Five ideas can shape your retirement plan
Stashing away money for retirement is both smart and necessary to increase the odds that you will be financially secure once your working career comes to an end. But the act of saving money is not in itself a retirement plan. You also need to be intentional in establishing how much money you will need, when and how you will spend it, how taxes might affect you and a host of other... READ MORE
New Medicare con: ‘free’ genetic test kits
If you are on Medicare, watch out for a resurgence of this scam. Scammers are claiming to offer “free” genetic testing kits that allegedly screen for heart conditions or cancer. It’s really a ruse to steal your Medicare information for fraudulent billing and/or identity theft. How the scam works You get a call from someone claiming to be from Medicare or an official-sounding... READ MORE
Nine important money numbers to know
Your doctor needs to know certain numbers to judge your physical health, such as your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Similarly, you need to know certain numbers to monitor your own financial health, including these: After-tax income and ‘must-have’ expenses Your after-tax income is your gross income minus the taxes you pay (federal, state and local income taxes,... READ MORE
Dominion Energy program helps pay bills
Many people — particularly older adults — have struggled financially during the pandemic. For that reason, Dominion Energy suspended all disconnections for nonpayment beginning in March 2020. It’s also providing assistance to those in need. The pandemic wasn’t the first time the company offered assistance to Virginia residents. Almost 40 years ago, Dominion Energy created... READ MORE
Reasons to convert IRAs to Roths in 2021
Recently, IRA expert Ed Slott (irahelp.com) pointed out the advantages of Roth conversions in light of President Biden’s tax proposals. I’ll discuss some reasons you should consider such a conversion. For high income tax-payers, it is likely that marginal tax rates will not be reduced, and it is likely that marginal tax rates will increase in the future. The SECURE Act eliminated... READ MORE
For better customer service, phone it in
When the pandemic began, Sean McAuliffe’s New York-based distribution company suffered financially. So, he set out to cut operating costs. He canceled a few services, and for more important ones, he contacted the providers to request deferred or lowered bills. First, he emailed, only to receive unhelpful replies. Then, he called — and every one of those same companies he had... READ MORE
What is the Social Security earnings test?
More than half of Americans surveyed by Voya Financial plan to work in retirement. If you share that plan, you may assume that you can easily combine paid employment with other sources of retirement income, such as your retirement savings and Social Security. However, if you claim Social Security before your full retirement age — which is based on your year of birth — your... READ MORE
When to establish a private foundation
For families of means, there are plenty of reasons to consider establishing a private foundation: tax savings, control over assets and the ability to give back using a broad range of philanthropic capabilities, such as program-related investments and grants to individuals. But for many of my clients, the most important benefits of a foundation are those that help them ensure that the... READ MORE
Birthdays that can affect your finances
You hit a lot of milestone birthdays when you’re young. There’s your first birthday, of course, and at 13, you’re a teenager. At 16, you’re probably thinking about driving. At 18, you can vote; at 21, you can get into bars. You reach milestones later in life as well, and many of them have to do with retirement. Knowing these age milestones can help you better prepare for life... READ MORE
What we can learn from the best investors
Financial journalist William Green has written a great book, Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World’s Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life, based on his in-depth interviews with the world’s most successful investors. The book stands out because Green probes beyond the field of investing to find out how they have succeeded in their lives generally. This is especially interesting... READ MORE
