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Keeping it in Perspective

Congress is about to kill this popular retirement tax move

If you were planning to do a “Roth IRA” conversion to keep your retirement savings permanently out of the hands of the IRS, you might want to get on it. The new tax bill on Capitol Hill is going to scrap these conversions...

Left Alone

IF YOU’RE MARRIED, it’s almost certain that one of you will outlive the other—perhaps by many years. What are the financial implications? Click below to find out 10 issues to keep in mind. https://humbledollar...

A 6.1% Bump in Social Security?

The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients. It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1,2...

Is a Bucket Strategy Superior to the 4% Rule?

The bucket approach — or what some call the time segmentation or asset-liability matching approach – might be the better method of creating dependable and sustainable income in retirement for some retirees. https://www...

A COLA with Your Social Security?

If there is a "silver lining" to all the inflation talk, it may be that Social Security benefits are expected to see a larger-than-normal increase in 2022. Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase (COLA) in Social...

Understanding How The SECURE Act Will Impact Your Retirement

With all the chaos of 2020, the passing of the SECURE Act didn't register on many people's radar. This change in legislation made two important changes that impact retirement planning: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) were pushed...

Thinking Outside the Box for Retirement Income Planning

Historically, low interest rates have forced investors approaching retirement to think outside the box when building a retirement income plan. In order to have a secure and comfortable retirement, you need to consider different ways to...

CARES Act: Will there be a Phase 4?

With the economy and financial markets flashing mixed signals, it’s no wonder that lawmakers are deadlocked on whether to pass a Phase 4 of the CARES Act. More than $3 trillion in stimulus has been pushed into the economy since...

U.S. Banks Flush with 2 Trillion Dollars in Cash

An “eye-popping” $2 trillion in cash has been stashed in deposit accounts at U.S. banks since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country in January.1 This surge of money into banks has no precedent in history. Several...

Don't Let the Headlines Get You Down

Even in “normal” times, the news can be depressing. But these days, it can seem like there’s an awful lot to worry about. Here’s a sampling of the types of headlines I’ve seen recently: Why US hospitals...

Know Your 401(K) Options Between Jobs

Few life events are more stressful than a job loss. If you or someone you know is in this situation due to COVID-19, you’ll likely have several questions about job hunting, unemployment insurance, and health care. You may also be...

Roth Conversion in 2020 - Is it Right for You?

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up nearly every aspect of American life. To say it’s been a difficult time would be an understatement. However, difficult times may open doors to new possibilities. Businesses are changing their...

Key Provisions of the CARES Act

As I’m sure you know, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act was recently signed into law. The CARES Act is designed to help those most impacted by the COVID-19...

90-Day Tax Deadline Delay

In light of current events and potential financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has postponed the 2019 federal income tax filing and payment deadline until July 15, 2020.1,2,3 Those...

A Bottoming Process Begins: 6 Ideas to Consider

Highlights • We think stocks are in the process of bottoming, but that process will take some time. A decline in new cases, falling credit spreads, rising Treasury yields and oil prices and stable weekly jobless claims are...

Grappling with the Coronavirus

In your investing lifetime, you may only see a situation like the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a few times. This is a circumstance where complete candor is necessary. The truth is that we can’t yet gauge the full economic...

Why are so many baby boomers ignoring financial planning?

The “I’ll think about it tomorrow” approach is alive and well. This latest report card shows that baby boomers are only slightly in front of millennials when it comes to retirement planning. Click HERE for full article.

How Roth IRA Conversions Can Limit the Tax Hit From RMDs

The conventional wisdom is that retirees should first spend down their taxable accounts, then traditional retirement accounts and lastly tax free accounts like a Roth IRA.That approach has its merits. But it can result in retirees...

Failing to review your drug prescription plan could be a costly mistake

We are currently in the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2020 (Oct 15th - Dec 7th). Prescription drug plans can change each year so it is important to stay on top of those changes. Review your prescription drug coverage to make...

Warren proposes major expansion of Social Security

Elizabeth Warren proposes sweeping changes to the Social Security system. It looks like Social Security reform may play a large part in the next election. Click here for the full article.

Beware of Medicare Scammers

The FCC is out with a new warning about Medicare scams. Medicare will never call you out of the blue asking for personal information. If you are concerned about a call you received, you can reach out to Medicare 1-800-MEDICARE...

How High Earners Can Maximize Their Retirement Savings

Here are some little-known strategies you can use to bolster your retirement savings. Click here to read more.

Retirees lose by taking Social Security at wrong time

A new study found that the majority of retirees are not claiming their Social Security benefits at the most financially optimal time. Click HERE to read the full article.

Near retirement and have a health savings account? Beware of snags when claiming Social Security

HSA Accounts are a great tool for individuals approaching retirement to offset health care costs but you need to make sure you follow the rules to avoid costly penalties. Read the full article here.

Older Americans are relying too much on Social Security as a main source of income

A new study shows that more people are taking their Social Security benefit before retirement age, resulting in a lower benefit. If Social Security is going to play a large part in your retirement income plan, you may want to tap into...

Life Insurance Retirement Plans: Are They A Good Choice For You?

When you are building a retirement income plan, it is important to incorporate a "tax free" element. Roth IRA distributions and cash value inside permanent Life Insurance are two sources of retirement income that will not increase the...

9 Facts About Social Security

Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the website, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how...