Retirement

We start with considering how interest is credited to fixed index annuities, since this is the area that differs the most from variable annuities. Since FIAs are fixed annuities, crediting interest is the technical term for the returns generated by the contract value. As with variable annuities, it can be difficult to provide a standard

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Getting rid of stuff that’s taking up space in your home can be tough — even for money experts. That was made painfully clear on the new episode of the “Friends Talk Money” podcast I co-host with Terry Savage (personal finance syndicated columnist and author of “The

getty Are you ready to learn about the basics and start investing? Do you want to know the difference between a stock and a bond? You’ve probably heard of stocks and bonds. Both are essential building blocks of most investment portfolios and are often mentioned in the same breath. Stocks and bonds are two types

Medicare Open Enrollment and the donut hole. Getty The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is a very important time for anyone who has a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan. Here are some important points. The OEP begins October 15 and ends December 17. This is your opportunity to review your coverage for next year. Watch

By Kevyn Burger, Next Avenue Contributor getty Bill Currey has thoroughly enjoyed his 45-year career in real estate, with one notable exception. Now semi-retired, the 75-year-old resident of Charleston, W. Va., is still required to take annual continuing education classes to maintain his license. “I know it’s important, but I hate it,” admitted Currey. So

The great 401k experiment of the past 50 years has failed generations of America’s workers. 401ks … [+] are structurally flawed and cannot provide meaningful retirement security. getty The great 401k experiment of the past 50 years has failed generations of America’s workers. As controversial as that statement may sound, today there is broad consensus

US President Donald Trump signs executive orders extending coronavirus economic relief, during a … [+] news conference in Bedminster, New Jersey, on August 8, 2020. (Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images President Trump’s payroll tax holiday started last week. But what does this mean

Economic Security Planning, Inc. Today’s column addresses questions about restricted applications, 401(k)s and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and what methods are available to increase benefits after filing. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which markets Maximize My Social Security and

By Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue Managing Editor getty Usually, when my “Friends Talk Money” podcast hosts and I record an episode, we’re sharing advice about how to earn more money and manage what you’ve got. But our newest episode is full of warnings on how to not lose money — specifically, to Covid-19 identity theft

Don’t be too worried about the impact of the election on your retirement savings. getty It’s understandable if pre-retirees and retirees are nervous about the impact of the upcoming presidential election on their retirement savings, especially if they’re keeping up with the news these days. If they are, they might feel as if they’re being

What’s going to happen to the economy in 2021? Now that we’re approaching the end of the third quarter of 2020, there are three scenarios for the coming year that savers, investors and people planning for retirement should keep in mind. Yellow means proceed with caution Steve Chen The Good Case for 2021 Though some

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE – SEPTEMBER 04: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks during a … [+] campaign event September 4, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Biden spoke on the economy that has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images Joe Biden has promised a vast array of new spending — not,

Saving for retirement is hard enough without having to manage multiple investment accounts. With the proliferation of tax-advantaged accounts, however, many individuals juggle several if not more than a dozen retirement accounts. An investment tracking tool can help manage all of these accounts in one place, and below are the three best investment tracking apps

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MAY 04: The field heads down the backstretch during the 145th running of the … [+] Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 04, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Getty Images Trends, stats and this Saturday’s Run For The Roses I have a confession to make. I love

As the November election draws near, some attention has been focused on a particularly contentious plan by Joe Biden to eliminate the 401(k) deduction. In truth, Biden isn’t proposing to eliminate the 401(k) deduction as much as to replace it with a tax credit. AFP via Getty Images Be that as it may, defined contribution

getty Does the recent fall in the market worry you? Depending on your age, it shouldn’t. If you’re a millennial, there’s something else that should worry you more. The good news, though, is that it’s something you have total control over. If you’re like most investors, you read the results of the market every day.

getty Let’s start from scratch: what are the tax advantages of a traditional or Roth 401(k) or IRA? In both cases, they allow savers to avoid paying taxes on their investment returns. In the case of a traditional IRA/401(k), they also allow savers to pay their taxes, ultimately, based on their total effective tax rate

Looking for love over 50? You are not alone. Online dating sites such as SilverSingles.com are seeing increases in users and activity. But beware: Your “perfect match” may just be a fraudster who would love to target you with a romance scam. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “reports of romance scams are growing,

By Kerry Hannon, Next Avenue Contributor getty The great national Covid-19 remote working experiment the past six months has opened the lid on the benefits and the challenges of working from home for millions of workers. For Sandra Molleck, who works as a commercial lines account manager for a large California based insurer through WAHVE

Fixed Index Annuities Caveat In this discussion of fixed index annuities, which use to be called equity indexed annuities, I am mostly making an implicit assumption that the annuity is competitively priced. Internal costs reflect was is needed to support the guarantees provided by the insurance company and to keep the company reasonably profitable. But