....when should you and when should you NOT max out your 401k plan? 401(k’s) differ from IRA’s in one significant way: 401(k)’s allow current workers under 50 to put away up to $18,000 a year. For those over 50, a special “catch-up “provision will let them put in an additional $6,000, raising that threshold to [...]
Which method will serve you better in retirement? Those approaching or in retirement may seek the highest returns possible for many reasons, such as leaving behind a large legacy or traveling around the world. Sometimes it may be just to stay ahead of rising healthcare costs, inflation, and taxes. At this stage of life, [...]
Learn to Take Your Vitamins, Think Like a Tortoise and Comprehend the Real Meaning behind the Annuity (Part 1) We both know that there is an emotional bridge that exists between the scintillating idea of an investment and the more mundane concept of a guarantee through insurance. Peers often assume that to cross from [...]
In September 2013 a UC Berkeley study found that the wealthiest 1% of Americans saw their income grow by 31.4% between 2009 and 2012. Also it was discovered that income inequality in the United States was the highest since before the Great Depression. One reason why most in the middle class cannot move to a loftier position is our tax system. Workers are taxed at a different rate than investors — the difference between earned income and dividend and capital gains taxation is significant.
The big difference between the Roth IRA and other retirement accounts is that rather than receiving a tax break for monies placed into the account, you receive the tax break when you withdraw the money. Why is this difference important? Like any other choice based around tax issues, the more funds that have a tax advantage, the better the net results. Using a Roth IRS’s long term accumulation allow for blending this tax free income with other assets which may have more tax liability.
The financial industry is re-training their customer base to accept robo-advisors as actual customer service. What is the cost to consumers?
Women live longer than men, an annuity with lifetime income might make good sense It hasn’t even been that long ago women could not vote in America. Not only that, there was a time when women were considered “property” of their husbands in many parts of the world that is still the case. Fortunately, in [...]
Your financial planner gets paid even if your account loses value, what a deal! In the past, financial planners, stock brokers and financial advisors used assets under management as a revenue source. It works this way: the client has $500,000 invested with the advisor and even though some of the assets may have been acquired [...]
Should you consider using a financial planning attorney. Often, a simple meeting with an attorney can make all the difference in the world when it comes to an orderly asset transfer. Here’s a story to illustrate why a couple in Indiana decided to take the do-it-yourself approach to financial planning. The husband died unexpectedly, and [...]
Many varieties of trusts exist and it is important to understand how each may affect your desired goals.
