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- Recovering From Retirement Denial - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2010 from William TaberHardly a week goes by without a personal finance magazine commenting in one way or another that Americans are ill-prepared for retirement. Yet, in spite of these alarming and repetitive warnings, we Americans and specifically we Iowans appear to be in denial that the post World War II ...
Views: 2438(7 votes) - ***Losey: Tax Alert - Plan to Take Advantage of 2010 - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Bill LoseyDo you see a warning light flashing? Americans with high net worth and high incomes are preparing for the likelihood of higher taxes in 2011 and subsequent years. High earners are almost certainly going to take the hit if the EGTRRA and JGTRRA cuts fade away at the end of 2010. Here’s a summary ...
Views: 1706(25 votes) - ***Your Retirement Portfolio: The Potential Of The BRIC Nations - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2010 from Bill LoseyBrazil. Russia. India. China. These four nations have some of the fastest-growing economies on earth and are becoming drivers in the world economy. In the coming decades, they may command as much attention as the U.S., Japan and other “heavy hitters” … or more. The future aside, we know one ...
Views: 2963(34 votes) - *** Pre-Retirement 401k & Asset Allocation Advice - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2009 from Bill LoseyQuestion: I plan on retiring in 15 years (at age 60) and currently have 85% of my money in stocks. I’ve been maxing out my 401(K) since I was 21, and in the last year, I have seen some frightening drops in my funds. Should I be making any kind of changes to prevent more losses? Larry, Texas ...
Views: 1990(18 votes) - ***5 Retirement Planning Blunders - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2010 from Bill LoseyRetiring from ones job can be a stressful time but it doesn’t have to be. Realize that it’s natural to be nervous, anxious and/or confused when you’re going through a major life change. Your decision to retire is causing you to step outside your comfort zone and is forcing you to make many new ...
Views: 2247(21 votes) - ***The 2 Biggest Retirement Misconceptions - by Submitted on May 27, 2010 from Bill LoseyWe’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 ...
Views: 2505(3 votes) - ***To Roth or Not to Roth? - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2010 from Bill LoseyThat is the question being contemplated by millions of American’s and their tax preparers. In case you haven’t heard, beginning January 1, 2010, any investor may convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Unlike prior years where where there were income limitations, no IRS income limits will ...
Views: 2074(3 votes) - A Million Dollars Isn’t What It Used To Be - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2010 from William TaberThose of us in the boomer generation may remember a television show called “The Millionaire” where an anonymous philanthropist gave unsuspecting ordinary Joe citizens a check for $1,000,000 and watched how their lives were vastly changed by the ability to buy virtually anything they wanted in ...
Views: 2514(6 votes) - ESTATE PLANNING - Why it’s right for everyone - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Suzanne QuinnIn her new book, Own Your Life, 7 Essential Steps to Independence, author, speaker and lawyer Suzanne B. Quinn guides the reader through the seven essential steps to personal and financial security and independence. This article is an excerpt from her book, comprising one of the seven ...
Views: 1722(3 votes) - Investing to Retire Early - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2010 from Ricky DPreparing for your retirement is a task that should never be ignored. While most people would like to "deal with it later", saving early for this soon-to-be stage of your life can make a huge difference in the future, particularly if you desire to quit your job and enjoy life sooner. ...
Views: 2128(15 votes) - Pre-Retirement Planning Advice to Create Predictable Income - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2009 from Bill LoseyEditor's Note: The following is an excerpt from Retire in a Weekend! The Baby Boomers’ Guide to Making Work Optional. Catch a sneak peek of the authors DVD, The 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Retiring & How YOU Can Avoid Them at www.RetireinaWeekend.com. Creating a steady stream of ...
Views: 1740(21 votes) - Splitting Individual Retirement Accounts During Divorce - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2009 from David KaneAn area where many individuals get into tax trouble is when splitting their Qualified Retirement Accounts (QRPs) and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Once you have come to the revelation that your assets must be split you may be tempted to start the process by making pre-divorce transfers ...
Views: 2000(3 votes) - What type of retiree will you be? Part 3 - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2010 from Ann HarrisonWhat’s your retirement style? I've identified four different types of retiree - Activists, Individualists, Specialists and Traditionalists. Specialists are the enthusiasts, the devotees, the people who have a continuing (often lifelong) passion for their work - they love what they do so ...
