High-deductible healthcare plans can be unappealing thanks to that high deductible. However, high-deductible healthcare plans are increasingly being offered along with health savings accounts – which, along with their traditional uses (as short-term vehicles to cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs and as long-term savings vehicles for the “wealthy and healthy”) can be used in other ways that get less attention. Specifically,…
At the recent Boot Camp for Investors, a panel of experts discussed considerations when planning for the new retirement – one that could last 20 to 30 years. For what the panel had to say about income investing, cash flow control, the value of ETFs (“So they’re cheap, they’re diversified all good news, but there are also some potentially nasty…
What does the current amount of your retirement nest egg translate into in terms of future monthly retirement income? In light of the fact that a recent piece of research found that more than half of U.S. workers aged 20 to 79 have difficulty figuring out this conversion, today’s article identifies two ways to estimate that monthly income figure –…
Despite a number of anxiety-inducing market routs, stocks have performed quite nicely this year. That impressive performance, however, brings with it some potential problems for investors, including off-balance portfolios and taxes on gains. As the author of today’s article notes, “a lofty market environment presents a lot of potential tax traps, as the appreciated winners in a portfolio that are…
Given its recent moves, investors have reason to be anxious about the market – and none more so than investors who are at retirement’s doorstep. For those in that group, today’s article outlines a number of strategies to consider, as identified by top financial advisers. First, however, the author advises that “It’s critical that you…draft a retirement-income plan”, noting that…
Whatever your planned retirement age, you’re likely to retire closer to age 61 than you think. This is one of the findings of a recent study of retirement data, which found that “planned and actual retirement ages align at 61, with those planning to retire earlier than that tending to retire later than expected, and those planning to retire after…
What’s the one thing most preventing you from building wealth? The author of today’s article makes the case that, when it comes to building wealth, “one financial decision in particular has been absolutely catastrophic for people at every income.” In fact, he outlines how taking a different course when it comes to this particular financial decision has the potential to…
The author of today’s article notes that, while “most retirees can sail through the first nine months of each year without a lot of financial to-dos that carry hard-and-fast deadlines…once the fourth quarter kicks off, the calendar gets a little fuller and financial deadlines come up fast and furiously.” As such, she proceeds to outline the key fourth-quarter dates that…
The ultimate success of your retirement plan may depend to a significant degree on moves made – or not made – during the final 12 months before your actual retirement date. Today’s article outlines a number of considerations, as identified by financial experts, for this critical period – considerations pertaining to investments, debts and homes, expenses, taxes and lifestyle. For…
If you are in your 60s, retirement is nearing – and, however you may feel about retirement, the author of today’s article states that “it is important to think about what your dream retirement will look like. Equally important is determining whether or not your finances are up to the task of providing that retirement for you.” He proceeds to…