Rules changes for IRAs, 401(k)s & other savings vehicles. The IRS has made minor adjustments to retirement plan limitations for 2014. As inflation has been tame in 2013, these COLAs aren’t dramatic; as a result, some retirement plans won’t see any next year. Here is a...
Where is everything? Time to organize and centralize your documents. Before retirement begins, gather what you need. Put as much documentation as you can in one place, for you and those you love. It could be a password-protected online vault; it could be a file cabinet;...
In the coming years, many Americans will face the challenge. 70% of people currently over age 65 will require some long term care someday. That is the estimate of the U.S. Administration on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.1 Will...
A look at the economist newly nominated to lead the Federal Reserve. Janet Yellen – currently the vice chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve – has been nominated to succeed Ben Bernanke at the helm of the world’s most important central bank....
WEEKLY QUOTE“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” - J.K. Rowling WEEKLY TIP A retirement plan isn’t simply about reaching a number. As you get closer to your savings goals, keep your life goals front and center. WEEKLY RIDDLE If there are...
Financially, there are reasons why you may want to work a bit longer. The case for working past 65. Increasingly, baby boomers are urged to work until full retirement age or beyond. (Social Security defines “full” retirement age as 66 for those born from 1943-1954; it...
Crucial questions & essential documents. The financial planning process is not merely a matter of numbers. When you meet with a financial advisor to map out a strategy for wealth accumulation or wealth preservation, you may find yourself intellectually and emotionally engaged on a level you...
The global economic consequences could be severe. In October, America may risk running out of cash. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew recently urged Congress to lift the federal debt limit before October 17. Secretary Lew claims that if nothing is done by that date, the Treasury will...
What raises eyebrows at the IRS? Are you one of those taxpayers worried about being audited? The fear may be overblown – according to Internal Revenue Service data, just 1.6 million taxpayers were audited in 2011. The agency reviewed about 1% of returns sent in by...
A study suggests the “conventional wisdom” may be flawed. If you move away from equities with age, are you making a mistake? For some time, financial professionals have encouraged investors to lessen their exposure to the stock market as they get older. After all, a 60-year-old...