Identity Theft Warning Signs
According to data compiled by Norton, cybercrime hits over 74 million Americans annually. You know you have been victimized when you get that courtesy call or email from a bank or credit card issuer - but is there a way you can tell prior to that moment?1
There are warning signs of cybercrime. Watching out for them just might save you money and headaches. If you notice any of the following conditions, pay attention.
When Will Interest Rates Rise?
Here’s a trivia question for you: when was the last time the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark U.S. interest rate?
The answer...
Retiring Solo
Most retirement planning literature portrays a retirement transition in the context of a couple or a family – but what about those who retire alone? What particular challenges do they face, and how must their preparation for retirement differ? Retiring alone presents unique challenges...
In-Service 401k Withdrawals & Retirement Income Planning
Can you withdraw money from your 401(k) while you are still employed? Not everyone should; not everyone can. However, if you can, it may mean that you can effectively implement part of your retirement income plan before you retire. If your 401(k) plan permits it, you can take an in-service withdrawal and redirect some of your 401(k) funds into another investment vehicle that offers you income guarantees.
Looking at the New Estate Tax Laws
With 2013 approaching, many families and their financial, tax and legal consultants are weighing major estate planning decisions. A short-term window of opportunity may be closing. The relatively low estate tax rates we have now may soon disappear, along with one of the largest federal tax breaks available in decades.
What is a Reasonable Retirement Savings Rate?
How much salary should you defer into a retirement plan? Ultimately, the answer is “however much your budget allows you to contribute”. The big-picture question, however, is whether you need to contribute more to your retirement savings in order to maintain your lifestyle after your career is done.
The 2 Biggest Retirement Misconceptions
We’ve all heard about the “new retirement”, the mix of work and play that many of us assume we will have in our lives one day. We do not expect “retirement” to be all leisure. While this is becoming a cultural assumption among baby boomers, it is interesting to see that certain financial assumptions haven’t really changed with the times.
Can We Avert the "Fiscal Cliff"?
Recently, you may have heard about the “looming fiscal cliff”, the “coming fiscal cliff” and so forth. What exactly is it? Briefly stated, the “fiscal cliff” is a potential $7 trillion dilemma facing Congress this fall – a Congress not known for ready cooperation. If America goes over it, our economy could stumble.
The Retirement Reality Check
Decades ago, there was a popular book entitled What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School. Perhaps someday, another book will appear to discuss certain aspects of the retirement experience that go unrecognized - the “fine print”, if you will. Here are some little things that can be frequently overlooked.
Shopping for a Bank or Credit Union
Moving your money to a smaller, better bank has become a trend. You can attribute it to poor service at the larger institutions, the promise of higher interest rates or more flexible business lending standards elsewhere, or even the Occupy movement. So what do you look for when you are shopping for a bank or a credit union? First, let’s detail the differences between the two.
Insurance Implications of the Affordable Care Act
By a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court has upheld the core of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The law’s most controversial provision will stand – the mandate requiring every American citizen to buy individual health insurance coverage. The ruling carries profound implications for individuals, businesses and households.
Financial Impact of the Affordable Care Act
President Obama’s health care law has held up in the Supreme Court. So what impact might this have on the stock market, businesses, and investors in the coming months?
Virtues of Buying Dividend Stocks
Sometimes you will hear a “buzz” about this or that investment class, and recently there has been considerable “buzz” surrounding dividend stocks. With today’s rock-bottom interest rates, it is easy to understand why.
20 Tips for Minimizing Your Taxes in 2012 & Beyond
If your goal is tax minimization, here are 20 “to-dos” you might want to accomplish before 2013 arrives; alone or in combination, they could save you some money. Just one note beforehand: consult the tax or financial professional you trust before you make these moves, so you can see how they fit within your overall financial picture.
We're Living Longer! (...but it's Costing More)
First the good news -- Our average life expectancy has gone up from 47.3 years in 1900 to 78.3 years today. But for those of us in the latter part of our lives… it gets even better! Since 1940, Americans have gained a little over a year of life expectancy during every 5-year period. The bad news is that it costs money to live longer. In the March 2012 issue of Smart Money Magazine they actually broke down the cost of living longer. The numbers are staggering!
The Pros & Cons of Roth IRA Conversions
The Bush-era tax cuts could sunset in 2013, and that possibility has prompted some traditional IRA owners to think about Roth conversions. If tax rates go up, going Roth may be smart. The key word in that last sentence is “may,” as going Roth may not be for everyone.
An Estate-Planning Checklist
Estate planning is a task that people tend to put off, as any discussion of “the end” tends to be off-putting. However, those who leave this world without their financial affairs in good order risk leaving their heirs some significant problems along with their legacies.
No matter what your age, here are some things you may want to accomplish this year with regard to estate planning.
If Interest Rates Rise, What Happens to Bonds?
We have seen an epic “flight to safety” this spring. In April alone, $20.6 billion moved into bond funds, according to Lipper. In the same month, $12.7 billion left stock funds (which marked the 12th consecutive month of net withdrawals).1
The Great Recession... Who Won, Who Lost
Understanding who won… and who lost during this Great Recession can enable us to better prepare for what’s next. Let’s first look at who got clobbered by the recession that began in 2008:
Parents, Alzheimer's & Money
Every eighth American aged 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease, and 43% of Americans aged 85 and older have it, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Consider those percentages in light of the Social Security Administration’s estimate that about 25% of today’s 65-year-olds will live past age 90. These shocking statistics have serious implications for family wealth.