Mutual Funds

As the world begins to come out the other side of the pandemic crisis of the past year-and-a-half, some of the most appealing options for living and retiring overseas are open for business. Here are six places where you could retire overseas today… #1: Mexico Mexico is an American’s most accessible retire-overseas option. Depending where

Today’s column addresses questions about whether it’s always possible to delay spousal benefits after taking retirement benefits, whether benefits can be suspended after they convert from SSDI to retirement at full retirement age and effects of lump sum non-covered pensions payments. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and

Introduction President Biden released his administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2022. While spending focuses on infrastructure, clean energy, etc., it includes a host of proposed tax changes affecting individuals and corporations. Some of the significant tax changes that many taxpayers hoped wouldn’t happen, like Senator Van Hollen’s taxation on transfers and death, are included.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a scientific age of retirement? We could just announce how many years people should work before they get decent pensions. Unionized workers and their employers kind of do that. “Thirty and out” is the deal for unionized coal miners in the United Mine Workers Union. You get a

The pandemic has caused many people to assess their priorities, and if you are considering retiring earlier than originally planned, you aren’t alone. Whether your job has changed due to COVID and is no longer as appealing or you’d simply like more time to spend with family, leaving the workplace before age 65 may suddenly

I’m not a couples therapist, but I am one of many financial advisors who’ve heard, “This has been better for us than couples counseling,” after a productive financial advisory meeting. With more than half of marriages ending in divorce, and with disagreements over money listed as the leading cause, it’s no wonder that if you

Today’s column addresses questions about potential effects of having filed early, making sure your benefits are actually suspended even if a representative mistakenly says you can’t suspend them and potentially available benefits on an ex’s record. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning,

If you received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, but did not deduct payroll expenses on your 2020 tax return, this is what you need to know. First, the IRS completely changed its guidance on deductibility of 2020 expenses due to the enactment of legislation in late 2020 (see “Current Law,” below). Second, taxpayers who

What you’ve done in the past isn’t enough for the future. That which has differentiated you enough to become successful thus far in your career likely isn’t sufficient to set you apart and perpetuate your success going forward. At one point, pushing product for a recognizable company gave you an edge. Then, being an asset

As Americans get older we can count on two things: more Americans will be cognitively impaired and losses to financial fraud will increase. According to a new Federal Trade Commission report,  the average loss due to financial fraud to people over 80 is the highest of any loss due to financial fraud of any other

Your estate plan is much more likely to be successful when you recognize and avoid the most common mistakes and take some key actions that often are overlooked. Most estate planners will tell you that the same estate planning mistakes and oversights recur with frequency, whether an estate is worth a billion dollars, a few

When the pandemic hit, priorities changed overnight. Healthy and working became the litmus test of whether you were on the fortunate side of the COVID-19 coin. This reduction in expectations has changed views on wealth. In its annual Modern Wealth Survey, Charles Schwab asked 1,000 people in the US to gauge their views on how

Today’s column addresses questions about whether and when Social Security will fix problems with benefit calculation for those born in 1960, effects of the earnings test on survivor’s benefits and qualifying for divorced spousal benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc,

If you have any interest in having the IRS hear your voice, there are two mechanisms. One is the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), which is a volunteer effort with a three-year commitment. Another means of getting through to the IRS is the yearly Priority Guidance Plan (PGP). As the new year for the IRS begins

President Biden’s proposed massive expansion of Medicaid home-based long-term care is running into trouble in the Senate. And it may be done in, not by hard-core conservatives, but by a small group of self-styled Senate moderates. In his American Jobs Plan, Biden proposed increasing the federal share of Medicaid’s home and community-based services (HCBS) program

Sometimes it makes sense to add risky assets to a conservative portfolio. Holy grail for the fixed-income investor: an asset that has a decent return of its own and runs counter to the bond market. Blend this magic stuff with your Treasury bonds and you’d have a solid core holding—something that wouldn’t be utterly destroyed

You Might Need to Plan Now Even if You’re Not Really Wealthy For wealth folks reviewing and beefing up insurance coverage and planning before income and estate tax rates may rise may be an obvious step. But, urgent planning is needed by many even moderate wealth taxpayers now! Very wealthy people are pursuing estate tax

Have you ever thought that the IRS could use some help, that is, to improve services to taxpayers? Would you like to make a difference on behalf of your fellow taxpayers? Taxpayers may not realize it (or might not even believe it), but there is a way they can get involved at a meaningful level

May 29 is National 529 College Savings Plan Day! Do you know what a 529 plan is? Do you know how to use it? Let me explain. What is it? 529 College Plans were initially created to help families save money for higher education expenses for children, grandchildren, or others. They are named after Section

Today’s column addresses questions about whether a number of years with no income taxed by Social Security will actually lower retirement benefits rates, whether it’s possible to be reimbursed for a gap in different types of benefits and how spousal benefit rates are determined. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and

This is a true story about what we sometimes refer to as an “elder orphan”. These folks have no children, they are single, and they can be very vulnerable to the worst abuse. Ralph, in his late 80s had a home in an expensive part of CA. As he grew more frail with age, and

Many of our parents signed their estate plans decades ago. The documents may still be valid but if they are stale or outdated, you may spend significant money trying to use them down the road. Even worse, the documents may not properly put your parents’ wishes into action. Having an attorney review and update the

This year and perhaps next could turn out to be the best time to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Income tax rates are likely to increase in the coming years. This year’s tax rates could be the lowest for the rest of our lifetimes. Lifetime income taxes could be substantially lower if

If you thought investing in your 401(k) plan was hard, just wait until the time comes when you have to start taking money out of your retirement plan. Are you ready for this? “In pre-retirement planning, the investor needs to decide three things: how much to invest, asset location and asset allocation,” says James DiLellio,

One of the most common mistakes I see people make is overestimating their tax rate in retirement. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, as Roth 401(k) and 403(b) plans become more common, estimating your future tax rate is a big factor in deciding whether you should make Roth or pre-tax contributions. Second,

You’re retired. Congratulations. Now what? For decades, during most of your working years and especially at the end of your career, it’s all been about one question. “The most common question asked by pre-retirees regarding their financial situation is ‘At what age should I plan to retire?’” says Ann Martin, Director of Operations of CreditDonkey

Today’s column addresses questions about retirement benefits after spousal benefits and possibly filing for and suspending retirement benefits, whether pensions count as income under the earnings test and when to apply for survivor’s benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which

The ivory tower of higher ed, the U.S. government, the financial industry, the bumper sticker barrage, a healthy pinch of pride, and, yes, even our genuine love for our children have all converged to serve up a big fat guilt sandwich for parents of college-bound kids. We’ve been made to think that we’re damned if

Forensic investigations in Rhode Island, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio reveal that gambling 30 percent or more on high-cost, high-risk, secretive alternative investments has exposed pensions to massively greater risks and reduced net returns. The time is ripe for legislators, regulators, and law enforcement to act to stop the looting. A recent New York Times NYT

By Rosie Wolf Williams, Next Avenue The last year changed so many things in all our lives, including how we spend. Although the recent reduction of pandemic restrictions has some people starting to splurge, COVID-19 has been a time of frugality for many Americans, especially older ones, according to a CouponFollow survey and Next Avenue interviews with consumers.