis spreads, people are worried about the safety of their money and how to make their assets more secure. Here’s an overview of the rules for […]
