Choose your location
SmartAsset
I'm Getting Divorced This Year at 55 With $800k in a 401(k). How Do I Protect My Finances?
Like all family and property law, divorce is a highly state-specific process. How you will handle a divorce and protect your assets, and what constitutes individual vs. shared assets, will depend entirely on your jurisdiction. As a result, how retirement accounts are treated during divorce proceeds can vary widely from state to state. If you […] The post I'm Getting Divorced This Year at 55 With $800k in a 401(k). How Do I Protect My Finances? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: My Advisor Relies on a Sister Company to Manage My Account and Never Reaches Out to Me. Is This How He Should Act?
I’ve had a fiduciary financial advisor for over five years. He recommended a type of sister company working with him to handle my account. I never hear from him unless I email a question or ask to invest in a CD or stock. Is this the way a financial advisor should act? He lets the […] The post Ask an Advisor: My Advisor Relies on a Sister Company to Manage My Account and Never Reaches Out to Me. Is This How He Should Act? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: Can I Tell My Advisor to Mimic His Portfolio? We'll Both ‘Smell Like a Rose or Go Down Like the Titanic'
While I can understand that a financial advisor’s life is private, is there a “proper way” to ask your advisor to invest your money in the same things he or she invests in? My feeling is that either both you and the advisor will come out smelling like a rose … or both of you are […] The post Ask an Advisor: Can I Tell My Advisor to Mimic His Portfolio? We’ll Both ‘Smell Like a Rose or Go Down Like the Titanic’ appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 75 With $900,000 in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure This Money Lasts the Rest of My Life?
Ensuring that your retirement savings last the rest of your life often requires balancing income with expenses over your projected lifespan. But suppose you have $900,000 in an IRA. You’d also want to consider whether you want to leave behind a financial legacy. And since all long-range forecasts are subject to change, you’d need to […] The post I'm 75 With $900,000 in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure This Money Lasts the Rest of My Life? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Bank Failures: How to Keep Your Money Safe From a Worst-Case Scenario
After a tumultuous 2023 that saw some of the largest bank failures ever, the U.S. banking system appears to have stabilized. More bank failures are inevitable, however, and depositors could risk losing money any time one occurs. The first line of defense, federal deposit insurance from the FDIC, has worked reliably to date. To avoid […] The post Bank Failures: How to Keep Your Money Safe From a Worst-Case Scenario appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I Have a 401(k) From a Previous Employer. What Should I Do With It?
If you’ve changed jobs recently, don’t put off deciding what to do with your 401(k) for too long. While you have several options for your account when you leave a job, there’s an estimated 29.2 million 401(k)s that have been left behind with former employers, according to a 2023 analysis from Capitalize. Those accounts hold […] The post I Have a 401(k) From a Previous Employer. What Should I Do With It? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: My RMDs Start Soon So I'm Converting $700k to a Roth, But I'm Getting Conflicting Info About Having to Wait Five Years
I’m 68 and recently retired and have about $1.4 million in accounts intended for retirement ($1.2 million in a Traditional IRA and $110K in a Roth). I also am receiving about $47,000 annually in Social Security benefits. My RMDs are scheduled to start in 2027, and as a result, my financial advisor and I are […] The post Ask an Advisor: My RMDs Start Soon So I'm Converting $700k to a Roth, But I'm Getting Conflicting Info About Having to Wait Five Years appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 66, Taking Social Security, and Have $745,000 in a 401(k). Is It Too Late to Convert to a Roth IRA?
Legally, it's never too late to make a Roth conversion. The IRS will let you move qualifying funds at any time as long as you can pay the resulting tax bill. For those in or near retirement, the bigger question is whether it's a wise call to make a Roth conversion. On the one hand, […] The post I'm 66, Taking Social Security, and Have $745,000 in a 401(k). Is It Too Late to Convert to a Roth IRA? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
We Have $1.4 Million in IRAs and Fully Own a $750k Home. Can We Retire in 2 Years at 60?
Retiring early can be tricky, even if you have considerable home equity. Say for example that you’re married with $1.4 million in your IRAs and a home worth $750,000. Retiring early could well be within reach, but you may face be a few big challenges. Retiring at age 60 means having to wait several years […] The post We Have $1.4 Million in IRAs and Fully Own a $750k Home. Can We Retire in 2 Years at 60? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I Have $845k in a Traditional IRA. How Can I Reduce Taxes When Converting to a Roth?
