For Mark Roberts' Use: As we grow older, birthdays sometimes seem less significant. Unlike the major milestones of turning 18 or 21, going from 55 to 56 may not seem all that exciting. But since there are significant laws attached to several birthdays that can affect your financial planning decisions, you should keep these in [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many people plan to retire utilizing income from a combination of Social Security and a pension from work. This might be a good plan for a comfortable retirement, but you should be aware of how your pension could affect benefits from Social Security. Most workers who earn a pension have also [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many people don't like to think about estate planning, but it's a fact of life for all of us. Becoming familiar with the basics before meeting with an attorney or financial planner can help you narrow down your options and decided what you may need. The two most popular estate planning tools [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Have you ever wondered, if you started saving right now, how long it would take you to accumulate one million dollars in the bank? Obviously, the answer to that question is going to depend upon a variety of factors. Your investment strategies and your rate of return will vary depending upon [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: A survey of small-business owners revealed that two-thirds of them worry that they are not financially prepared for retirement*. Yet, despite these prevailing fears, about one-third of small-business owners have neglected to establish any type of personal or business-sponsored retirement plan. If you're a small-business owner or self-employed, and you're worried [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: One of the most common reasons people give for not saving for retirement is, “I don't have anything extra to save”. While this may be an unfortunate reality for some people, most of us really can manage to save for retirement, even if it's only a small amount at first. Almost [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: We generally think of a last will and testament as something that only concerns elderly people. However, the reality is that anyone with children should have a legal will in place, no matter what their health or financial circumstances may be. While it is not likely your children will outlive you, [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Many companies offer profit-sharing plans to employees in order to generate a feeling of partnership and attract high-caliber workers. These plans give employees a portion of the company's profits each year, and can help fund their retirement plans. When money is contributed to a profit-sharing plan, it accumulates tax-deferred, just as [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: When you decided to make certain tax-deferred retirement investments, you were likely informed of the penalties you could face by withdrawing the funds before age 59 ½. Generally, taking this action will result in a 10 percent federal income tax penalty. However, in certain situations you may be allowed to make [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: If you're not sure whether you'll really have enough income to retire, you aren't alone: 38 percent of Americans* share your concern. What's truly surprising is that this figure represents individuals not just in lower income brackets, but in upper brackets as well. These worries likely stem from a variety of [...]