Roth IRAs and 401(k)s are wonderful savings vehicles. Although you cannot claim a tax deduction for them, their earnings are untaxed and there is no income tax due when withdrawn in retirement, providing some requirements are met. Whenever possible, we recommend some portion of savings be devoted to… Read More »Roth Savings Strategies for High Earners: Strategy #1 – the Back Door Roth IRA
We have historically recommended that clients do trustee-to-trustee transfers when transferring assets from 401(k) to IRAs. But a recent ruling gives you yet another reason to avoid taking a check and along with it, the responsibility of making the rollover within a short window of time to avoid… Read More »IRA Rollovers: Important Rule Changes
Recent events at Pimco illustrate how things can change even at the best of firms. We discuss how this illustrates the monitoring required if you use active managers, the limitations of many 401(k) plans, and how it relates to our philosophy on using mostly passive investment in client… Read More »Upheaval at Pimco: What it says About Using Active Management
As we approach the end of the year, our thoughts turn not only to thankfulness for the blessings in our lives, but also to giving back. One of the great pleasures of achieving your financial goals may include charitable giving, and this post discusses several financially smart ways to… Read More »Seven Savvy Charitable Giving Strategies
This month’s post looks at the following topics: First Quarter Markets Review Does this Mean Rebalancing into Bonds (?!?!) Have You Seen the Latest From Washington? What it could mean for you First Quarter Markets Review Unless you were a bond, commodities or gold investor, it was a… Read More »First Quarter 2013 Markets Review (written April 2013)
In late 2012 I wrote a summary of potential changes to the tax code in case the U.S. went over the “fiscal cliff.” At the eleventh hour, Congress finally acted on the potential expiration of the Bush tax cuts, and some other changes occurred which taxpayers should be… Read More »The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) (written February 2013)