Expand Your Core: Constructing a Bond Portfolio to Prosper in Changing Environments

From: Ocean Park Asset Management

Executive Summary:

• Just as the S&P 500 Index is the “go-to” benchmark for U.S. stocks, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (often called the “Agg”) acts as the go-to index for core U.S. bonds.

• U.S. 10-year Treasury rates have fallen for the past 40 years from a high of over 15% to 1.3%…

Maximize Your Social Security

A webinar by REAP’s David H. Morgan, MSFS, CFF, RMA, CEP®. Learn more about David here.

By Hazel Bridges

If you’re an older adult who’s just starting to enjoy retirement, you’ve probably taken some time to evaluate your life and where you’re at. A poll by the University of Michigan reported that 80% of questioned seniors felt a strong sense of inner peace. A big part of this overall life satisfaction is linked to the choice of residence or where seniors live out their lives.

This phenomenon is…

8 Things to Know When Choosing a Medicare Plan

From: www.wsj.com

The choices can be confusing, and the fine print is important. But it’s crucial to choose wisely, because it may be hard to change your mind.

When most Americans turn 65, they have three basic options for health coverage: traditional Medicare; Medicare plus supplemental insurance to cover costs that Medicare doesn’t; or Medicare Advantage, a range of managed-care plans.

Making the decision…

Risk: Tax Increases

From: Simplicity Group

Many Americans will owe taxes on their retirement income withdrawals. This can equate to 15, 20, or even 30 years of future tax liabilities while one is no longer earning an income. The retirement risk in this scenario is tax increases. If taxes go up, there is a likelihood that so will your tax bill. This means less money for the things you need and want in retirement.

In…

Financial advice has the best chance of success when it’s built on a relationship. Because no two investors are alike, we’ll work together to construct a financial plan that reflects your goals as they change over time.

Social Security Basics: 12 Things You Must Know About Claiming and Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits

From: www.kiplinger.com

Claiming Social Security benefits at the right time means more money in your pocket. Here’s a guide to everything from knowing your full retirement age to taking Social Security spousal benefits.

For many Americans, Social Security benefits are the bedrock of retirement income so maximizing this stream of income is critical.

The rules for claiming…

3 Reasons to Wait Until 70 to Start Taking Your Social Security Benefits

From: www.kiplinger.com

In a rush to file for Social Security benefits at age 62? Many people are, but slow down and do the math first – or you might regret it.

When it comes to claiming Social Security retirement benefits, you may want to consider waiting to start benefits when you’re 70.

That means not starting benefits when you’re 62…

Moving Assets To A Tax-Free World

From: www.fa-mag.com

Change is in the air. And since the tax law is involved, you can be certain that “change” doesn’t mean the final version.

At the moment, no one knows for certain what will happen to taxes in the United States, but people do know rates are far more likely to increase than decrease. In the immortal words of Jimmy the Greek Snyder, a once-famous…

10 Ways You Could Avoid the 10% Early Retirement Penalty

From: www.kiplinger.com

You’ve saved diligently in your 401(k), and you wouldn’t mind tapping into it – but you’re not age 59½ yet, so you could have to pay the IRS a 10% penalty on your withdrawal. There are exceptions to that rule, though. Here are 10 of them.

Retirement is something each of us must plan for. Not surprisingly, you want to…