For Mark Roberts' Use: Sometimes it happens: you've been faithfully saving for retirement for years, even decades, and then catastrophe strikes. You're experiencing hard times and you wonder if withdrawing some money from your retirement account might be the answer. Naturally, you're worried about being charged penalties. There are indeed some penalties for early withdrawals before [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If you talk about fixed annuities in a room full of investors, you're likely to receive a mixed reaction. A fixed annuity is, in layman's terms, an insurance contract that guarantees a lifetime income. The immediate appeal is obvious: even an IRA or 410(k) does not guarantee income, and many people worry [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When you think of retirement, you probably think of finally leaving the workforce for some much-deserved rest and recreation. We all worry about retirement savings because at this point in life, regular paychecks cease and we must live off of whatever money we've managed to accumulate over our lives. However, there [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Years ago, the idea of retiring in a foreign country may have sounded absurd or unthinkable to the average American. It may have even sounded too expensive and luxurious to contemplate. Nowadays, however, many American retirees have discovered the benefits of living abroad in retirement. The change has come as a result [...]
When people think about financial planning, they tend to think of retirement funds, investing, and saving for the future. However, another key component of your finances is to understand your current cash flow. After all, your retirement savings won't grow very quickly if your current financial situation prevents you from putting away enough money. Many [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We all know that we need to plan for retirement, and yet many people tend to procrastinate for years. It could be that financial issues seem too challenging to tackle, or it may be a busy schedule that prevents us from paying attention to this pressing needs. Those might just be excuses, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: At this time of year, many of us start to think about giving money to charitable organizations. Perhaps you prefer a charity that provides toys to less fortunate children, or a shelter that helps the hungry and homeless enjoy a holiday meal. Whatever you prefer, it's a smart move to make [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Rather than deciding upon how much money you need during retirement, one of the key aspects to financial planning revolves around deciding how long you will need it. This can be problematic for some people, because it requires a bit of guesswork. In other words, it's difficult to put a price [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Retirement often brings about new confusion in regard to federal taxes. Now that your income comes from retirement account distributions instead of a paycheck, you might be unclear on which tax deductions are still available to you. To add to the headache, Congress is always changing the tax code. It can be [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Home ownership is a central part of the American Dream, and many soon-to-be retirees hope to have their homes paid off before they stop working. One of the drawbacks to owning a home, however, is the length of time it takes to finally pay for one. Most people opt for 30 year [...]