Mutual Funds

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue The pandemic’s layoffs, furloughs and volatile incomes make it easy to understand why one in five boomers are delaying retirement due to the financial insecurity of Covid-19, according to a MetLife MET survey. But how do you explain this? Another survey, by the Hearts and Wallets financial services research firm,

At the end of March, the White House announced the “American Jobs Plan,” a $2 trillion spending plan which includes a combination of one-time infrastructure spending such as mass transit expansion and water system lead-pipe replacement, and ongoing spending such as electric vehicle purchase rebates and job training programs. As characterized at CNBC, it would

Bank accounts are often a source of dispute after someone dies. How you fill out the account opening forms and whose name you put on the account will determine who owns the account after you die.   It is quite common for someone to think they have opened an account in their name alone – which

Today’s column addresses questions about how taking early retirement benefits would affect survivor’s benefits taken later, when spousal benefits can be available and how divorced spousal benefits are calculated. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which markets Maximize My Social Security

If you’re near retirement, there’s a good chance you are in active information-gathering mode, combing the Wild West of the internet for the best advice on how to prepare yourself for such a huge life transition. And there is great information available. You can find endless commentary on things like Roth conversion strategies, investment allocation,

A guide to understanding the relationship between trustee and beneficiary A trust is an arrangement whereby one person (the grantor) places property in the care of another (the trustee) for the benefit of a third (the beneficiary) for the purposes and under the terms described by the grantor. Trusts are often created for the long

You may have heard of the term “gamification.” It means what it sounds like: taking an everyday activity and turning it into a game, or at least something fun. Mary Poppins did this when she reframed the boring mundane chore of cleaning up one’s room into a delightful spoonful of sugar. It’s true. “In every

Since his death last week, Prince Philip has been remembered around the world as a model of service and a loyal and loving husband. His over 70 years in the public arena as a member of the Royal Family has many feeling that a beloved member of their own family has passed. While memorials and

Caveat Emptor: This piece is not about the fairness of our tax system. This is a simple analysis of the proposed business tax plans in DC at the time of this piece. Draw your own conclusion about the fairness of the tax system, and who should pay what. It seems very likely tax increases will

Today’s column addresses questions about how taking Social Security retirement benefits at 62 might affect spousal and survivor’s benefits, what spousal benefits can be available after a divorce and withdrawing Social Security disability benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which

Prior to passage of the SECURE Act, I posted suggestions for drawdown strategies for the wealthy. A lot has happened in the eighteen months since that post, and strategies for all prospective retirees have changed. The pandemic upended the economy, we have both a new President and a new Congress, and life expectancies have changed.

Today’s column addresses questions about ‘switching’ from a retirement benefit to a spousal benefit, filing retroactively and then immediately suspending and what benefits might be available on records of ex spouses. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which markets Maximize My

I understand the problem you face every day when you start working. You have an idea of how you’d like your day to go, and then you turn your computer on. Your inbox was populated overnight by bleary-eyed inbox-zero adherents pounding away in a converted closet. A couple more hours have been consumed on your

President Biden’s $400 billion plan to expand Medicaid’s home and community based services (HCBS) for people receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) already has accomplished one major goal: It has policymakers and opinion leaders talking about how we care for frail older adults and younger people with disabilities. We not had a long-term care conversation

By Christina Wyman, Next Avenue Last summer, when Ellen DeGeneres was outed by employees for cultivating an abusive work environment that ran counter to the “Be Kind” façade that has long animated her TV talk show and public persona, she responded to the allegations in a way that seemed to at least meet the basic tenets

For decades, the conservative story of trickle-down economics—including, particularly tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, cutting funding for the common good, and deregulation to promote corporate profits at the expense of workers—, was all the rage. Supposedly, it would create much faster growth. Yet massive inequality amid sluggish growth has proven this argument wrong.

If you’ve changed jobs throughout your career, chances are you have at least one or two 401(k)s with former employers. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been unsure about what to do with that money and just left it in the plans. Now that time has passed and your financial decisions are more deliberate,

By Chris Farrell, Next Avenue You’ve probably been hearing about how the Biden administration wants to raise the 21% corporate tax rate and the 37% top income tax rate and 20% capital gains rate for the wealthiest Americans. But changes in the estate tax rules, under consideration by the president and Congress, haven’t received as much

After a reprieve from required minimum distributions (RMDs) in 2020 due to the COVID-19 relief package in the CARES Act, RMDs return for 2021. Individuals are required to take RMDs from most retirement accounts once they turn age 72.  The first distribution needs to come out by April 1 following the year you turn 72.

By Craig Miller, Next Avenue The last few hurricane seasons have been white-knuckle events for Reed Galin, which might seem odd since the 67-year-old media producer lives just outside Nashville. Not exactly “Hurricane Alley.” Galin’s concern was for his parents, both living at the time in Juno Beach, Fla. His father, Sherman, was a particular worry;

By Beau Henderson, Next Avenue If the idea of starting a business after 50 — perhaps a part-time one in retirement — seems overwhelming, you’re not alone. You might want to consider launching through a successful franchise operation, where you can follow in the footsteps of others who’ve done so already. Eric and Pam Knauss launched

This post is not about aging or retirement, it is about a book written by one of the brightest stars in that universe. I’m talking about the universe of people who are attempting to better understand what it means to retire and grow older, and the supreme commander of that universe is surely Ken Dychtwald.   Radical

Many years ago, the preferred way to enroll in Medicare was to visit the local Social Security office. Then came enrolling by phone, adding convenience. Make an appointment and enroll, sitting at your desk or kitchen table.  As with everything from registering for classes to buying a car, there is now online enrollment. From its

Four considerations for making the best choice for you and your family The role of a trustee—holding title to property for the benefit of another—sounds simple enough on its surface, but selecting a trustee is a complex decision with many nuances. Individuals who create trusts often focus on the trust provisions regarding disposition of the

When it comes to retirement planning, a common question these days is “in light of all that’s going on, how should I take my retirement drawdowns?” By “going on,” consumers are mainly referencing the potential increase in income taxes and concerns with the future of Social Security. Add the recent spate of early retirements due

Today’s column addresses questions about whether it’s still possible to take spousal benefits after first receiving retirement benefits, what benefits may be available for survivors of a deceased worker and whether public pensions affect divorced spousal benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security

Over the past couple of months, we have seen bond yields rise dramatically and much quicker than many expected. The bell-weather 10-year Treasury bond has gone from yielding about 1.0% in late January to 1.75% in recent days. So what’s the big deal? Ever since the Federal Reserve embarked on a zero-interest rate policy during

Many aging parents with means have real estate investments of various kinds, and when capable, they manage these investments. Some with commercial properties have established real estate managers. Others have single family residential properties and manage them on their own. Until they decline cognitively, that is. At AgingParents.com, we see a recurring problem with elders

According to a recent survey of U.S. households by Schroders, only 27% of respondents who were still working reported ‘very good’ and ‘fully on track’ when asked how they feel about their retirement planning. Even more alarming, only 18% of workers between age 60 – 67 say the same. But how can you tell if

Superficial observations and shallow thinking can lead to all sorts of faulty conclusions that could negatively impact the decisions we make in our lives. Take, for example, the question of if you should move to Mexico. Please take a look at the drawing to the right. What do you see? Do you see the young