Views: 1929(3 votes) - Your Man Is Not Your Retirement Plan - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2012 from Sharon ODayNo, your man is not your retirement plan. Tough words, I know. But, regardless how great your relationship is with the man in your life, recognize that there are three undeniable realities that make it critical that you be able to stand on your own two feet. Three Undeniable ...
Views: 2244(3 votes) - *** Coping with the Prospect of Inflation in Retirement - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2009 from Karyn MaierQuestion: I’ve been thinking about retiring for a few years now but I’m really concerned about how expensive everything is. I’m still working and wondering if I’ll ever have enough to retire. How do you help people cope with high inflation? Phillip, CT Answer: I help my private clients ...
Views: 1540(17 votes) - ***Questioning Work & Retirement - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2009 from Bill LoseyQuestion: I’m 55 and not really happy with my job any more. I’d like to retire but I’m not sure I have enough money. What should I do? Liz, New York Answer: Liz, realize that you’re not alone. Many baby boomers are tired and burnt, and no longer want to wake up to their alarm clock come ...
Views: 1580(25 votes) - *** The Phased Retirement Alternative - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2009 from Bill LoseyQuestion: I’m turning 60 next year. While I don’t want to continue working full-time anymore, I don’t have the desire (or nest egg) to retire completely. What do you suggest? Doris, PA Answer: Doris, how about a phased retirement? Instead of working 40 hours per week, talk with your ...
Views: 1479(22 votes) - 7 Financial Blind Spots - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2009 from Peter RichonAs a general disclaimer, the tax code is complex, everyone’s situation is a little different, therefore, please do not take any action on strategies discussed without first consulting with an expert about your individual situation. The information contained in this article is believed to be ...
Views: 1696(8 votes) - ***Obamacare - Separating Facts From Myths - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Bill LoseyConfusing doesn’t even begin to describe it. Throughout the very long debate over health care reform, a great deal of misinformation (spurred by presumption or misunderstanding) was circulating. Additionally, many changes and alterations to the proposed law were made along the way. At this ...
Views: 4761(17 votes) - ***Your Stock Market Correction Protection Plan - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2010 from Bill LoseyQuestion: This stock market is nuts! How am I supposed to protect my IRA and 401k from losing money when I’ve only got three years until I retire? Bonnie, Ohio Answer: A few years before retiring, if possible, you should begin to accumulate an amount of money that's equivalent to 2-5 ...
Views: 2342(16 votes) - ***What's In Your Retirement Investment Portfolio? - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Bill LoseyThe stock market is unsettled … and perhaps its fluctuations are unsettling you. It’s a stressful time for the economy and Wall Street, and you may be concerned about your portfolio given what’s going on with oil prices, the real estate market, and rising unemployment figures. It may be a good ...
Views: 2034(2 votes) - 401k Plan Mistakes: Top 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2011 from Teddy DanfieldSince the advent of 401k plans in 1981 making mistakes in 401k plans have become commonplace. Let's take a look at four common mistakes we can avoid. #1 Chasing Returns Chasing returns is as common as trying to keep up with the Jones’. Chasing returns means looking at your yearend ...
Views: 1435(4 votes) - Life After Retirement Can be Absolutely Great - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2009 from Brian ClarkYour life after retirement must be a new beginning. Most people come to the realization that when they reach retirement age that they have no plan for their retired lives. Many folks have a plan in place for their lives, including investing time at college to find a suitable career, ...
Views: 2947(4 votes) - Money Management Tips You Can Bank On - by Submitted on May 13, 2010 from Bern BuentipoWith the current economic climate everyone is looking for money management tips that will help ensure financial security. We all want to save money and get the best value for our dollar, yet it often seems as if we struggle just to make ends meet, leaving little left at the end of each ...
Views: 2173(4 votes) - Retirement Investment: Investing in Energy and Creativity - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2009 from Hyacinth Gooden-BaileyInvesting in your retirement we usually talk about money, but well in advance and more importantly we need to invest some time to plan ahead, to give yourself a second chance to figure out what you should really be doing with your life. Pre-retirement is a good time to invest in useful guidance, ...
Views: 1483(2 votes) - ***6 Steps To Get Out Of Debt - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2009 from Bill LoseyEvery day, people draw on money they don’t actually have – via credit cards, payday loans, home equity lines of credit, and even their 401(k)s. Many of them end up making minimum payments on these high-interest loans – a sure way to stay indebted forever. If this is your situation, you may be ...
