Mutual Funds

getty Quick, did you look at your calendar? The year is almost over. Were you able to get everything done that needed to get done? And what about planning for your retirement? Did you forget about that? As the end of the year approaches, you may find yourself up against important deadlines. There’s still time

Older Unemployed Workers Face Age Discrimination getty Unemployment has especially hurt older workers in this recession. Workers 55 years old and older are more likely to be unemployed and spend longer looking for a new job than is the case for younger workers. They also often experience discrimination. This exacerbates the mental stresses associated with

getty This is to follow my recent post regarding whether PPP loan expenses should be tax deductible, Attorney Daniel J. Leer represented John Manocchio in the Tax Court and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case of Manocchio v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service, and has given me interesting input with respect to my

getty Americans have waited with bated breath for months in hopes that Congress could reach an agreement on additional, much needed COVID-19 stimulus legislation. Thankfully, we appear to almost be there. Here are some of the proposed provisions that will impact millions of Americans and hopefully keep people fed and help the economy.  1. Extension

the gift of a pile of books bound by a ribbon and a bow getty It’s almost the new year, which means its time for resolutions! If you have a goal to be more financially savvy in 2021, are just curious about how you can make better money moves or want a useful gift you

getty Taxpayers throughout the country are asking their accountants whether they will be able to deduct expenses that were paid with PPP loans. The IRS has taken the position that any expense paid that facilitates forgiveness of a PPP loan will not be deductible. Hopefully the bipartisan COVID-19 bill will pass because the language thereof

STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT – AUGUST 04: Cynthia Crawford, 86, tries to readjust the life in the small … [+] village of Stonington after leaving the state of Florida due to high coronavirus infection rates. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put residents

It’s a good time for a Roth conversion. getty By now, many have heard about Roth IRAs and how Roths allow tax-free growth. Often, we fail to consider the huge opportunity to accumulate wealth by the combination of the lack of RMDs and the long-term compounding opportunities presented by a Roth. Roth IRAs can allow

The way to understand how premiums are calculated on a term life insurance policy is to recognize that term life insurance is a collection of renewable one-year term policies. Consider that I buy a one-year term policy as a forty-year-old male. Given the mortality data I am using, the insurance company projects that over the

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has stated that the city’s Actuarially Required Contribution to the … [+] pension system each year is “unsustainable” and that he fears the city may need to file for bankruptcy in the future if it doesn’t alter pensions or receive an infusion of cash to stabilize its pension system. Boston Globe

People shop for Black Friday deals in Glendale, California on Nov. 27, 2020 Los Angeles Times via Getty Images We’ve all heard stories of people who made a killing in the stock market based on their savvy observations: the mail carrier who bought Netflix stock early because he noticed the proliferation of red envelopes in

If you’ve been following the stock market news lately, you’ve probably heard about TeslaTSLA being … [+] added to the S&P 500 Index a few times a day. But having a newsworthy change to an index may not mean it’s a good investment—it may just mean the opposite. Getty Images If you’ve been following the

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about how income after 60 can affect benefit amounts, how survivor’s benefit are calculated when the record holder dies before 70 and when delayed retirement credits are applied when filing at 70. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president

getty You may not know this, but the average age for retiring in the United States is 65 for men and 63 for women. That 63 to 65 range seems reasonable, but today’s version of social security views “full retirement age” as 67 for anyone born after 1960. Although age may be a deciding factor

Volunteer reads a book to elementary students getty What does it take to live well in retirement? Good health, sound finances, supportive family and friends, and a fourth ingredient – a strong sense of purpose in life. Retirees with strong purpose are happier and healthier, more active and socially engaged, and they live longer. Marc

Getty Images The Supreme Court on Friday, December 11th, made history by deciding, without delay, that they would not hear the case of Texas v. Pennsylvania, Et. Al., which stopped the case permanently. The State of Texas, on behalf of all of its citizens, and to the amazement of a great many of them, claimed widespread

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about whether stopping work years before filing will reduce retirement benefits, effects of an ex filing on a spouse’s record, disability benefits converting to retirement benefit and the Government Pension Offset. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of

By Next Avenue getty ADVERTISEMENT (This article is the ninth 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 retirement planning to work

getty Are you one of the many Americans who work for a small company? Don’t be surprised, but chances are if your company doesn’t employ thousands of workers, it may qualify as a small company. It all depends on your industry. The Small Business Administration defines at what size a business can be classified as

Asian women have suffered more in this recession than in prior ones. getty This recession has brought a lot of suffering for people looking for a new job. This is especially true for many Asian workers. And things could get much worse for these workers, mainly women, as the labor market is slowing amid the

Whether you have older parents, grandparents or other loved ones of modest means, you have one thing in common in the U.S.—running out of money can force your loved one into a nursing home. The frightening truth about infection in nursing homes emerged almost immediately when we saw the first cases in the facility in

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 2: A Care partner helps a resident at an assisted living facility. (Photo by … [+] Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Boston Globe via Getty Images As the Covid-19 pandemic explodes around the country, cases and deaths among nursing home residents increasing rapidly as well. A new analysis

An often-overlooked component of a comprehensive retirement plan is an estate plan. Most people are still employed when they begin their planning, and they see retirement as the next step in life’s journey. As I used to tell clients, however, “while I want to bet for you, not against you, it’s still important to consider

Despite new challenges brought on by COVID-19 in 2020, retirement planning remains a core part of financial security. All retirement planning is deeply personal. It is not just about saving money, reducing taxes, or having money that lasts a lifetime – it is about accomplishing goals and living with dignity throughout life. Because of this

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about potential future survivor’s benefits a spouse could receive in the event of the record holder’s death, when divorced spousal benefits might be available and filing options when eligible for both retirement and widow(er)’s benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the

Thoughtful mature woman working at laptop thinking about the pandemic and whether she should retire … [+] now. getty The pandemic is wearing everyone out, and Baby Boomers are no exception. Individuals who were planning to retire two or three years from now are changing their minds. In the third quarter of 2020, Pew Research

One million older workers have left the labor force amid the pandemic. getty Job growth is slowing amid surging coronavirus infections. Many workers 55 years old and older are leaving the labor force in droves, while others keep working, even at high risks to their health and that of their families. More than a million

getty Over the past quarter-century, the American labor market went through a quiet transformation. The share of workers 55 or older more than doubled, rising from 12% in 1995 to nearly 25% in 2020. At no point in U.S. history have older workers been more essential, and economists predict the trend to continue. Yet this

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when and whether delayed retirement credits (DRCs) are applied to benefit rates, eligibility of exes to file for benefits on a person’s Social Security record and pensions based on work not taxed by Social Security. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and

Retirees can plan for giving to family responsibly. And don’t forget other ways to give! getty It’s that time of year when many retirees think about financially helping their adult children and grandchildren or donating to the charitable causes they care about. At this stage in life, it’s quite natural that retirees want to give