Most people just invest for the future. You have a chance to do more. Across the country, people are saving for that “someday” called retirement. Someday, their careers will end. Someday, they may live off their savings or investments, plus Social Security. They know this, but many of … [Read more...]
5 Common Retirement Assumptions
Don’t fall for these misconceptions. Financial generalizations are as old as time. Some have been around for decades, while others have only recently joined their ranks. Let’s examine a few. Retirement means I can stop investing. In the past, retirement was viewed as an “end” in many … [Read more...]
Reducing the Risk of Outliving Your Money
What steps might help you sustain and grow your retirement savings? “What is your greatest retirement fear?” If you ask any group of retirees and pre-retirees this question, “outliving my money” will likely be one of the top answers. In fact, 51% of investors surveyed for a 2019 … [Read more...]
Systematic Withdrawal Strategies
Should you arrange automatic distributions from your retirement or investment accounts? Some retirees wish they could simplify money management. Estimating investment income, annual retirement plan distributions, and quarterly taxes can be a chore. This is why some retirees choose … [Read more...]
End-of-the-Year Money Moves
Here are some things you might consider before saying goodbye to 2019. What has changed for you in 2019? Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? Did you retire? Did you start a family? If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, then you will want to … [Read more...]
The Sequence of Returns
A look at how variable rates of return do (and do not) impact investors over time. What exactly is the “sequence of returns”? The phrase describes the yearly variation in an investment portfolio’s rate of return. Across 20 or 30 years of saving and investing for the future, what kind of … [Read more...]
Taking Out That First RMD from Your IRA
7 things you need to know. When you reach age 70½, the Internal Revenue Service instructs you to start making withdrawals from your traditional IRA(s). These withdrawals are also called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). You will make them, annually, from now on. If you fail to take your … [Read more...]
72(t) Distributions from Your IRA or Retirement Plan
Sometimes you can take penalty-free early withdrawals from retirement accounts. Do you need to access your retirement money early? Maybe you just want to retire before you turn 60 and plan a lifelong income stream from the money you have saved and invested. You may be surprised to know that … [Read more...]