Views: 1614(6 votes) - “Senior Proofing” Bathrooms – Ways to Prevent Falls and other Accidents - by Submitted on Jan 18, 2011 from Gloria Hao SchneiderMany seniors fall victim to neglecting personal hygiene, not out of forgetfulness, but because navigating themselves through a slippery bathtub or shower is not only exhausting, but also downright scary. Although they may resist it in the beginning, seniors who wish to stay at home and prolong ...
Views: 5327(2 votes) - *** Are You Preparing Fiscally and Physically for Retirement? - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2009 from Doug Splittgerber & Debra CorboIf you are like most people, you have been diligently putting some of your hard earned money away in some type of retirement plan. For most people though, their preparations involve only the monetary type with a total lack of awareness about preparing and preserving the body they live in for ...
Views: 1662(3 votes) - *** How Long Will it Take to Double My Money? - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2009 from Karyn MaierQuestion: I just inherited $200,000. If I put it in a bank CD, how many years will it take before it’s worth $400,000? Answer: 14.4 years – assuming your interest rate is 5%. In the financial planning world there is something called the “Rule of 72”. It’s a very simple way to compute and ...
Views: 4212(2 votes) - ***4 Pre-Retirement Requirements For Investing Your Money - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Bill LoseyQuestion: What are some things I should keep in mind if I want to reach the goal of retirement within three years? Thanks in advance for your response. Lorri, MA Answer: Lorri, whether your goal is retirement in 3 years, a new car in 5 years, or college education in eighteen years, in order ...
Views: 1420(1 vote) - ***Retirement & Your Asset Allocation - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2009 from Bill LoseyQuestion: I’m getting closer to retiring and everything I read says I should get more defensive in my portfolio. Does this make sense for me? Answer: It depends. How is your portfolio allocated now? Do you own mostly stocks or do you have a lot of money in bonds and CDs? What’s your ...
Views: 1484(4 votes) - ***Retirement Resolutions for Your 50's & 60's - by Submitted on Jan 04, 2010 from Bill LoseyQuestion: My husband and I (age 62 and 57) want to make some resolutions to sure up our retirement picture in 2010. Any thoughts you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Bea, Stamford, CT Answer: Bea, here’s a checklist to get you on track in 2010! 1. If you haven’t maxed out ...
Views: 1682(3 votes) - ***Saving for Retirement on a Budget - by Submitted on Jul 24, 2009 from Bill LoseyQuestion: As a self-employed empty nester, what advice can you give to starting our retirement nest egg at this late date? My husband and I are both in our early 50’s. We would like something simple that we can contribute small ($50) amounts to at a time. Joy, PA Answer: Joy, I did some ...
Views: 1451(2 votes) - 3 Simple Steps To Having Enough Money To Retire - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2010 from Todd TresidderIt’s no secret that you should be saving money for retirement over and above what Social Security, your pension or 401(k) plan will cover. But do you know how much money you need to retire so that you can maintain your chosen lifestyle? Most people don’t and the consequences can be ...
Views: 4004(2 votes) - Asset Protection - Retain Your Wealth - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2009 from Charles BenninghoffAsset Protection is everyone’s desire, but adults share a characteristic - that they may be sued at anytime, for any reason, whether founded or not. Civil actions range from the serious to the frivolous. Did you offend someone today with something you said? Did you cause someone to suffer ...
Views: 1817(2 votes) - Baby Boomer Women: Is Your Career Where You Want it to Be? - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2010 from Kim Kirmmse TothYou go to school, you get your education, you get your experience and your working world should be in pretty good shape right? While that may be true for many of you I’ll bet my bottom dollar it’s not true for each of you. Would you like this to be true for you? Heck Yes! Why wouldn’t you? ...
Views: 1958(1 vote) - Boomer Women: Are You Rethinking Your Retirement Date? - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2009 from Kim Kirmmse TothIf so, you are certainly not alone. Also, women are more apt to extend this date then men. Women earning $75,000.00 or more have a six out of ten chance of delaying retirement. Those are high numbers and now there is even a term for this. If you are one of the six, you are part of the ...
Views: 1447(2 votes) - Boomer Women: When Work Interferes with Your Life & How to Change it - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2010 from Kim Kirmmse TothHas your work ever interfered with your ‘other life?’ That ‘real’ life that does not include work, even if it’s work you love? What I mean is true leisure. Not thinking about, planning about or doing anything even close to work. I am talking especially for those of you entrepreneurial types. ...
