Category: Retirement

2020 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching
20 Jan
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2020 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching

Financially, many of us associate April with taxes – but we should also associate April with important IRA deadlines.

April 15, 2021 is the deadline to take your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from certain individual retirement accounts.

Keep in mind that withdrawals from traditional, SIMPLE, and SEP-IRAs are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Read more about 2020 IRA Deadlines Are Approaching …

2020 In Review
21 Dec
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2020 In Review

The year in brief. The coronavirus pandemic disrupted the global economy, global financial markets, and daily life in 2020. For investors, it was certainly an eventful year. Economic activity abruptly contracted in the spring, and stocks quickly fell. The upcoming presidential election and COVID-19 vaccine developments could provide more market-moving headlines.1

The Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates to just above zero as the pandemic took hold, and adjusted its monetary policy stance, announcing it would tolerate higher inflation for an extended period. U.S. households received one economic stimulus payment from the federal government, and might yet receive another. The U.S. and China reached a partial trade deal. The United Kingdom and the European Union made little progress toward a post-Brexit trade pact. In real estate, a seller’s market remained firmly in place.   Read more about 2020 In Review …

Your Year-End Financial Checklist
01 Dec
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Your Year-End Financial Checklist

The end of the year can help remind us of last-minute things we need to address and the goals we want to accomplish. To that end, here are some aspects of your financial life to think about as this year leads into the next. Keep in mind, this article is for informational purposes only and […]

2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More
10 Nov
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2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More

On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note. 401(k)s. The salary deferral amount for 401(k)s remains the same at $19,500, while the catch-up amount of $6,500 also remains unchanged. However, the overall limit […]

Before You Claim Social Security
03 Oct
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Before You Claim Social Security

Determining when to take Social Security benefits is a complicated financial decision. Here are a few things to think about and discuss with your financial professional.

How long do you think you will live? If you have a family history that suggests you might live into your 90s, you may want to consider claiming Social Security later. If you start receiving Social Security benefits at or after full retirement age (FRA, which varies from age 66 to 67 for those born in 1943 or later), your monthly benefit will be larger than if you had claimed at 62.1

What fits best with your financial strategy – more lifetime payments that are smaller versus fewer lifetime payments that are larger? For the record, Social Security’s actuaries project that the average 65-year-old man will live to 84.0 years, and the average 65-year-old woman, 86.5 years.2  Read more about Before You Claim Social Security …

The A, B, C, & D of Medicare
21 Sep
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The A, B, C, & D of Medicare

Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, understanding the different parts of Medicare is critical, as this government-sponsored program may play a role in your future health care decisions.

Parts A & B: Original Medicare. There are two components. In general, Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility costs, hospice, lab tests, surgery, and some home health care services. One thing to keep in mind is that, while very few beneficiaries must pay Part A premiums out of pocket, annually adjusted standard deductibles still apply.1,2

Many pre-retirees are frequently warned that Medicare will only cover a maximum of 100 days of nursing home care (provided certain conditions are met). Part A is the one with these provisions. Under the current Part A rules, you would pay $0 for days 1-20 of care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). During days 21-100, a $176 daily coinsurance payment may be required of you.1,2 Read more about The A, B, C, & D of Medicare …

What Makes 2020 A Unique Year For Retirement?
08 Sep
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What Makes 2020 A Unique Year For Retirement?

Q: What makes 2020 a unique year for retirement?

A: Big changes to retirement account rules.

You can attribute those changes to two major pieces of legislation: the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

You may not have to withdraw money from your retirement plan this year. In most circumstances, you must make annual withdrawals from traditional IRAs and workplace retirement plans once you turn 72. The CARES Act suspends this requirement for 2020. Read more about What Makes 2020 A Unique Year For Retirement? …

The Fed’s Year-Long Review Expected in September
26 Aug
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The Fed’s Year-Long Review Expected in September

As many of you know, the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee has eight scheduled meetings each year when the seven board members review the nation’s economic activity and set the federal funds rate’s target rate. In this extraordinary year, the Fed may announce in September the results of its year-long policy review. The Fed’s focus […]