With their low default risk, high dividend yields – with some paying yields above 6% – and ability to provide most Americans with tax-free income, the author of today’s article describes municipal bonds as having “the retirement income trifecta.” Recognizing that it can be difficult to buy quality individual municipal bonds, the author recommends seeking out the kinds of municipal…
While inflation may currently be low, the author of today’s article warns that “this makes the possibility of an inflation threat going forward even more likely.” Moreover, she notes that health care costs are rising faster than inflation. All of this poses a particular threat to retirees relying on sources of income that lack inflation protection. As such, the author…
Today’s article notes that, in 2013, Social Security benefits made up 52% of household income for those aged 65 and over, and at least 90% of household income for almost a quarter of older retirees. These statistics make the findings of a new study by the Government Accountability Office all the more concerning: The GAO has determined that “Americans getting…
“Preferreds are one of the very few places where you can still get a reasonable income stream by historical standards,” states one manager of preferred funds in today’s article which examines the unique traits of preferred stocks that make them appealing (e.g. the aforementioned reasonable income stream), as well as the unique considerations that buyers of preferreds need to be…
Risk and retirement don’t go together. As such, given the difficult times (to put it mildly) that the energy sector has experienced over the last couple of years, energy stocks might not seem like goods bets for a retirement portfolio. However, the author of today’s article argues that “those planning (or even in) retirement might be doing themselves a disservice…
The three stocks highlighted in today’s article are all dividend growers that – due to what the author views as short-term factors – currently find themselves in the bargain bin, which might make them great income stream picks for retirees and soon-to-be retirees. To see what these three stocks are – including a pharmaceutical company that hurt itself by being…
The hunt for both yield and safety is the task undertaken by the author of today’s article. He highlights four quality dividend-paying (and dividend-growing!) stocks with high yields – averaging 4.9% – and good “Dividend Safety Scores”. To find out what these four stocks are – including two healthcare focused real estate investment trusts and a Dividend Aristocrat telecommunications giant…
$400,000. This is the amount the typical 65-year-old couple will need to save in order to pay for out-of-pocket medical and long-term care costs in old age, according to new estimates from Fidelity Benefits Consulting. As per today’s article, that amount is “$60,000 more than the typical couple’s entire savings at retirement, including equity in their home.” To read more…
“It’s like the conversational third rail.” This is how one investing specialist cited in today’s article describes couples’ avoidance of financial matters when discussing retirement, as seen in the findings of a new NerdWallet survey of Americans in a relationship. While couples do talk about “the fun stuff” – non-financial matters such as where they will live and what they…
The demands associated with house-flipping or being a landlord are probably not something that most retirees want to deal with in their golden years, but there is a real-estate investment option – one that is growing in popularity – that may be particularly retiree-friendly, and it is the subject of today’s article: real estate crowdfunding. The author outlines the advantages…