The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is the biggest piece of retirement legislation to be passed in years. It will undoubtedly have a major effect on how many Americans approach retirement planning, and particularly estate planning. We’re covering these changes throughout the month and focusing on the elimination of ‘stretch’ IRAs [...]
Donald Trump ended 2019 by signing a 2020 spending bill that includes the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. It’s the biggest piece of retirement legislation to be passed in years and it will undoubtedly have a major effect on how many Americans approach retirement and estate planning. This month we’ll cover [...]
A recent Northwestern Mutual survey found that 41% of Americans are stressed about retirement planning, and 46% worry about outliving their savings.[1] And with 62% of Americans stressed about money in general[2], it’s surprising that only 28% of Americans will actually make New Year’s resolutions that are financial in nature, according to a MassMutual survey[3]. [...]
You might have a Christmas to-do list to help you stay on track this holiday season. And while it may be an overwhelming list already, there are a few important financial deadlines you should add to it. It’s the season of giving, so don’t forget to give yourself the gift of tax planning. What you [...]
Tax-advantaged retirement accounts like traditional 401(k)s and IRAs offer many advantages, but some of these don’t last forever. The government eventually reaps the reward of years of tax-free compounded interest by forcing you to withdraw funds from your own retirement accounts and inherited accounts. So if you have a retirement account, be prepared for your [...]
Your holiday season might be full of social plans, shopping, and traveling, but it’s important to take time to make important financial decisions before the end of year. Even though April 15th seems far away, the decisions you make now can potentially affect your 2019 tax situation. There are strategies to help reduce your 2019 [...]
Thanksgiving is a good time to think about how you express gratitude. Some people donate their time or money to a charitable organization, or just enjoy the simple pleasures of retirement. The great thing about giving is that you often get something back. Volunteering is a great way to make new social connections, you might [...]
Some surprises are great, like birthday parties, winning the lottery, and getting two candy bars from the vending machine. Others may not be as much fun, like taxes and unforeseen expenses. However, there are ways to help prepare for these expenses so that they’re not surprises. With a custom strategy in place to help cover [...]
There’s a 70% Chance You’ll Need Long-Term Care We can all celebrate an increasing life expectancy as we look forward to our golden years. In 1950 the life expectancy for American men was 65.6, and for American women was 71.[1] Now it’s 76.3 for men and 81.4 for women. Of course, many people live to be older [...]
In 2019, Social Security benefits received a 2.8% increase[1] – the largest since 2012. But in 2020, benefits will only see a 1.6% increase[2]. Even though inflation is low right now, the cumulative effect of inflation has eroded the buying power of Social Security by a third since 2000[3] according to the Senior Citizens League. [...]
