The Austrian School of Investment Thought
Retirement Planning
Understanding Medicare
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to retired individuals, regardless of their medical condition, and certain younger people with disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Here are some basic facts about Medicare that you should know. What does Medicare cover? Medicare coverage consists of two main parts: Medicare Part A (hospital … Continue reading
Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports: Financial Challenges Continue
Every year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds release reports to Congress on the current financial condition and projected financial outlook of these programs. The newest reports, released on July 13, 2017, discuss the ongoing financial challenges that both programs face, and project a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2018. … Continue reading
Keeping Your Business in the Family
What are some of the issues concerning keeping the business in the family? You may want to keep your business in the family, as opposed to selling it to an outside party or another business. If this is your plan, you should be aware of some of the issues that can contribute to the success … Continue reading
401(k) Rollovers: What to Consider
If you’ve lost your job, or are changing jobs, you may be wondering what to do with your 401(k) plan account. It’s important to understand your options. What will I be entitled to? If you leave your job (voluntarily or involuntarily), you’ll be entitled to a distribution of your vested balance. Your vested balance … Continue reading
Should You Apply for Social Security Now or Later?
When should you apply for benefits? Consider a few factors first. Now or later? When it comes to the question of Social Security income, the choice looms large. Should you apply now to get earlier payments? Or wait for a few years to get larger checks? Consider what you know (and don’t know). You … Continue reading
When Is Social Security Income Taxable?
The answer depends on your income Your Social Security income could be taxed. That may seem unfair, or unfathomable. Regardless of how you feel about it, it is a possibility. Seniors have had to contend with this possibility since 1984. Social Security benefits became taxable above certain yearly income thresholds in that … Continue reading
Financial Considerations for a Second Marriage
Some of us will marry again in retirement. How many of us will thoroughly understand the financial implications that may come with tying the knot later in life. Many baby boomers and seniors will consider financial factors as they enter into marriage, but that … Continue reading
Retirement Insight: Bankrate’s Best and Worst States for Retirement
WHAT ARE THE BEST (AND WORST) STATES FOR RETIREMENT?Every year, consumer finacial services website Bankrate.com tries to determine them througha survey of financial, health, and lifestyle factors. Its 2016 survey conveys a distinct message: for a nice retirement, avoid coasts and head west. For the second straight year, Wyoming ranked as the best state in … Continue reading
White House Proposes Changes to Retirement Plans: A look at some of the ideas contained in the 2017 federal budget.
Will workplace retirement plans be altered in the near future? The White House will propose some changes to these plans in the 2017 federal budget, with the goal of making such programs more accessible. Here are some of the envisioned changes. Pooled employer-sponsored retirement programs. This concept could save small businesses money. Current laws permit … Continue reading
Medicare Changes for 2016
Every year brings little changes to Medicare, and 2016 is no different. Here is a handy summary of the changes this year. Part B premiums will rise 16% for some Medicare beneficiaries, 0% for others. Since the federal government’s Consumer Price Index failed to advance on a year-over-year basis across most of 2015, no Social … Continue reading
2016 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits
Over the past 12 months, consumer prices have increased very little. The latest Consumer Price Index (September) shows 0.0% yearly inflation and only 1.9% core yearly inflation. That means no cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security, and very few IRS adjustments to retirement plan contribution limits.1 Roth IRA & traditional IRA contribution limits stay the same … Continue reading
