In the year 2000, almost 10 million people needed some form of long-term care in the United States. Of that number, 3.6 million (37%) were under age 65 and 6 million (63%) were over age 65*. What does that really mean? This trend means that almost 70% of people turning age 65 will need long-term
Beneficiaries
May 15, 2017 By
I’m sure most of you are glad the tax filing deadline has come and gone, although I suspect there are plenty of you that have postponed the inevitable with an extension. Either way, just getting through the April deadline seems to remove much of the anxiety surrounding taxes in general and can allow us to
Roth 401k vs Traditional 401k, Which is Best?
August 15, 2016 By
Recently, there has been renewed discussion about whether employee investors should make traditional pre-tax contributions into their employer-provided 401k plan or take advantage of the Roth 401k option. Over the past several years, many employers have added a Roth 401k option to their retirement plan offering, which is the basis for the increased discussion. What
Tax Free? Does it Really Exist?
July 28, 2016 By
Most People Confuse Tax Deferred (will be taxed at some point) with Tax Free (will never be taxed) When most investors hear “tax free income”, they immediately think about investing in municipal bonds which are free from federal income taxation. There are many financial calculators for the tax free equivalent yield when investing in municipal
Tax Free? Does it Really Exist?
May 15, 2016 By
Most People Confuse Tax Deferred (will be taxed at some point) with Tax Free (will never be taxed) When most investors hear “tax free income”, they immediately think about investing in municipal bonds which are free from federal income taxation. There are many financial calculators for the tax free equivalent yield when investing in municipal
Planning for the Inevitable
March 15, 2016 By
This month we’d like to hit on a topic that most of us avoid because it can be hard to talk about. That topic is death, and more specifically, planning our own funeral, memorial service, and burial or cremation. On a personal note, I’ve been through this process in just the last two months with
Annuities 101
August 15, 2015 By
Most of you have already made it over this education hurdle and have turned to planning for funding sources for retirement instead. That’s one of the reason we’re constantly working with clients to determine reasonable distribution rates during retirement. And ways to provide monthly income utilizing investment portfolios or pensions, along with the timing of
ISR - What is it and is it for you?
March 17, 2015 By
Recently, I have been working with a USPFA member discussing and evaluating one of these transition times for many of us in regard to our retirement planning. The top of mind topic for these members was the In-Service Rollover (or ISR). Many people are not aware that once you reach the age of 59 ½, you have the ability to transfer a portion of your retirement plan assets (401k, 403b or similar retirement plan vehicle) into a self-directed IRA. This transfer can be completed while you are still working for your employer and while you continue to participate in your employer provided retirement plan. Each retirement plan has specific rules and processes but typically, this transfer can be up to 80% of your 401k balance.
Do I Retire Early with Social Security Benefits or Wait Until Full Retirement Age?
January 18, 2014 By
Do I retire early with social security benefits or wait until full benefit (normal) retirement age? This is a question asked frequently, and is not a simple math equation of 2 + 2 = 4. Early retirement is defined as age 62 to 67, depending upon your birth date. If a retiree selects early retirement, they will receive a smaller monthly benefit as opposed to waiting until normal retirement age.
The answer is not strictly financial, but is dependent upon a wide range of concerns and variables that will be determined based on an individual’s circumstances.
What Will The Fed Do?
Since we are constantly being bombarded with what the Fed may do this month or next, I thought it might be a good idea to look at some history on how we got to this place with a specific eye on the Fed’s 2% target inflation rate. Arguing in favor of a hike is the