Are You Ignoring Retirement?
Article Highlights: Predicting Social Security Income Planning for the Future Employer Retirement Plans Tax Incentive Retirement Savings Plans Are you ignoring your future retirement needs? That tends to happen when you are younger, retirement is far in the future, and you believe you have plenty of time to save for it. Some people ignore the […]
Traditional to Roth IRA Conversions – Should You? Did You? Wish You Hadn’t?
Article Highlights: Conversion Timing Why Convert? When to Convert? Undoing a Conversion Issues to Consider Before Making the Decision The tax provision that allows taxpayers to convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is a great tax-planning tool when used properly, and timing is everything. To make a conversion, you must pay income taxes […]
Don’t Overlook the Spousal IRA
One frequently overlooked tax benefit is the “spousal IRA.” Generally, IRA contributions are only allowed for taxpayers who have compensation (the term “compensation” includes: wages, tips, bonuses, professional fees, commissions, alimony received, and net income from self-employment). Spousal IRAs are the exception to that rule and allow a non-working or low-earning spouse to contribute to […]
Retirement Savings: the Earlier, the Better
Generally, teenagers and young adults do not consider the long-term benefits of retirement savings. Their priorities for their earnings are more for today than that distant and rarely considered retirement. Yet contributions to a retirement plan early in life can enjoy years of growth and provide a substantial nest egg at retirement. Due to its […]
Tax Benefits for Grandchildren
If you are a grandparent there are a number of things you can do to teach your grandchildren financial responsibility and set aside money for their future education and retirement. Before we get into actual suggestions, it is important that you understand the gift tax rules. You can give anyone, every year, an amount up […]
Saver’s Credit Can Help You Save for Retirement
Low- and moderate-income workers can take steps to save for retirement and earn a special tax credit. The saver’s credit helps offset part of the first $2,000 workers voluntarily contribute to traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), SIMPLE-IRAs, SEPs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans for employees of public schools and certain tax-exempt organizations, 457 plans […]
Has Your 2012 Roth-Converted IRA Declined in Value?
If you converted your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in 2012 and paid (or will pay) the tax on the conversion and then watched the value of the account decrease due to an unexpected poor investment performance, you still have an opportunity to do something about it. If you filed your return on time or are […]
