Can an IRA keep growing for a century or more? In theory, it can. Some people are planning to ‘stretch? their Individual Retirement Accounts over generations, so that their heirs can receive IRA assets accumulated after decades of tax-deferred or tax-free growth. A stretch IRA can potentially create a legacy of wealth to benefit your […]
What is going on? Before 2002, oil prices usually hovered around $20 a barrel. By early 2006, they were above $60 a barrel.1 They were at $62 a barrel in May 2007.2 One year later, oil prices have doubled. In October 2004, a gallon of regular unleaded gas averaged just under $2.00.3 Now it might […]
Have you looked at your VUL lately? Variable universal life insurance can be a good investment ? if you check up on it to monitor asset allocation and performance. Some people simply tuck their policy away in a file and forget about it. This is a mistake. VUL gives you a whole life insurance policy […]
A wave of conversions 2010 will be an extraordinary year for tax law, a tax year so potentially advantageous that we may never see its like again. One probable 2010 phenomenon: a wave of high-income and high net worth individuals converting traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs. Here’s why 2010 represents a great year to make […]
Legitimacy is in the eye of the beholder. When someone invites you to a lunch or dinner financial seminar, are they trying to sell you something? Probably. Is it a scam? Not necessarily. It all depends. Often someone (for example, an insurance agent) will sell a product via a seminar or an invite-only lunch or […]
Think you’re all set? If you’ve made wise decisions with your money, set aside plenty and feel like you’re ready to retire ? you’re one step ahead of many Americans. If you’ve planned your estate (arranged how your money and assets will transfer after your lifetime), then you’re even further ahead. But have you considered […]
If you participate in a 401(k) plan, or if you have a variable annuity, an ETF, or an IRA mutual fund, you may have an option to automatically and periodically have your assets ‘rebalanced.? In fact, a 2007 survey by Hewitt & Associates found that 42% of large employers offered this option.1 Why might this […]
The secondary market for life insurance is reshaping the landscape within the entire financial services industry. Life insurance policies now have a fair market value. This means that your choices as a consumer regarding your life insurance are increased. You may be able to sell your policy on the secondary market even if it has […]
A gift to charity may prove to be a great financial favor to you. Some charitable gifting methods offer you notable tax advantages. Here’s a brief look at some popular options. Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs). These trusts can be useful estate planning tools. People with highly appreciated assets ? such as stocks or real estate […]
It’s about that time of year. The end of the year is a good time to review your personal finances, and to refocus your wealth-building efforts. How much financial progress did you make? What are your financial, business or life priorities for 2008? Dust off your financial goals and take a good look at them. […]