Social Security
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Five Key Decisions to Make Before Choosing a Long Term Care Insurance Policy
The cost of long-term health care is rising, and individuals bear most of the cost. That’s why more people are considering long-term health care insurance. Before buying, know the true risks of your needing long-term care and the types of long-term care available. Then, if long-term care insurance is for you, learn how to customize […]
How Much Money Does One Need to Retire?
The cost of retirement is rising. That means fewer people appreciate how much wealth they need to retire or to continue their current retirement lifestyle. I’ve known this for several years, based on my careful study of retirees. But it was confirmed by a study funded by Aon Consulting and conducted by Georgia State University. […]
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 Right Long-Term Care Insurance Policy for You
Many of you should at least consider purchasing a long-term health care policy. In high cost of living areas, anyone with net assets between $200,000 and $2 million should take a look at the policies. In lower-cost areas, a lower net worth merits a look at the policies. That doesn’t mean each of you should […]
Health Care Tax Strategies
Health care or long-term care can eat up a big part of a retiree’s budget – or the budget of a retiree’s children. Fortunately, the tax law can help pay for a big part of that burden. Deductions for medical expenses seemed to disappear when the rules were changed in 1986. Now, you can deduct […]
Beat Taxes On Social Security Benefits
The 90% marginal tax bracket is alive and well. Most people believe that such high marginal tax rates ended with the 1981 and 1986 tax cuts. For most taxpayers, they did. But those high marginal tax rates exist today and are reserved for retirees. Many of you who recently completed your federal income tax returns […]
Should I Empty My IRA Early?
It is not always a good idea to keep money in an IRA as long as possible. In most cases, it makes sense to let income and gains compound tax deferred for many years. But that can change as you get older. You might benefit by taking more money out of an IRA than you […]
Surprising Retiree Tax Havens
Did you know that you might be able to move from low-tax Virginia, retire in Massachusetts, and cut your tax bill dramatically? That’s true, if you are a federal government retiree. Your government pension annuity is exempt from taxes in Massachusetts and several other states, but not in Virginia. Florida seems like a tax haven, […]
