As a parent, I remember this question well from days past. This time, however, it’s being asked by those of us with money invested in the global stock and bond markets. All of us are following a life path that includes stops along the way. Some stops we choose to make and others are forced …
Tag: Investment advisor
When It Comes to Claiming Spousal Benefits, Timing Is Everything
My Comments: The questions surrounding Social Security are almost endless. It’s a complicated system and as more and more of us reach eligibility, it is clear that simply signing up as soon as you are eligible will cost you and your family lots of money and options over the years. Philip Moeller / Sept. 9, …
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Being a Stock-Market Bull Just Got a Lot Harder
My Comments: For over a year now, I’ve been warning my clients that a reversal is coming in the stock market. As a result, we’ve slowly moved into investments that have reacted positively and made money during downturns. Only it hasn’t happened yet. Consequently, some of them are frustrated and angry with me because while …
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For Retirement Portfolios, a Smarter Glidepath
My Comments: I’ve talked in earlier blog posts about the rate used to withdraw money from your retirement accounts. There is a prevailing sentiment that it should be 4% or less. I think that’s too low. On the other hand if I’m wrong, and 30 years later you discover you have run out of money, …
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Social Security Survivor Benefits: What Advisors (and clients) Should Know
My Comments: By now you know that I provide financial advice about Social Security and about ways to maximize your SSA benefits. That all happens when you are alive. Inevitably, someone in a married relationship is going to leave the building, as Elvis did. Then what happens? by Paul Norr / AUG 18, 2014 …
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How to Protect Inherited IRAs After the Clark v. Rameker Decision
My Comments: If you have an IRA today, there is a chance there will still be money in it when the inevitable happens and you permanently leave the building. What then with this money? If you have a spouse, and they are the named beneficiary, that money now belongs to them and it becomes their …
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30 Common Obstacles to Estate Planning
• It’s too expensive • My attorney takes care of that • Planners just want to sell me something • Too complicated • It may jeopardize my own financial security • My children want me to spend it all • Leaving too much to my children can make them unmotivated • My children are financially …
Essential Legal and Financial Documents to Have
My Comments: This article appeared as An emergency checklist for advisors and clients: essential legal and financial documents. It caught my eye since lists are always useful when it comes to writing a blog post that someone might read. After all, I read this one. More than that, however, is the fact that getting older …
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Sensible Expectations for Inflation
My Comments: When I talk with prospective clients and those already clients, I talk about existential risk. These are risks that may or may not happen, depending on any number of variables. One of them is inflation since it reduces the purchasing power of your dollars over time. Another existential risk is the financial burden …
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – July 30, 2014
My Comments: I’m involved in a philosophical conflict these days between those on one side who believe there is a universal truth that says investment skill trumps traditional permanent life insurance every time. On the other side is someone who believes permanent life insurance trumps traditional investment methodologies. They argue vehemently that permanent life insurance …
Helping Define Your Financial Future 