Mutual Funds

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about whether or not benefits lost to Social Security’s earnings test are actually repaid at full retirement age, suspending retirement benefits and filing for spousal benefits after taking early retirement benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of

getty Yes, I have been calling for a comprehensive Social Security reform ever since I began writing at this platform. And, yes, that plan calls for a change from the current formula to a flat benefit for all, or, as I’ve also called it, a “basic retirement income.” The catch, of course, is this: how

GameStop logos displayed on a phone and a laptop screens are seen in this illustration photo taken … [+] in Poland on January 28, 2021. In the last days the GameStop stock short squeeze continues. (Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images There’s a new form of shareholder activism being

A 401(K) rollover doesn’t have to stressfull. Here are ten 401(k) Rollover mistakes you need to … [+] avoid. getty Mistakes when rolling over your old 401(k) can be quite costly and annoying. Sadly, these mistakes are also quite common. On a happier note, these 401(k) rollover mistakes are easy to avoid. First off, not

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Philip Moeller, author of the helpful new book “Get What’s Yours for Health Care,” says you need to be your own advocate to save on health care expenses. “If people act like sheep, they’re going to get fleeced,” he told me. In the new episode of the

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about whether spousal benefits are automatic or not, the possibility of receiving spousal benefits after taking retirement benefits at 62 and an unexplained delay in Social Security processing an application. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic

With all the drama of the year-end relief bill, many missed the fact that it is part of a large budget law containing a number of tax changes. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (TCDTRA) is a component of the consolidated appropriations law, and it includes some long-awaited modifications and clarifications.

The SEC should be looking at how state pensions have allowed hedge funds and other alternative … [+] investment managers to gamble state pension assets in secrecy. © 2020 Bloomberg Finance LP The nation has been captivated by revelations of millions of amateur traders collectively through social media and online trading platforms taking on Wall

Interest Payable from an old bond from 1937. getty Investors are trying to navigate through a treacherous strait in the market, with bonds generating near-zero income yields on one side and stocks with increasing volatility on the other side. With good reasons to assume that the Federal Reserve will continue to buy Treasury bonds at

Read this if you would be interested in getting a $230,000 tax deduction. Escape getty You can sock away $7,000 in a tax-sheltered IRA, if you’re older. You can do $26,000 with a 401(k) deferral. Or you could be using an entirely different vehicle to put the contribution deep into six-figure territory. Up for discussion

You’ve won the lottery, and it was a “B”iggie, as in “B”illions of dollars. Now what? The holders of two tickets faced that question last week. On Jan. 22, in Michigan, a Mega Millions ticket hit the jackpot at $1.05 billion. Two days earlier, on Jan. 20, in Maryland, a winning Powerball ticket rang up

Members of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association are hoping a forensic investigation of the State … [+] Teachers Retirement System by an independent expert will provide assurance that the pension system is being managed properly and that the investments are being reported accurately. getty After a 3-month campaign of collecting donations from retired and active

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about spousal benefit rates after taking early retirement benefits, when the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reductions are applied and potential filing options after a divorce. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which markets

getty Are you a parent or grandparent who wants to make a financial gift to a minor child? Do you want to help fund a child’s education but aren’t sure if that’s the path they’ll take? Do you want to give your children a financial head start in life so that one day they can

By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue getty Six months after Tamara Schumer, of Fairfax, Va., opened her home-based window-treatment business in 2016, it took off. “I was fortunate,” says Schumer, owner of Budget Blinds of Arlington & Alexandria. “But it was very stressful trying to handle customer service, scheduling, follow-up, orders, sales — all of that

Couple at kitchen table with calculator and financial statements. Koldunov Are you thinking of retiring soon?  If you are, it’s crucial to plan for this next phase.  It may be tempting to say, “I’am sick of working for ‘the man.’ ”  But before taking a big step, be sure you’re heading toward something you desire,

Click here to read the previous part of this article. A review of the tax principles used herein is also in order. Investments are made in Jerry’s tax-deferred 401(k) plan. This means that taxes are not paid initially on the plan contributions, but any withdrawals from the plan will be subject to ordinary income tax

Capitol Building in Washington, DC getty Estate planning attorneys were inundated at the end of 2020 with year-end gifting. Many people felt that with Biden in the White House and the possibility of Democrats controlling both houses of Congress, the Trump-era tax reforms would be rolled back. In particular, the concern was that Democrats would

getty After reading this post, you are likely to think—that is so obvious. How could I and my estate attorney both have missed this? Don’t feel bad. We have reviewed thousands of wills and trusts and in our experience hardly anyone gets this right. The mistake often costs families tens of thousands of dollars or more. I’m referring to

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when continuing income after full retirement age (FRA) might increase Social Security retirement benefit rates, whether the earnings test affects eligibility for a survivor’s benefit and filing online. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security

Getty getty Democrats took control in Washington and began laying out their agenda for the next four years. Many media outlets across the country may shift their economic outlook as a result. The press organizations that were negative on the markets, foreign policy, defense, and healthcare, over the last four years may now turn positive

Covid restrictions for those over 65 have remained in place for months in most places. Widowed aging parents may have no one to touch them, be with them, or pay much regular attention to them. Some seek company on the internet. Dating sites for those over 50 years of age are out there, and your

Recent surveys of retirees conducted by The Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) confirms what I’ve learned from many years of working with older clients: Spending changes throughout retirement. In my experience, spending changes often lead to client requests for more or less retirement income, which is why I don’t subscribe to the idea that the

Women caught ‘in between’ are part of a larger, seemingly invisible, even forgotten, cohort of women … [+] facing unprecedented uncertainty in retirement. getty Standing behind the register Jenny looks on with an amused expression as I fumble with a large box. Inside the box is my newfound treasure — a new coffeemaker marked down

By Joseph F. Coughlin, Next Avenue getty (Editor’s Note: This article is the 15th in a weekly joint series on Covid-19 and the Future of Aging from the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging and Next Avenue. The articles are Q and As with thought leaders in fields ranging from health care to

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when spousal benefits can be filed for, how deeming affect people born in 1954 and later, how foreign pensions can affect Social Security benefits and how the lower earning spouse can maximize their benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the

2020 was an eventful year when it came to IRA required minimum distributions (RMDs), especially for those who took their RMDs before the March 2020 suspension was enacted. Then came rollover relief. But what if early bird 2020 “RMD-ers” receive Form 1099-Rs reporting the RMD as taxable, even if rolled over?      Unnerving Form 1099-R

Close up of a group of expat seniors having a celebratory toast getty If you have had thoughts recently about what it might be like to live in another country as you get older, you are not alone. I think more older (and younger!) adults than ever before are giving serious thought to living somewhere

How much will a Cash Balance Plan lower you taxes? Depend on how large a contribution you are able … [+] to make. getty The cash balance pension plan has been growing in popularity with the self-employed and small business owners who are looking to minimize their taxes. This valuable retirement plan also works well

By Leslie Hunter-Gadsden, Next Avenue A phone call in the pandemic led to big things for filmmaker Roberto Mighty Roberto Mighty It is often said that timing is everything. Boston filmmaker and multimedia artist Roberto Mighty, 66, certainly found that out one day in March 2020 shortly before the coronavirus pandemic reached epic proportions in