Senior Finances… When a Significant Life Event Occurs,It’s Time to Review Your IRA Beneficiary

Issue 43.10

Many investors commit a common estate-planning mistake with their IRA assets. Unfortunately,the mistake sometimes becomes apparent only after the account owner dies— when it comes time to transfer the IRA to the heirs. For the [...]

Senior Finances… Choosing the “Right” Executor

Issue 39.10

A will is a “living” document;therefore whenever you have a major life change you should consider reviewing your will.  Part of this review should include making sure the person you have chosen to be your executor or personal representative [...]

Senior Finances…What Exactly Is Wealth Management?

Issue 35.10

The two words signify a far-reaching kind of financial care.

There’s financial planning,and then there’s wealth management. Think of wealth management as a step up from garden-variety financial planning. One office (rather than one [...]

Senior Finances… Critical Illness Insurance

Issue 31.10

What it is,why people opt for it.

Ever hear of critical illness insurance? This isn’t standard-issue disability insurance,but a cousin of sorts. With people living longer,it is a risk management option [...]

Senior Finances… An Estate Tax Break For Farm Families?

Issue 27.10

If passed,H.R. 3524 would spare some heirs from estate taxes:

An interesting bill on the back burner of Congress:

Last summer,Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and John [...]

Senior Finances… Do Your Investments Match Your Risk Tolerance?

Issue 23.10

Now is a good time to examine what’s in your portfolio.

The stock market is unsettled … and perhaps its fluctuations are unsettling you. It’s a stressful time for the economy and Wall Street,and [...]

Senior Finances… Preventing Identity Theft

Issue 15.10

It’s easy to be victimized. What can you do to protect yourself?

Identity theft can be as primitive as “ghosting” – taking a dead person’s name and making a fake Social Security card with a [...]

Senior Finances… An Investor’s Best Friends

Issue 11.10

Meet diversification,patience,and consistency.

Any investor would do well to call on three friends during the course of his or her financial life:diversification,patience and consistency.  Regardless of how the markets perform,they [...]

Senior Finances… Do You Know Where Your Pension Plan Is?

Issue 8.10

How’s your pension plan doing?  Many people know they have a pension plan,but they’re not quite sure how it works,how stable it is,or exactly how their money is invested.  The details are often hazy.

Senior Finances… Tax Efficiency

Issue 6.10

A little phrase that may mean a big difference.  When you read about investing and other financial topics,you occasionally see the phrase “tax efficiency” or a reference to a “tax-sensitive” way of investing.  What does that really mean?

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