Slow and steady wins the race, so they say. But what happens if just before the finish line, the hare picks up the tortoise, places him back at the halfway point, and races to an unheralded victory? Think of your retirement savings as the tortoise, and taxes as the hare. After you have accumulated your… Read more »
With the 2017 tax reform, there were a few items that could have drastically changed estate planning strategies for the affluent individual. But, let’s keep a few things in mind: The bill passed with zero Democrat support. When Democrats get back the majority, they are likely to do whatever is in their power to dismantle… Read more »
What you Don’t Know Can Hurt You Many people don’t realize that the terms of a life insurance policy may be subject to change. Unbeknownst to them, some of the key elements of the policy may shift, making the policy barely recognizable, and in some cases, no longer beneficial. According to a recent survey, 60% of… Read more »
According to the Social Security Administration, about one fourth of the 65-year-olds today will live past the age of 90, and one in ten will live past the ripe age of 95. The latest research shows that this current generation of men is expected to live 7 years longer than the previous generation; women are… Read more »
In the game of Monopoly (™), the person with the most properties in the end usually wins. In real life, having the most properties in the end could also mean paying the most in taxes. Let’s take a look at how to maximize your investments in real estate while minimizing your taxes. Catch 22 Investment… Read more »
Some of the effects of the recent tax reform remain to be seen. However, one thing is for sure. It has generated a lot of volatility in the municipal bond market (munis). Consider this – December 2017 saw the greatest issuance of municipal bonds in history, while January 2018 was the worst January since 1981… Read more »
If you have high insurance premiums, carrying life insurance can feel like a burden. So the recent increase in the estate tax exemption limit to $22 million (for couples) seems like a ‘get out of jail free’ card. Certainly, if life insurance was purchased simply to cover estate taxes, and there will not be any… Read more »
In 2016, the University of Michigan and Jim Harbaugh came to an agreement in which Michigan would loan Harbaugh $14 million over the course of several years to pay his insurance premiums. He doesn’t need to repay the loan until he dies, at which point the death benefit will cover the loan, and remaining funds will… Read more »
What Annuity Problem? Let’s use an example to explain. Clara and Thomas have conservatively purchased a fixed annuity with a flat rate of return. Over the years, they have watched their initial investment of $2 million grow to a sizable $5 million. A fixed annuity is tax-deferred, and the principal and interest are guaranteed. Sounds… Read more »
In Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks played an army captain for a band of men whose mission was to find Private Ryan and escort him safely home (because his 3 brothers had already lost their lives in World War II). Though your qualified retirement plan is not a matter of life and death, it may… Read more »
