6 Steps to a New Financial Approach

From: REAP, LLC. | Retirement & Estate Advisors & Professionals

Have you heard of zero-based budgeting?

This approach isn’t for everyone, but many people find it’s an efficient way to keep track of their finances and stick to their goals.

And zero-based budgeting can be a good fit no matter where you are in life, whether you’re a young adult just learning about money or you’re retired and…

Social Security is one of the main benefit programs for workers in the United States. At some point, almost everyone will collect something from Social Security. If you are getting close to collecting from Social Security, you might be wondering how the program works and what to expect. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Social Security benefits.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Collect?

The short answer is that it…

The Average Social Security Recipient Today Only Gets This Much Income

From: www.fool.com

Hint: It’s really not enough to live comfortably on.

Millions of seniors today collect Social Security, and many rely on those benefits for the bulk of their income. If you’re planning to do the same in retirement, then chances are, you’re not doing much to save independently at present. But before you decide to settle on Social Security…

How To Use Muni Bonds For Tax-Loss Harvesting

From: www.fa-mag.com

Democrats’ talk of higher taxes for the rich might intensify interest in state and local government bonds, where income is often exempt from taxes.

Tax-loss harvesting in municipal bond portfolios can allow investors to offset tax liabilities stemming from capital gains in other asset classes—as long as investors and advisors do their homework.

“Basically, when rates go up investors will potentially…

Retirement account gaffes: Clients’ biggest withdrawal mistakes

From: www.financial-planning.com

Baby boomers in the job market grapple with a persistent worry: What if I have a financial emergency that compels an early withdrawal from my retirement account? The income tax hit alone is painful but, unless an exception applies, the additional 10% penalty for those (usually) under age 59 1/2 applies salt in the wound.

The good news is that tax law…

By Jennifer Frost

Two of the most important factors in a close relationship with your grandchildren are physical proximity and frequency of contact. Although you may not live nearby, ensuring that your home is child-friendly and provides a welcoming environment for all your extended family, means you will likely receive more visits and get to spend more quality time together. A few checks and minor changes to your home can make…

Why Prenups Aren’t Just for Millionaires

From: REAP, LLC. | Retirement & Estate Advisors & Professionals

Does talking about prenuptial agreements make you uncomfortable? For many of us, the answer is “yes.”

Realistically, signing a prenup doesn’t mean that your marriage is doomed or you don’t trust each other. It means you’re wise enough to plan for the worst even as you’re striving for the best.

Even though marriage is based on love and commitment,…

The Crisis in Retirement Planning

By Robert C. Merton | Harvard Business Review

Corporate America really started to take notice of pensions in the wake of the dot-com crash, in 2000. Interest rates and stock prices both plummeted, which meant that the value of pension liabilities rose while the value of the assets held to meet them fell. A number of major firms in weak industries, notably steel and airlines, went bankrupt in large…

Pursuing a Better Investment Experience

From: Secure Investment Management

Key Principles to Improve Your Odds of Success

1. Embrace Market Pricing

The market is an effective information-processing machine. Each day, the world equity markets process billions of dollars in trades between buyers and sellers—and the real-time information they bring helps set prices.

2. Don’t Try to Outguess the Market

The market’s pricing power works against mutual fund managers who try to outperform through stock picking or market timing….

Where Harry Markowitz, Father of Modern Portfolio Theory, Is Invested Now

From: www.thinkadvisor.com

The 91-year-old Nobel winner also told ThinkAdvisor that AI should stand for “artificial idiocy.”

Nobel Prize winner Harry Markowitz, who conceived Modern Portfolio Theory, is 91 years old, boasts a list of corporate clients as long as your arm and has no intention of keeping his controversial views to himself, as evidenced in an interview with ThinkAdvisor.

For starters,…