With all the drama of the year-end relief bill, many missed the fact that it is part of a large budget law containing a number of tax changes. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (TCDTRA) is a component of the consolidated appropriations law, and it includes some long-awaited modifications and clarifications.
Retirement
You’ve won the lottery, and it was a “B”iggie, as in “B”illions of dollars. Now what? The holders of two tickets faced that question last week. On Jan. 22, in Michigan, a Mega Millions ticket hit the jackpot at $1.05 billion. Two days earlier, on Jan. 20, in Maryland, a winning Powerball ticket rang up
Members of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association are hoping a forensic investigation of the State … [+] Teachers Retirement System by an independent expert will provide assurance that the pension system is being managed properly and that the investments are being reported accurately. getty After a 3-month campaign of collecting donations from retired and active
By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor Michael Kay, founder of Chapter X Michael Kay Stepping out of the world of full-time work and into the world of retirement can feel like losing your footing to quicksand. Loss of identity. Loss of income. Loss of colleagues. Perhaps the loss of a spouse or partner. Michael
By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue getty Six months after Tamara Schumer, of Fairfax, Va., opened her home-based window-treatment business in 2016, it took off. “I was fortunate,” says Schumer, owner of Budget Blinds of Arlington & Alexandria. “But it was very stressful trying to handle customer service, scheduling, follow-up, orders, sales — all of that
getty Are you a parent or grandparent who wants to make a financial gift to a minor child? Do you want to help fund a child’s education but aren’t sure if that’s the path they’ll take? Do you want to give your children a financial head start in life so that one day they can
getty If you have already “won” the game of financial life, stop playing and start planning Is the investment population at-large getting greedy? No, because that implies that they are in the process of becoming greedy. Greed and the stock market in 2021 are past-tense. In other words, it’s already greedy on a scale that
Click here to read the previous part of this article. A review of the tax principles used herein is also in order. Investments are made in Jerry’s tax-deferred 401(k) plan. This means that taxes are not paid initially on the plan contributions, but any withdrawals from the plan will be subject to ordinary income tax
Couple at kitchen table with calculator and financial statements. Koldunov Are you thinking of retiring soon? If you are, it’s crucial to plan for this next phase. It may be tempting to say, “I’am sick of working for ‘the man.’ ” But before taking a big step, be sure you’re heading toward something you desire,
getty After reading this post, you are likely to think—that is so obvious. How could I and my estate attorney both have missed this? Don’t feel bad. We have reviewed thousands of wills and trusts and in our experience hardly anyone gets this right. The mistake often costs families tens of thousands of dollars or more. I’m referring to
Getty getty Democrats took control in Washington and began laying out their agenda for the next four years. Many media outlets across the country may shift their economic outlook as a result. The press organizations that were negative on the markets, foreign policy, defense, and healthcare, over the last four years may now turn positive
Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when continuing income after full retirement age (FRA) might increase Social Security retirement benefit rates, whether the earnings test affects eligibility for a survivor’s benefit and filing online. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security
Covid restrictions for those over 65 have remained in place for months in most places. Widowed aging parents may have no one to touch them, be with them, or pay much regular attention to them. Some seek company on the internet. Dating sites for those over 50 years of age are out there, and your
Recent surveys of retirees conducted by The Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) confirms what I’ve learned from many years of working with older clients: Spending changes throughout retirement. In my experience, spending changes often lead to client requests for more or less retirement income, which is why I don’t subscribe to the idea that the
Women caught ‘in between’ are part of a larger, seemingly invisible, even forgotten, cohort of women … [+] facing unprecedented uncertainty in retirement. getty Standing behind the register Jenny looks on with an amused expression as I fumble with a large box. Inside the box is my newfound treasure — a new coffeemaker marked down
By Joseph F. Coughlin, Next Avenue getty (Editor’s Note: This article is the 15th in a weekly joint series on Covid-19 and the Future of Aging from the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging and Next Avenue. The articles are Q and As with thought leaders in fields ranging from health care to
2020 was an eventful year when it came to IRA required minimum distributions (RMDs), especially for those who took their RMDs before the March 2020 suspension was enacted. Then came rollover relief. But what if early bird 2020 “RMD-ers” receive Form 1099-Rs reporting the RMD as taxable, even if rolled over? Unnerving Form 1099-R
Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about when spousal benefits can be filed for, how deeming affect people born in 1954 and later, how foreign pensions can affect Social Security benefits and how the lower earning spouse can maximize their benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the
Close up of a group of expat seniors having a celebratory toast getty If you have had thoughts recently about what it might be like to live in another country as you get older, you are not alone. I think more older (and younger!) adults than ever before are giving serious thought to living somewhere
By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Before you close the book on your 2021 New Year’s resolutions, I’d like to share three that you might want to boost your investment income in retirement. They’re from the latest episode of the “Friends Talk Money” podcast I co-host with personal finance syndicated columnist Terry Savage