Articles

Estates & Trusts

• Estate Planning

  Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

• Living Trusts

  A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

• Avoiding Probate

  The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

• Charitable Giving

  To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

• Preserving My Estate

  Life insurance can be used to help preserve your estate’s value for your heirs.

• Gifting Strategies

  Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

• Charitable Remainder Trusts

  A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

• Property Ownership

  Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.

Retirement

• Stretch IRAs

  A “stretch” or “multigenerational” IRA may be a useful approach to extend tax-deferred savings that can benefit your heirs for generations.

• IRA Rollover

  If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

• Roth 401(k)

  A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

• Why Purchase Annuities

  Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.

• Annuity Living Benefits

  Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

• How Much Do I Need to Save?

  Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

• A New Chapter for Retirement

  With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

• 1035 Exchanges

  A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

• Unforgettable Birthdays

  There are key dates after you turn 59 that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

• Planning Options

  There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

• Social Security Income

  The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.

• Indexed Annuities

  An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.

• Retirement Plan Distributions

  When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.

• Traditional IRAs

  If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.

• Roth IRAs

  Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.

Tax Planning

• Estate Tax

  Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

• Retirement Plan Limits

  IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

• Required Minimum Distributions

  Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

• Charitable Trust Tax Benefits

  For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

• Withdrawing Before Age 59.5

  Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.

• Tax Deferral

  There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.

• Tax Deductions

  Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

Investing

• Annuities

  An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.

• Fixed vs. Variable Annuities

  Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.

• College Savings Plans

  There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.

• 529 Plans

  529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

Cash Management

• Biweekly Mortgages

  Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.

• Reverse Mortgages

  There are techniques that can enable older homeowners to use their property to finance their lifestyle.

Risk Management

• Why Purchase Life Insurance

  If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

• Annuities as an Insurance Product

  An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

• Long-Term Care Costs

  The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

• Medicare Coverage

  Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?

• Long-Term-Care Needs

  If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?

• Types of Life Insurance

  When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.