While much of the news is focused on the government shut down, for most Americans, it’s business as usual. The IRS is keeping 43% of it’s workforce up and running but wished to have more during the upcoming tax season. While the new tax laws won’t affect your 2017 returns, there are some things you should know as you move into the next few years. Here are 8 ways the tax bill may affect you.
Every year in January, people make resolutions to maintain better health habits. Logically, we all know a healthy life style can help us live longer and improve quality of life but has it occurred to you that better health can even improve your retirement portfolio? Not only will you be healthier to enjoy activities but you’ll end up saving a tremendous amount on health care. According to this articlefrom Fidelity Investments, retiree healthcare costs are continuing to rise. The estimate for retiree health care spending rises to an average of $275,000 per couple, excluding long-term care expenses. That’s an increase of $15,000 from 2016. Considering how expensive health care currently is, investing in your health now can pay huge dividends in the future. Here is a more detailed break down.
Empower yourself with knowledge and avoid life-changing mistakes – Be confident in your financial decisions in 2018! Join local radio host, TV personality and Dave Ramsey advisor, Jeff Junior for a complimentary meal and educational seminar at Flemings Steakhouse and learn: What does it mean to be a Dave …
Volatile market swings create emotional minefields for many. Investors aren’t sure what to do to safeguard their money and often the people they assume can be trusted don’t have the customer’s best interest in mind.
In the financial arena, most professionals carry one of two designations: broker or registered investment adviser. Both deal with financial and investment products and it’s a safe bet that most people assume they do essentially the same job.
There is, however, a significant difference. Registered investment advisers are held to a fiduciary standard while brokers must comply with a suitability standard.
The suitability standard gives advisers the most wiggle room: It simply requires that investments must fit clients’ investing objectives, time horizon and experience.
You may have heard the saying, “It’s not your father’s annuity.” That’s because annuity products have evolved significantly throughout the past decade. This has also contributed to an environment full of mixed messages regarding the pros and cons of annuities.
We recently wrote a blogon ‘Why People Hate Annuities’ but the truth is, there are plenty of reasons why to love them too. Joint policies for married couples, death benefits and guaranteed income for the rest of your retirement are just a few. Read the full article on KTAR News and call us to see if Annuities make a good match for your portfolio.
There are two ways a financial advisor is compensated. ”fee-only” or “fee-based. The names sound very similar, but the differences can be like night and day. Many investments are riddled with hidden fees. As an example, do you know what a 12b-1 fee is? A 12b-1 is an additional fee …
Serving in the United States Armed Forces is a career choice that often requires years of sacrifice, dangerous assignments with sometimes not a lot left over when it comes time to retire.
As Desert Storm veteran of the United States Marine Corps, I have experienced many benefits associated with the military. However, I have also witnessed many mistakes veterans (and civilians) make with their pensions and retirement plans.
Risk comes in many shapes and sizes. It is important to understand each of them as well as possible so that you can avoid negative results and feelings. For example, selecting investments outside of the risk you can emotionally tolerate can lead to stress and poor investment decisions; not properly assessing the risk that a fixed asset presents could mean inadvertently hurting your savings’ potential for growth and can impact your access to the funds when you need them. Worst of all, not realizing the inherent risks in the investments you choose completely removes your ability to hedge against them.
Annuities can be some of the most polarizing products in the investment world. As retirement investments, some in the industry swear by them, while some say they are a complicated, overly expensive way to invest. Let’s take a look at five popular reasons why people hate these products, and also some reasons people love them.
Hard to Understand
The annuity would probably never top a list of the most easy-to-understand investment products. For starters, there are several different types of annuity products: fixed, indexed, and variable. There is a disparate set of guarantees and risks for each type, which must be fully understood in order to make an informed decision. The work isn’t done once the product type is selected, either; indexed annuity purchase payments must be allocated among a choice of several interest crediting strategies, and variable products have a menu of mutual fund-like subaccounts to choose from. Selecting an annuity and optimizing the endless options on your own can be a complex task.
Dave Ramsey is one of America’s most trusted voice on money and business matters. He is a personal money-management expert, radio personality, and author of numerous books. We are excited to be part of the SmartVestor program because Dave’s beliefs about financial education and retirement planning are rooted in the same beliefs as Trajan Wealth. By having the heart of a teacher, and not of a salesman, we dedicate the time needed to listen to your goals and educate you on your investment options.
While much of the news is focused on the government shut down, for most Americans, it’s business as usual. The IRS is keeping 43% of it’s workforce up and running but wished to have more during the upcoming tax season. While the new tax laws won’t affect your 2017 returns, there are some things you should know as you move into the next few years. Here are 8 ways the tax bill may affect you.
