Tax and Retirement Planning for Families with a Stay-At-Home Spouse

Feb 13, 2017

In many families, one of the spouses stays home, often to care for children and the household. This may be hard work, but for tax purposes the contributions of the stay-at-home spouse are not recognized in the same way as they are for individuals with earned income. If your wife or husband does not have paid employment, your family may have to do some additional planning to minimize your tax bill, while ensuring that you are saving enough for retirement to cover the needs of both partners.
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Investing for a Future Lifestyle

Feb 13, 2017

It is never too early to begin planning for retirement. Many retirees may want to maintain a standard of living consistent with their pre-retirement years. As a general rule of thumb, this means that it may require from 60% to 80% of an individual’s pre-retirement income to support a comfortable retirement lifestyle. For this reason, although pre- and post-retirement portfolios typically contain both income and growth investments, pre-retirement portfolios are generally more heavily weighted toward accumulation.

A Look at Tax Planning for Retirement

Feb 13, 2017

After years of saving and planning for their golden years, many people nearing retirement fail to consider the tax burden they may face on income they receive after they stop working. While you will likely see a reduction in the amount of taxes you owe after the age of 65, you still need to plan ahead if you want to minimize your tax bill from the IRS.
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Americans Express Interest in Lifetime Income Options

Feb 13, 2017

While a majority of Americans say they are confident that they will have sufficient income in retirement, large shares also express interest in purchasing a financial product that would provide them with a guaranteed monthly income in retirement, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA).
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Making the Home Sales Process Go Smoothly

Dec 15, 2016

When you think about your retirement years, do you imagine living in a new home or community? Whatever your choice of retirement haven, you may wish to sell your current home. To facilitate the sales process, consider the following points:

Understanding Interest Rates and Your Financial Situation

Dec 15, 2016

When discussing bank accounts, investments, loans, and mortgages, it is important to understand the concept of interest rates. Interest is the price you pay for the temporary use of someone else’s funds; an interest rate is the percentage of a borrowed amount that is attributable to interest. Whether you are a lender, a borrower, or both, carefully consider how interest rates may affect your financial decisions.

Countdown to Retirement Strategies for Saving in Your 50s

Dec 15, 2016

The Baby Boom generation is about to enter another era: retirement. Never known for accepting the status quo, Baby Boomers are ready to redefine the “golden years.” Forget about endless days of leisure. This generation seeks adventure, travel, and new business pursuits. While these changes may redefine retirement, will Boomers be able to finance their plans? Today, many people age 50 and older have not begun to save for retirement or have yet to accumulate sufficient funds.

Credit Card Debt after the Death of a Loved One

Dec 15, 2016

After a loved one dies, who is responsible for his or her remaining credit card debt? This is a question you are unlikely to be thinking about in the days and weeks after the death, but it is one you will ultimately need to face.