What Happens HERE if Greece Exits the Euro?
If Greece leaves the eurozone in the coming months, what kind of financial ripples could reach America?
IRA Dates & Milestones to Remember
IRAs come with complex rules and regulations. As these rules and regulations are occasionally forgotten or misinterpreted by IRA owners, here is a refresher.
How Much Retirement Income Should You Withdraw?
The big question: how much is too much? In the first few years of retirement, some couples really “live it up” … and some of them risk spending down their retirement savings. Their portfolios aren’t earning enough to make back the income they’re withdrawing.
Some new retirees end up withdrawing as much as 7-10% of their retirement assets annually. A bull market tends to encourage this kind of exuberance. But what happens when the bulls don’t run? What if your portfolio only returns 1-2% this year? Can you see the potential problem?
Ultimately, the answer is...
Sell in May... & Go Away?
In the classic market psychology, you “sell in May and go away” with the belief that stock prices will plateau or retreat in spring and summer, and then you return to stocks in the fall, taking advantage of bargains and factors that will encourage a hot fourth quarter.
Options for More Retirement Income
Do you wish you had more money these days? You aren’t alone. Many retirees find that their income streams are insufficient.
Right now, interest rates are at rock bottom – and it appears they will stay there for the near future. With the federal funds rate near 0%, some of the classic conservative retirement investments – such as money market funds and CDs – aren’t even earning returns to keep up with 2%-3% inflation.1,2
Today, a little adjustment to your portfolio might lead to a better yield.
Who is Your IRA Beneficiary?
Do you have an IRA or a 401(k)? You probably do. You may have both of these retirement savings accounts in your portfolio, or accounts that are similar. While IRAs and 401(k)s are commonplace, many IRA owners and 401(k) plan participants have a hard time answering a common question. They aren’t sure who they have named as the account beneficiary.
You Can't Hide in Fixed Income
When is being risk-averse too risky for the sake of your retirement? After you conclude your career or sell your company, you have a right to be financially cautious. At the same time, you can risk being a little too cautious - some retirees invest so timidly that their portfolios barely yield any return.
The Big Estate Planning Question of 2012
In late 2010, Congress gave wealthy taxpayers a remarkable short-term opportunity to shift assets out of their estates tax-free during their lifetimes. This opportunity is available through the end of 2012 – and it could vanish after that.
Audit Red Flags
Are you one of those taxpayers worried about being audited? Let’s look at some red flags that might get you extra IRS scrutiny.
Q1 2012 Quarterly Economic Update
Dow +8.14%. S&P500 +12.00%. NASDAQ +18.67%. These numbers resemble a good year on Wall Street - and these were simply the advances from the first quarter. While stocks may or may not climb higher for the rest of the year, investors could certainly cheer the opening quarter of 2012 - the best quarter for U.S. equities in nearly 14 years.
What Happens to Our Social Media Identity When We Die?
If you use Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, you may have wondered what happens when users die. Are profiles immortal? Are memories lost? Few users really know.
How Much Retirement Income Will You Really Need?
Many people underestimate lifestyle costs, medical expenses and inflation.
Ways to Put a Refund to Work...
Is a tax refund coming your way? If you have already received your refund for 2012 or are about to receive it, you might want to think about the destiny of that money. Here are some possibilities:
Could Gas Prices Harm the Recovery?
By March 16, retail gas prices were up 16.94% YTD. This major climb is leading some economists to wonder if the leap in gas prices is powerful enough to stall our economic momentum.
China, Its Currency & the Global Economy
Right now, there are dozens of mutual funds and ETFs devoted explicitly to investing in China’s impressive emerging market. Even with the risk of asset bubbles, the promise of China is simply too tantalizing to ignore for many. The question is whether its economy can maintain its powerful momentum in 2012. If not, the impact on global investors could be significant.