Life insurance is one of my favorite insurance products to sell. Why? Because it’s a selfless investment you make in the ones you love so they can continue their lives after you’re gone without a financial hardship. Financial relief helps survivors to focus on recovering from the emotional hardship of losing someone they love. Life [...]
What’s your biggest fear as a retiree? Outliving your money. The securities industry is great at fearmongering. It wants you to believe you need it to avoid this fate. The harsh reality is that using brokers and advisers who tell you they can “beat the markets” makes running out of money a self-fulfilling prophecy. Unfortunately, [...]
Generally speaking, I am no fan of 401(k) plans. They are brimming with high costs, conflicts of interest, and poor investment choices. The primary beneficiaries of these plans are mutual funds and plan advisers who skim off billions in fees-money that should be going into the accounts of plan participants. The allure of these plans [...]
I love to travel. I think getting out of your element and going somewhere else is a way to broaden your life and make it interesting. Travel can be an investment in your happiness, and just like any investment, it should be protected. When you’re planning a trip, you confirm your reservations, pack your bags, [...]
This article was written by guest blogger Eva Rosenberg. I recently received a question from Susan, who wanted to know if a settlement from a class action suit is taxable. Great question, but it’s also very broad and open-ended. A number of examples came to mind. First, let’s talk about the woman who won a [...]
The question I get asked most often is should I buy gold? My answer? You are asking the wrong question. Investors buy and sell gold at the wrong times. If you are talking about making a short-term profit by buying gold and then selling it at a higher price, the issue is very simple. You [...]
You have to feel sorry for anyone nearing retirement or those who have recently retired. They worked hard and saved enough to retire with dignity—or so they thought. In the stock market crash of 2008 and 2009, few were spared the market decline, and even fewer hung around for the rapid recovery beginning in 2009. [...]
Your kid is off to college. The bags are packed. The GPS is set. And you’ve got a fistful of tissues for the drive back home. Now what? The moment your child moves out of your house, everything will change with regard to your insurance policies and how you can provide the best protection. Here [...]
The income constraints are gone: now anyone can convert a pre-tax IRA or 401(k) plan assets into a tax-free Roth IRA. All you have to do is pay ordinary federal and state income taxes on your pre-tax IRA, and you’ll have created a fund from which no taxes will ever be due. So should you [...]
Eileen was a single mom and successful businesswoman. Last July, she married an adorable and charming man. He didn’t work but was helpful around the house and with her daughter. So the Mr. Mom thing was fine with her. Life was good. Eileen started to think about buying a home. Oops. Suddenly, Eileen learned Mr. [...]
