Breaking down the enrollment periods and eligibility. Medicare enrollment is automatic for some. For those receiving Social Security benefits, the coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. Your enrollment is also automatic when you are under 65, disabled, and receiving benefits from Social Security for 24 months. The [...]
These estate planning tools may also help in exit planning. Discover a pair of underappreciated exit planning vehicles. Charitable remainder unit trusts (CRUTs) and charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs) are commonly seen as estate planning tools. What frequently goes unseen is their value in exit planning for business owners. Does it look like you will [...]
There’s a lot to like about income-oriented investments Bond funds don’t always get the attention that stocks get among investors. But fixed income investments are an important part of the capital markets that deserve to be included in most investors’ portfolios. In fact, bond mutual funds have become an accepted way for U.S. households to [...]
Tips and resources that everyone can use Owning stock funds for the long haul If you are 50 or older, you may question whether you need to continue buying stocks in your portfolio. After all, stocks are risky, as we saw with steep losses in 2008 and 2009. But increased life expectancies and rising [...]
Like most investors, you may be concerned about outliving your money. To sustain your savings during retirement, consider strategies that may help address the following four money-diminishing factors: 1. Longer life expectancies In May 2016, scientists attended a Harvard conference to discuss a groundbreaking new idea — fabricating a human genome from scratch. Using a [...]
Interest rates affect homeowners and credit card holders. But they also can have an indirect impact on the stock market. Interest rates generally refer to the Federal Reserve’s funds rate — the cost that banks are charged to borrow money from other U.S. banks. The Fed controls interest rates mostly as a way to ensure [...]
If you got hit by the federal alternative minimum tax last year or think you might get hit this year, now is the time to think about your tax planning. There may still be some ways you can escape the AMT. Talk to your tax professional about the best strategy for you, but one way [...]
To sustain the creative process, you need balance, in artistry, and in business. The American dream is shifting. What was once a benefits package and early retirement has now become gigging and freedom. Creative types around the world rejoiced when the internet opened up a $715 billion dollar marketplace of freelance work ripe and ready [...]
Dear Valued Investor, Donald Trump has completed his landmark quest and will become the nation's 45th President after a contentious and often divisive campaign. In addition, the Republican Party has retained control of both houses of Congress. This outcome marks a significant reversal from just a few weeks ago when a Hillary Clinton presidency was highly [...]
It’s a good idea to have a budget, even if it’s an informal one. Some of us do pretty well with the fixed-cost part of the budget. Fixed costs are those that stay the same each month, like your rent or mortgage payment, cable package, gym membership, cell phone bill, car payment, the dating service [...]
