With the end of 2010 right around the corner, I offer the following year-end financial planning tips: Contribute to your state’s 529 Plan by the end of the year. Many states, such as Michigan, offer a state income tax deduction if you make contributions to the plan that the state sponsors. Convert your Traditional IRA […]
In my profession as a Certified Financial Planner™, nothing gets my blood boiling faster than blatant acts of self-interest by other financial advisers. One of the most obvious examples of this type of behavior is when advisers invest their clients’ Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) in variable annuities. In my view, variable annuities are almost always […]
Below are the interesting personal finance links I have come across since my last post: Information about and photos of ATM skimmers: https://nyti.ms/d9jDdq New York Times writer Tara Siegel Bernard on social security jitters: https://nyti.ms/9t2aYu The Securities and Exchange Commission responds to investors questions about index funds and turnover rates: https://bit.ly/aLs0i5 Mary Pilon of the […]
Visit Dinkytown for free personal finance calculators. If you invest in TIAA Traditional through your employer’s retirement plan with TIAA-CREF, I suggest you read this Phased out of making Roth IRA contributions? Try the backdoor. Check out Susan Beacham’s blog if you are interested in kids and money. Vanguard recently rolled out new exchanged traded […]
I’m a staunch believer that emotions and investing do not mix. The right approach is to determine an appropriate asset allocation for yourself, let the markets do what they will, and then rebalance your portfolio back to its target allocation at pre-determined intervals. I encourage most of my clients to rebalance on an annual basis. […]
There are a number of clear signs that your financial advisor may not have your best interest in mind. Is your IRA invested in a variable annuity? Red flag! Do the names of your mutual funds end in “A” or “B”? Red flag! When it comes to saving for college education expenses, it’s hard to […]
If you’ve ever talked to me about investing, you’ve likely heard me stress the importance of keeping your costs low. Part of your investing costs are the commissions you pay to buy and sell. I encourage my clients to use a broker, the firm that holds your investments, that offers low cost investments and low […]
I received this question recently from a reader who is wondering what her options are for refinancing her underwater mortgage: A recent announcement by underwater by offering either a principal reduction or an interest reduction. I called our mortgage company’s modification department — CitiMortgage — and they didn’t know anything about it. What do you […]
I attended the national conference for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) in Chicago this week. NAPFA is a professional organization for financial advisors who are committed to Fee-Only and comprehensive financial planning. Below are some of the new ideas and time-tested reminders that I took away from the conference. Estate Planning If […]
If you are in search of a financial planner and have found my website, you can rest assured that you are on the right track. But don’t take my word for it. Writers at two of the nation’s most respected periodicals would agree. In its article How to Find a Financial Planner, The New York […]
