Do presidential elections influence the stock market? While the stock market is cyclical and it’s tempting for investors to look to history as they try to time their decisions,[…]
Read full articleAs 2020 dawns, the changes to the tax code are more evolutionary than revolutionary Most of the changes amount to tweaks to income or contribution limits, reflective of the[…]
Read full articleThe new law took effect January 1, 2020 and changes some rules about retirement savings
President Trump signed the SECURE on December 20, 2019 as part of the government’s spending[…]
Read full articleGetting things in order before ringing in the new year can be stressful There are holiday preparations, work deadlines and family gatherings to attend But for many, tackling the[…]
Read full articleThe Federal Reserve held interest rates steady following its two-day meeting this week and indicated that no action is likely next year amid persistently low inflation
Concluding a year that[…]
Read full articleHome is where the heart is And it can also be where the assets are As of 2011, home equity made up about three-quarters of the average American’s net[…]
Read full articleSeveral significant tax and savings deadlines are fast approaching Before you flip your calendar to December, consider making some of these smart money moves
As you approach the end of[…]
Read full article2019 US home prices are falling as the market absorbs the 2017 Tax Act changes Meanwhile, other factors are hampering the housing market and point to a potential recession[…]
Read full articleMany people have an all-or-nothing view of work But there can be a downshifting phase before full retirement that brings both fulfillment and increased savings
I have a friend who[…]
Read full articleThe US could be headed for negative interest rate territory Experts from Wharton and Michigan State University discuss the implications for the US economy
First it was former Federal Reserve[…]
Read full articleThe composition of household wealth tends to change a lot as people move up the economic ladder
Most of middle class household’s wealth will be derived from their principal residence,[…]
Read full articleA lack of knowledge leaves individual retirees dumping thousands of dollars out of their own pockets
The graph below says it all The age at which most people claim Social[…]
Read full articleAn expanding economy, falling bond yields, and a Fed that is poised to cut interest rates have pushed the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 Index to new highs, countering[…]
Read full articleIf you believe the hype, families these days have their kids applying to 10 or more schools, and acceptance rates are at record lows What’s going on? Lynn O’Shaughnessy,[…]
Read full articleWhen Social Security was first instituted in 1935, most women did not work So, in 1939, as part of a sweeping series of amendments, the system made spousal benefits[…]
Read full articleAs the bond market drives yields down because of the economic turmoil, mortgage rates moved in concert, dropping below 4% for the first time since January 2018, according to[…]
Read full articlePrice sluggishness, sales declines strike most of Bay Area housing market
The Bay Area housing market turned noticeably sluggish during April, according to a report released May 30 that sketched[…]
Read full articleA House bill would make it easier to convert retirement savings into a steady lifetime income
The retirement bill the House of Representatives passed on May 23 includes an assortment[…]
Read full articleQuestion: What is a yield curve, and what does it mean when it’s inverted?
Answer: In simple terms, the yield curve shows the price of borrowing money in the bond[…]
Read full articleThis article provides insights from my personal experience with phased retirement and that of friends and others, and about what has made retirement work well for us, as well[…]
Read full articleMaintaining adequate health insurance as you transition through the various stages of retirement plays a key role in the retirement decision
While you are working, you generally have employer-sponsored insurance[…]
Read full articleIn a recent Journal of Financial Planning article, I analyzed the costs and implications of selling investments during downturns By my estimates, and others in the field, the cost[…]
Read full articleRun an internet search for “Medicare for all and seniors,” and you’ll see plenty of posts explaining just how harmful single payer health care would be for retirees
The Medicare[…]
Read full articleWe know this: Affluent retirees love to hate their required minimum distributions
Taxes are the major reason The amounts that people who are age 70 1/2 or older must begin[…]
Read full articleIt has been nearly 10 years since US stocks were in a bear market Time to brush up on some proven techniques
Many investors might have forgotten (or, for the[…]
Read full articleThe current tax season–for the 2018 tax year–is likely to be pretty different from years past
The key reason is that changes in the tax code that went into effect[…]
Read full article What’s the best way to get more people to save for retirement on the job?
In 2019, a large national experiment will take shape that tests two very different approaches[…]
Read full article What is the Biggest Danger?
Here’s a trick question: what is the biggest danger to your long-term investment results? If you answered something like “market downturns” or “downside volatility,” you’re[…]
Read full articleThe year 2018 ushered in seismic tax-code changes that you’re likely to see reflected on your 2018 return: notably, the end of personal exemptions as well as higher standard[…]
Read full articleThe Internal Revenue Service recently announced the official estate and gift tax limits for 2019: The estate and gift tax exemption is $114 million per individual, up from $1118[…]
Read full articleWhile many investors are focused on asset allocation – finding the right mix of asset classes for their level of risk tolerance, goals and investment time frame – smart investors[…]
Read full articleThe newly raised standard deduction means taxpayers need to get strategic to reap tax benefits from their deductions and charitable donations Here’s how
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has[…]
Read full articleMost retirees just want to visit Oahu and pamper their grandkids, but there are critical financial tasks to handle throughout retirement Here, we round up the important dates and[…]
Read full articleThere is an ancient Chinese curse – “may you live in interesting times” The saying has a sort of wry truth to it After all, quiet and persistent growth[…]
Read full articleWhere should you go on your next vacation? Your satisfaction and enjoyment level may depend on who you are, according to psychologist Joshua Jackson, associate professor at Washington University[…]
Read full articleIRA distribution planning is entering a new world, a departure from the days when simply dropping dollars into a traditional IRA was the sensible thing to do With the[…]
Read full articleIf some random person off the street handed you $10,000 in cash, no strings attached, and would pay the taxes on this windfall, what would you do with it?
Researchers[…]
Read full articleIt’s interesting to watch economists and tech prognosticators go back and forth over whether artificial intelligence, robots and other thinking machines will kill or create jobs Most recently, the[…]
Read full articlePaying extra on your mortgage can be a good idea It can shave years off your home loan and save tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges
The one[…]
Read full articleIf you are age 70½ or older, IRS rules require you to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year from your tax-deferred retirement accounts This additional taxable income may[…]
Read full articleRecent reports about the US economy were a case of good news and bad news The good news is that, in the second three months of the year, the US[…]
Read full articleIn all the debate over how or whether we need affordable care, state registries, guaranteed coverage despite pre-existing conditions etc etc, few Americans realize that our US healthcare system[…]
Read full articleTwo 5-year rules are the benchmarks that determine whether distributions from a Roth IRA are subject to income tax and/or the 10% early distribution penalty
A Roth IRA is funded[…]
Read full articleThe Greeks called it akrasia—so that’s just how long we humans have been failing to follow through on good intentions—and getting filled with regret! Modern science offers three surprisingly effective,[…]
Read full articleIn the last 50 years, women have made unprecedented strides toward equity in work, family, and social settings Yet when it comes to securing a financially safe retirement, they[…]
Read full articleIn 2017, the standard deduction was $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for married couples However, as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, the[…]
Read full articleA recent global survey of more than 18,000 adults in nine countries asked a simple question: “All things considered, do you think the world is getting better or worse, or[…]
Read full articleEach year, thousands of professionals use their creativity and ingenuity to try to figure out the best ways to lower your federal taxes You know you’re living in interesting times[…]
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