Decades of research has given us 12 insights into not only how our brains work, but simple things we can do to become better investors, remember more, and live better. These insights are taken from the book, Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by molecular biologist Dr. John…
Read MoreDo you have to make a multimillion-dollar gift to a charity to receive immediate or future financial benefits? No. If you’re not yet a millionaire or simply a “millionaire next door,” yet want to give, consider the following options which may bring you immediate or future tax deductions. Partnership gifts. These gifts are made via…
Read MoreAre you planning for your retirement? You may be alone! A new report released today by the Employee Benefit Research Institute titled the Retirement Confidence Survey tells a sad story for U.S. workers and saving for retirement. Here are the three shocking numbers (or more accurately, the lack of numbers): 57% of U.S. workers surveyed…
Read MoreAs there was no last-minute agreement between Congress and the White House to postpone federal budget cuts scheduled to take effect March 1, the ax now falls. Unless a bipartisan effort somehow undoes them, assorted federal government agencies will have their budgets reduced by $85 billion between now and October 1, as the initial step…
Read MoreWhat happened to the weak buck? In recent years, stock market gains have been associated with a weak dollar (among other factors). This latest rally on Wall Street seems to be an exception: years of dollar weakness may be giving way to renewed foreign investment in U.S. currency, spurred by global belief that things are…
Read MoreHow do you picture your future? If you are like many baby boomers, your view of retirement is likely pragmatic compared to that of your parents. That doesn’t mean you have to have a “plain vanilla” tomorrow. Even if your retirement savings are not as great as you would prefer, you still have great potential…
Read MoreNext stop, 15,000? As the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled at a new all-time high of 14,253.77 on March 5, the psychological lift on Wall Street was undeniable – the market was finally back to where it was in 2007. Or was it? For many Americans, the Dow equals the stock market, and the stock…
Read MoreIf you are expecting an inheritance of money or will come into large amounts of money soon, you may be wondering what you should do with this sudden wealth. There are countless examples of how people have squandered their money, but I recently came across one individual who seems to have a good plan. Him…
Read MoreThe American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) brought major changes to federal tax law, and it profoundly impacted retirement and estate planning. Here is an overview of seven big changes particularly relevant to retirees and/or those approaching retirement age. Federal income tax brackets were altered. Where we once had six tax brackets, we now…
Read MoreShould you make a minor child the primary beneficiary of your IRA? Are there any caveats to that choice? IRA owners frequently name young children as contingent beneficiaries of their accounts, but designating someone younger than 18 as the primary beneficiary of IRA assets invites a number of questions. Will you exploit the stretch IRA…
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