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December 2019

3 Paths From $100,000 To $1 Million In Retirement Savings

While some argue it’s not enough – and others argue it’s needlessly high – the figure of $1 million is frequently cited as the amount to strive for when it comes to retirement savings. And with the average 401(k) and IRA accounts having balances of around $100,000, today’s article lays out scenarios to get from this starting point to $1… 

Unlocking The Implications Of The SECURE Act

The long-awaited Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act has been passed by Congress and signed by President Trump – and several of its many provisions affecting 401(k)s, IRAs, annuities and more take effect as soon as 2020 begins. So what are the new rules of retirement saving? Today’s article outlines some of the most important provisions of… 

Retirees, Beware “Dollar-Cost Ravaging”

You’ve probably heard of dollar-cost averaging (investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals over a long period of time to minimize the impact of volatility), but what about “dollar-cost ravaging”? The strategist interviewed in today’s article sees dollar-cost ravaging as a problem that can cause a lot of damage to the portfolios of retirees – especially in the… 

Retirement Withdrawals & The Widow’s (Or Widower’s) Tax

“Tax-deferred accounts are great until they aren’t – when we have to pay taxes on our withdrawals,” notes the author of today’s article, who highlights an “often-overlooked” reason for married couples to consider making additional, earlier withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts (in addition to more common reasons such as wanting to use accumulated funds while you and your spouse are still… 

A Field Guide To “The Wilder Side Of Retirement Investing”

Interval funds. Non-traded real estate investment trusts. Private placements. In the hunt for higher yields, superior total returns and diversification, the author of today’s article notes that retirees “are venturing into some murky waters” – and cautions that “Investors considering a foray into less-liquid, more-complex holdings need to scrutinize these investments’ fees, withdrawal restrictions, valuations, volatility and other risks.” For… 

Retirement In The 2010s : “A Tale Of Two Very Different Realities”

The good news? Over the past decade, the outset of which coincided with the beginning of the recovery from the Great Recession, Americans’ odds of a successful retirement have improved significantly. The bad news? This applies almost exclusively to affluent Americans, whereas most Americans’ retirement prospects are no better than they were at the beginning of the decade – or… 

“Massive Cash Returns” Makes This One Of The Best Stocks For Retirees

What makes the stock highlighted in today’s article “one of the best stocks for retirees and dividend investors”? Among other things, 36 consecutive years of dividend growth (including a recently announced 2% dividend increase), rewarding investors with big cash returns through share buybacks (including a recently announced $4 billion share buyback), and capital appreciation thanks to steady share price growth.… 

Good (Financial) Housekeeping, Year-End Edition

As you wrap up presents this holiday season, you might also want to consider wrapping up some financial loose ends. Such as? Today’s article outlines some year-end financial housekeeping tasks to consider, whether you’re retired or aim to be retired someday. For more – including “a tax strategy for diversifying big positions” – CLICK HERE.

Taking Stock Of Stock Exposure At Retirement

When it comes to how to approach investing in retirement (where retirees face several different kinds of risk, including the risk of running out of money due to insufficient portfolio growth and “sequence of returns” risk), the author of today’s article notes that “you need to balance the risk of too little growth with the risk of too much equity… 

Tackling The “Nastiest, Hardest Problem In Finance”

What’s the “nastiest, hardest problem in finance”? According to Nobel Prize-winning economist William Sharpe, it’s turning retirement savings into retirement spending or, as today’s article puts it, “knowing how to strike a balance between having enough income to meet your current needs (and wants, assuming you’ve saved enough) and having enough to get you through your lifetime.” What insights does…