Medicare plan options are confusing. This book may help.
by Sonja Breeding, CFP®Medicare Made Simple? Not Quite: Decoding the Alphabet Soup to Maximize Your Coverage. Medicare plan options are confusing. This book may help. By Michelle Singletary, November 22, 2024 For all its pluses, Medicare can be a hellish system that befuddles and frustrates so many beneficiaries. Medicare provides health insurance for millions of Americans 65… Continue reading
Backdoor Roth IRAs Are Promising — and Perilous
The “backdoor” Roth IRA presents a tantalizing solution for those keen on maximizing savings, offering tax-free growth and withdrawals. Read Laura Saunders’ article from the Wall Street Journal below to learn more. Backdoor Roth IRAs Are Promising — and Perilous by Laura Saunders, May 3, 2024 For determined savers, the backdoor Roth IRA is an… Continue reading
Does the 4% Withdrawal Rule for Retirees Still Make Sense?
Read this Barron’s article to learn why the 4% withdrawal rule for retirees is still relevant amidst changing markets. Discover strategies like adjusting withdrawal rates, optimizing asset allocation, and utilizing Roth conversions to make the most of your retirement savings. Does the 4% Withdrawal Rule for Retirees Still Make Sense? By Elizabeth O’Brien, February 9,… Continue reading
Two Retirees Consider Their Nightmare: What Will We Do if One of Us Dies First?
In this Wall Street Journal article, delve into the emotional journey of retirees confronting mortality and the necessity of a backup retirement plan. Two Retirees Consider Their Nightmare: What Will We Do if One of Us Dies First? by Stephen Kreider Yoder, February 1, 2024 Steve We came 6 inches from death, maybe 4, just… Continue reading
An Inheritance With Strings Attached
Have you recently received an inheritance? Avoid hefty tax bills that can come from inherited IRAs. An Inheritance With Strings Attached New rules for inherited IRAs could leave some heirs with a hefty tax bill. By Sandra Block, September, 2023 In the first quarter of 2023, Americans held more than $12 trillion in IRAs. If… Continue reading
Why It’s Smart to Revisit New Year’s Savings Goals Now
Summer is the perfect time to check in on the financial goals set in January at the beginning of the year. Columnist Ann Carrns outlines how to conduct a personal audit, which is essentially a financial health “checkup.” Why It’s Smart to Revisit New Year’s Savings Goals Now There’s still time this year to make adjustments, especially with… Continue reading
With the Odds on Their Side, They Still Couldn’t Beat the Market
The Rebalance tried-and-true adage remains the same, echoed by this NYTs columnist: it is nearly impossible to beat the stock market. The most prudent long-term investing strategy is to “own” the entire stock market through low-cost, broad exposure index funds. Source: The New York Times April 14, 2023. With the Odds on Their Side, They… Continue reading
Should I Start a Donor-Advised Fund?
by Sonja Breeding, CFP®It seems like everyone these days has started a foundation. There’s a reason for that. It’s easier than ever to create one and there are many incentives to go down that path, even with smaller amounts of money. The reason such “foundations” are so prevalent now is because most of them are, in fact, the… Continue reading
What to Do with Inherited Money in a Volatile Market
by Sonja Breeding, CFP®The late John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard and for many decades the strongest proponent of common sense investing, had a wonderful way with words. By turning a phrase inside out he could change one’s perspective completely. During challenging markets he famously would say, “Don’t just do something. Stand there!” Everyone has experienced that panicked… Continue reading
