The Backdoor Roth IRA May 29, 2018 A move that high earners can make in pursuit of tax-free retirement income. Does your high income stop you from contributing to a Roth IRA? It does not necessarily prohibit you from having one. You may be able to create a backdoor Roth IRA and give yourself the potential for a tax-free income stream in [...]
Retirement Planning Weak Spots May 29, 2018 They are all too common. Many households think they are planning carefully for retirement. In many cases, they are not. Weak spots in their retirement planning and saving may go unnoticed. Couples should recognize that they may face major medical expenses. Each year, Fidelity Investments estimates how much a pair of newly retired 65-year-olds will [...]
Will Teachers Get the Retirement That They Deserve? May 29, 2018 Classroom educators are coping with hybrid plans and pension fund shortfalls. Arizona. Kentucky. Massachusetts. Michigan. Pennsylvania. Rhode Island. Tennessee. In these states and others, teachers are concerned about their financial futures. The retirement programs they were counting on have either restructured or face critical questions.1,2 Increasingly, states are transferring investment risk onto teachers. Hybrid retirement [...]
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The Different Types of IRAs May 29, 2018 This popular retirement savings vehicle comes in several varieties. What don’t you know? Many Americans know about Roth and traditional IRAs, but there are other types of Individual Retirement Arrangements. Here’s a quick look at all the different types of IRAs: Traditional IRAs (occasionally called deductible IRAs) are the “original” IRAs. In most cases, contributions [...]
Set Goals as You Save & Invest May 29, 2018 Turn your intent into a commitment. Goals give you focus. To find and establish your investing and saving goals, first ask yourself what you want to accomplish. Do you want to build an emergency fund? Build college savings for your child? Have a large retirement fund by age 60? Once you have a defined motivation, [...]
Adjusting Your Portfolio as You Age May 7, 2018 As you approach retirement, it may be time to pay more attention to investment risk. If you are an experienced investor, you have probably fine-tuned your portfolio through the years in response to market cycles or in pursuit of a better return. As you approach or enter retirement, is another adjustment necessary? Some investors may [...]
The Major 2018 Federal Tax Changes April 27, 2018 Comparing the old rules with the new. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made dramatic changes to federal tax law. It is worth reviewing some of these changes as 2019 approaches and households and businesses refine their income tax strategies. Income tax brackets have changed. The old 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6% [...]
Financing a College Education April 27, 2018 A primer for parents and grandparents. A university education can often require financing and assuming debt. If your student fills out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and does not qualify for a Pell Grant or other kinds of help, and has no scholarship offers, what do you do? You probably search for [...]
The Risks of Putting Too Much Money Into an Annuity April 27, 2018 These private income contracts do have potential flaws. It may not be good to have all your eggs in an annuity basket. Or even a majority of your eggs, financially speaking. Fundamentally, an annuity contract means handing over your money to an insurer. In turn, the insurer pays out an income stream to you from [...]
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Avoid These Life Insurance Missteps April 27, 2018 Shop wisely when you look for coverage. Are you about to buy life insurance? Shop carefully. Make your choice with insight from an insurance professional, as it may help you avoid some of these all-too-common missteps. Buying the first policy you see. Anyone interested in life insurance should take the time to compare a few [...]