Views: 1631(1 vote) - Can a Cup of Coffee Destroy Your Retirement Goals? - by Submitted on May 28, 2010 from Cathy SeversonIf anyone was going to succeed at retirement it is was Al. An accomplished artist, we first met at a Christmas party of a mutual friend. He was eagerly awaiting retirement as an administrator from a large California university. He was looking forward to entering a new career as an artist. ...
Views: 2463(2 votes) - Does Retirement Only Come at 65? - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Debbie RustonWhy is it people believe they have to work until they are 65 before they can enter retirement? Why is it people have bought into this idea and wait sixty five years before they get out and live and do what they really want to do? Why do people think they can't retire young? Why do people think ...
Views: 1453(1 vote) - Economic Woes, War and Calamity Forecast: Impending Timelines of Current Events and Scripture - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2009 from Dr. Richard Ruhling“Banks will close, currency will change, what happened last fall was a shadow of what’s coming,” says Dr. Richard Ruhling, author on current events and Bible prophecy, noting that when the U.S. Senate met to approve a $760 billion bailout, the new moon on October 1 signaled the Feast of ...
Views: 2208(1 vote) - From Job to Freedom: Making the Move Successfully! - by Submitted on Oct 19, 2009 from Donna GalayThousands of people turn 55 each day in Canada. Most of them will retire for the first time, unsuccessfully, at age 57. Why “unsuccessfully”? Because while many pre-retirees plan and calculate their financial resources to ensure an adequate nest egg to fund their retirement, almost none of them ...
Views: 1228(3 votes) - Guaranteed Social Security Benefits: Make It So - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2008 from Steve SelengutThe comically complicated PSA (Personal Savings Account) legislation bouncing around Congress will raise taxes, increase investment risk, and expand the size of government. Let's stop applying Band-Aids to spouting arteries. We are looking for a guaranteed retirement benefit program, and ...
Views: 1435(1 vote) - How Much Employment For Senior Citizens Is Available? - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2010 from Raymond AngusWhere is all the employment for senior citizens? How can it be identified and applied for. Is it only available locally, or are the employment openings for seniors national? Are your carefully laid plans for a pleasant tour, although perhaps not royal, through your golden years seem to be ...
Views: 1500(1 vote) - Investing For Profits, Part Two - The Easiest Way to Improve Your Results - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2009 from Steven FloydWould you like a better return on your investments? Whether you have an IRA or a brokerage account, chances are that your money is mostly in mutual funds. Read on to learn more about why this is not the best place for it to be, and what to do instead. First of all, you should know that this ...
Views: 1026(1 vote) - Investment Updates: Second Quarter 2012 - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2012 from Samuel LiAfter a promising start in the first quarter of 2012, capital markets became increasingly volatile in the second quarter, as Europe's debt crisis escalated once again and weaker global economic activity caused investors to take a more cautious tone. In the Eurozone, Greece and Spain were ...
Views: 1769(2 votes) - Retirement Income Investment Planning - Step One - by Submitted on Sep 08, 2008 from Steve SelengutYour retirement income investment plan starts now, right now, no matter how old or well heeled you happen to be. Step One is to understand what a retirement plan is, and to identify the three large numbers you need to keep track of while you are developing your stash. With these three totals on ...
Views: 2021(1 vote) - Retirement Investment - Can You Squeeze the Risk Out of Your Retirement Investment? - by Submitted on May 25, 2011 from Robert RubinThe Perfect Retirement Investment A perfect retirement investment would look something like this - * You can't lose money. Safety guaranteed. * Your payouts can only go up. Never down. No matter what happens. This retirement investment exists: variable annuities. Competition has made ...
Views: 1050(3 votes) - Retirement Jobs: How is Your Entrepreneurial Spirit? - by Submitted on Jul 23, 2009 from Kim Kirmmse TothAlways the feisty ones, you boomers aren’t going to let the economy slow you down! If you have retired already or have been laid off you may have a desire to get back into the employment seen. Well, hate to tell you this, but that may be easier said than done. So what? You’re resilient and ...
Views: 1520(3 votes) - Reverse Mortgage Defaults: Do These Loans Carry a Higher Risk? - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2012 from Brittney ParksAccording to statistics compiled by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, between 10,000 and 15,000 Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are currently in technical default. Some lenders have even foreclosed on seniors who could not arrange a payment plan or otherwise get their ...
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