Know When to Switch From Bonds to Annuities

From: money.usnews.com

Annuities can compensate for declining bond yields when interest rates begin to soar.

While savings accounts or certificates of deposit should get a bump from continued interest rate hikes, the bonds in your portfolio may not fare as well.

The State Street Investor Confidence Index, which measures investor sentiment, lost 3.4 points in October, falling to 84.4 on the heels of the Federal Reserve’s…

How to create a budget you’ll actually stick to

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

Creating the perfect budgeting system isn’t easy, but the more you view money management as an ongoing practice rather than a yearly or quarterly event, the more likely you are to succeed.

Get started by outlining your current expenses as well as your short- and long-term goals and then consider embracing these three practical…

4 Tips to Optimize Your Retirement Account Withdrawals (And Reduce Taxes)

From: smartasset.com

This is how to make sure your savings lasts the longest.

If you’re planning to retire within the next few years, you’ve undoubtedly considered when you should start making withdrawals from your retirement accounts.

However, the order in which you withdraw from your accounts is also important — it could let your tax-advantaged accounts grow to their full potential,

Dear Financial Advisor: Why Is My Portfolio Doing So Badly?

From: www.thestreet.com

That’s a question many investment advisors are hearing these days when they dare to answer the phone.

Understandably, the investor sees the stock market reaching new highs, then they look at their portfolios and see either no gains, or a gain considerably lower than the one posted by the stock market. Indeed, the S&P…

How Are Trusts Taxed?

From: www.aaepa.com

Trusts can be very useful vehicles to control assets during life and after death. During life, they can be especially helpful to control assets during periods of disability. After death, a trust can provide asset protection, remarriage protection, asset management, and many other benefits which might not be available otherwise.

Generally, trusts are income taxed in two different ways, as “grantor” trusts or “nongrantor” trusts. A grantor…

How to define your investing goals

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

Whether you’re new to investing or a bit more experienced, you probably already know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy for building a strong portfolio. Everyone’s needs and goals are a little different, and before you make investment decisions, it’s important to honestly review your situation.

Ready to start planning? Here’s what to consider as you work towards…

The Big Picture of 2018 Tax Changes

From: intuit.com

5 quirky IRA rules you never heard of

From: www.financial-planning.com

When it comes to IRAs, the tax rules get pretty complicated to say the least.

Here are five unusual quirks that all financial planners should know. Understanding these anomalies could come in handy, helping you save clients some serious money.

1. Military death benefits can be contributed to a Roth IRA: Help families of veterans with this one because it can make a big…