You’ve seen the footage on the news. You’ve been in the middle of it. You’ve stood in the vexing lines. You’ve circled for the elusive parking spots. Holiday shopping can be downright frenzied – and impulsive. You don’t necessarily need to go to the mall to...
New economic & political concerns are putting stocks to the test. Dow drops again, analysts wonder. March 13 saw another triple-digit descent for the blue chips – the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 230 points, the second market day in less than two weeks...
A reminder about mandatory withdrawals from IRAs & other retirement plans. Just what is an RMD? After you turn 70½, the IRS requires you to withdraw some of the money in most retirement savings accounts each year. These withdrawals are officially called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).1 You...
Retirement & estate planning strategies are being greatly altered. When the Supreme Court affirmed the legality of same-sex marriage in June, its ruling profoundly altered the financial planning landscape for gay and lesbian couples – resulting in some “night and day” differences. Yet in looking at the...
What makes financial sense for some baby boomers may not make sense for you. There is no “typical” retirement. Many baby boomers want one and believe that they will have one, and their futures may indeed unfold as planned. For others, the story will be different....
WEEKLY QUOTE“Everything you can imagine is real.” - Pablo Picasso WEEKLY TIP Retiring in the near future? A monthly retirement budget is a good idea – and so is a current budget that establishes a schedule for paying down debts and reducing costs before you enter...
WEEKLY QUOTE“Simplicity is the key to brilliance.” - Bruce Lee WEEKLY TIP If you paid an au pair, maid or other domestic employee more than $1,800 in 2012, you are looking at the “nanny tax”. See IRS Publication 926 and talk with your tax advisor. WEEKLY RIDDLE You...