Almost every politician running for president or Congress refers to the alarming growth of the national debt. It is now $23.2 trillion, or $188,000 for each individual taxpayer. For my entire adult life, I’ve heard politicians on both sides of the aisle warning of an economic Armageddon from the growing federal debt. Whether they are […]
Immediate Annuities May Fit Into Retirement Plan
Recently, a life insurance agent wrote me about my railings against the SECURE Act now allowing annuities in 401(k) plans. He politely—and accurately—noted my “unfavorable opinion towards annuities (and by extension insurance sales reps).” He suggested, however that my attacks on annuities may be too broad. After reading his email, I agreed.
Should Security Deposits Be Illegal?
If lawmakers in several states and cities have their way, the traditional security deposit for housing rentals may become a relic of the past. Security deposits help to minimize damages to the property and offset costs in the event a tenant breaks their lease. They are also a small indication of the tenant’s solvency and […]
SECURE Act Details and Your Retirement Planning
After my recent column on the SECURE Act, a client asked, “What are you going to do about this? It makes the planning we’ve done useless.” The good news is that, while the Act will mean some retooling of estate and retirement planning strategy, it didn’t exactly make everyone’s previous planning useless.
Retirees’ Difficult Emotional Shift From Saving To Spending
Nearly 40 years of financial planning experience has taught me that retirement is one of the most impactful emotional transitions in life. As you face the shift from earning a paycheck to relying on sources other than work for your income, it is normal for difficult emotions and deeply buried money scripts to surface. Here […]
