Social Security: Questions and Answers
Whether you're close to retirement or years away from receiving Social Security benefits, you may not know much about the intricacies of this important program. Here are some questions and answers that can help you learn more. Will Social Security be around when you need it? You've probably heard media [...]
Coordinating Social Security Benefits with Other Retirement Assets
Social Security provides retirement income you can't outlive. And, in addition to your own benefit, your spouse may be eligible to receive benefits based on your earnings record in the form of spousal benefits and survivor's benefits. So, it's easy to see why, with all of these potential benefit options, [...]
The “SEPP” Exception to the IRA Premature Distribution Tax
In these challenging economic times, you may be considering taking a withdrawal from your traditional IRA. While you're allowed to withdraw funds from your IRAs at any time, for any reason, the question is, should you? Why you should think twice Taxable distributions you receive from your IRA before age [...]
A New Retirement “Model” for Mid-Life Professionals
You may recall that in my last blog, I wrote that some surveys conducted in recent years reported that the majority of Americans are not prepared for retirement(1). And I suggested that the reasons for this apparent lack of interest in the subject may not, in fact, reflect lack of interest [...]
Navigating Retirement’s New Terrain
I wanted to post a quick reminder about our upcoming retirement planning workshop in San Francisco on June 1, 2012! The challenges in the housing market, fluctuating stock prices, and US companies seemingly reluctant to bring on new workers are making people’s financial lives complicated! With uncertainty about the future [...]
Thoughts on Retirement: This is not Your Father’s Oldsmobile!
Some of you might remember the famous phrase from a General Motors commercial many years ago – “this is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” Well, for those of you considering eventually retiring, I have news for you: “This is not your father’s retirement.” Unfortunately, surveys conducted during the past several years have [...]
Retirement Plan Distributions: Don’t Let Fear Get the Best of You!
Last week, I visited with the former employees of New United Motors Manufacturing (NUMMI), the Fremont car company which ceased operations in 2010. NUMMI recently notified its former workers that they would be receiving assets from the company’s now terminated Pension plan, and I was among a select group of [...]