Planning for Retirement? Here are a few tips!
For some people, planning for retirement can feel like trying to eat an elephant; but, it doesn’t have to be that way. Before making big decisions, it’s always important to get the ducks lined-up first.
For some people, planning for retirement can feel like trying to eat an elephant; but, it doesn’t have to be that way. Before making big decisions, it’s always important to get the ducks lined-up first.
Retirement decisions can be momentous. Which year you would have remembered would depend on if you retired back then… and which year!
No investment strategy is without some kind of risk; but, I think this comes close. Take a look:
Remember 1966? What if you retired then? Would it have made a difference if you retired in 1967 instead? Can you time retirement? If not, how do you reduce your risk when there’s no time to rebuild all over again?
Retirement planning was much easier during working years than the challenge of managing after retirement. During the working years it’s relatively simple: just keep stashing money into your retirement plan and let the markets, over decades, do the rest!
Longevity risk is real. Accumulating assets for retirement was a lot easier than managing retirement income. Now you practically have to be an actuary to make sure your money doesn’t run out before you do!
Few understand the power of the investment allocation model, even in – especially in – times of crisis; but the power can be great when tied to a long-range financial plan.
If you’re receiving Social Security, Pension, or other guaranteed income, you may want to rethink how your nest-egg is arranged for long-term inflation risk.
If you’re receiving Social Security, Pension, or other guaranteed income, you may want to rethink how your nest-egg is arranged for long-term inflation risk.
I’m not sure how many of the candidates who are running on government supported Medicare for everyone majored in economics or finance – it maybe explains the obvious their all to obvious failure to address the question directly.
Elizabeth Warren, for example, promised that it won’t cost the middle class “one penny” – a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by any country now offering universal health care. According to an inciteful Advisor Perspectives article by Rick Kahler, CFP and registered investment advisor based in Rapid City, S.D., the middle class in those countries pay income taxes of up to 40% and a national sales tax equivalent to 15-25% of income.
While Senator Warren estimates the cost over a decade at $20 trillion in new federal spending – a cost the middle class is somehow to avoid – Estimates from six independent financial organizations put the figure in the $28-36 trillion range.
Link: http://www.crfb.org/blogs/how-much-will-medicare-all-cost
A Forbes article describes the tax increases aimed at wealthy individuals. Included are:
Eliminating the favorable tax rate on capital gains
Increasing the “Obamacare” tax from 3.8% to 14.8% on investment income over $250,000
Eliminating the step-up in basis for inheritors
Establishing a financial transaction tax of 0.10%
The capital gains tax increase, the step-up in basis, and the financial transaction tax will all affect middle class investors – potentially anyone with a 401(k) or an IRA. Rick Kahler points out that the American Retirement Association estimates that the financial transaction tax alone will cost the average 401(k) and IRA investor over $1,500 a year.
The 0.10% financial transaction tax, for example, would apply to all securities sold and purchased within a mutual fund or ETF, in addition to any purchases and sales of the funds themselves by investors. Mr. Kahler estimates these costs can run 0.20% to 0.30% a year to fund investors. When you consider some index funds charge only 0.10% in total expenses, the increase comes to 200% or more.
Eliminating the step-up in basis and the favorable capital gains treatment will certainly cost middle class investors more than a penny. A retiree leaving an heir $200,000 with $100,000 in cost basis, could easily cost the middle class inheritor $10,000 to $20,000 or more in taxes.
Forbes link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2019/11/07/warrens-plan-to-double-tax-wealth-is-unrealistic/#4444076e4aaf
Candidates can promise – that doesn’t cost anything – but it’s the electorate who needs to do the math. After all, our elected representatives don’t live in the same health care world the rest of us do.
The SECURE Act 2.0 may do a lot to help secure Uncle Sam, but I’m not so sure about the rest of us.
No, we’re not training your dog. But, if you’re nearing retirement, you know exactly what a rollover is – and you know it’s a big decision.