There's no way to entirely avoid paying income taxes when you convert a traditional IRA into a Roth account. However, with smart financial planning you can reduce the impact of those taxes. A financial advisor can help you roll over your retirement savings into a Roth IRA and manage your investments. Connect with a fiduciary […] The post I Have $845k in a Traditional IRA. How Can I Reduce Taxes When Converting to a Roth? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Do I Need to Worry About the Gift Tax If I Pay $60,000 Toward My Daughter's Wedding?
For many Americans, offering a $60,000 gift to pay for a child’s wedding probably isn’t something to worry about from a tax perspective. You could owe federal gift taxes if your lifetime gifts are over the lifetime exclusion amount, though, but the limit is set quite high. More specifically, for 2024 it sits at $13.61 […] The post Do I Need to Worry About the Gift Tax If I Pay $60,000 Toward My Daughter's Wedding? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 65 With $850,000 in an IRA. Is It Worth It to Convert That Money to a Roth to Avoid RMDs?
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) from pre-tax retirement accounts can have a number of unintended consequences. These mandatory withdrawals can push you into a higher tax bracket, reduce your investment flexibility, increase your Medicare premiums and result in more of your Social Security benefits being taxed. If you’re planning to convert IRA funds to a Roth […] The post I'm 65 With $850,000 in an IRA. Is It Worth It to Convert That Money to a Roth to Avoid RMDs? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Our Combined Income Will Top $400k This Year. Can We Use a Backdoor Roth to Avoid Future Taxes?
A backdoor Roth conversion can save you significantly in future taxes, but at the cost of paying those taxes now. This isn't always a good deal in the long run. If you’re considering a backdoor Roth IRA or other strategies to save on taxes, consider talking it over with a financial advisor. For example, perhaps […] The post Our Combined Income Will Top $400k This Year. Can We Use a Backdoor Roth to Avoid Future Taxes? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
This Is My First Year Taking RMDs. What Should I Do With the Money If I Don't Need It Yet?
Anyone with a 401(k), traditional IRA or similar tax-deferred retirement account eventually is going to face the requirement to start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their accounts. The IRS has allowed you to have what can be decades of tax-free growth in the account, along with years of tax deductions, so they eventually requiring […] The post This Is My First Year Taking RMDs. What Should I Do With the Money If I Don't Need It Yet? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 68 With $950k in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure It Lasts My Whole Life?
Longevity risk is at the heart of retirement planning. You wind down work and income, counting on savings to carry you through the rest of your life. But with careful saving and money management, it might be possible to make this money last. For example, say that you recently reached retirement age at 68 and have […] The post I'm 68 With $950k in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure It Lasts My Whole Life? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
We're in Our Late 50s With $1.6 Million in Our 401(k)s. Should We Switch to Roth Contributions?
A Roth IRA offers significant benefits for retirees. As an after-tax account, distributions from Roth IRAs are typically tax-free. This can save you a lot of money in retirement, but at the cost of up-front tax payments while you’re saving. You will spend more to build your portfolio today, but will save money later. A […] The post We’re in Our Late 50s With $1.6 Million in Our 401(k)s. Should We Switch to Roth Contributions? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I Have $850,000 in an IRA and Would Receive $2,800 Monthly from Social Security. Can I Retire at 65?
For many retirees, prudent withdrawals from a wisely invested portfolio combined with Social Security benefits can provide a consistent income to support their spending needs. But what if you had $850,000 in an IRA and $2,800 in monthly Social Security benefits: would that be enough to retire at 65? To answer this question, you’d have […] The post I Have $850,000 in an IRA and Would Receive $2,800 Monthly from Social Security. Can I Retire at 65? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: Will $25k in Annuity Payments Cut My $50k RMD in Half?
I’m in my mid-70s and I’m considering purchasing an immediate single premium lifetime annuity for myself using a portion of my regular IRA account as the source of the premium I would be paying. Having been notified of my 2024 RMD based on the Dec. 31, 2023, balance (assume the RMD is $50,000), do the […] The post Ask an Advisor: Will $25k in Annuity Payments Cut My $50k RMD in Half? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Tax Credits You Can Use to Reduce Your 2024 Taxes
Tax season has arrived, and when it comes to preparing your return remember this: deductions are good, but tax credits are better. Anyone who's paid taxes knows the value of deductions, which reduce the amount of your tax bill at your marginal tax rate. If you're in the 22% federal tax bracket and you deduct $2,000 in […] The post Tax Credits You Can Use to Reduce Your 2024 Taxes appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
SmartAsset
3K+
Posts
67M+
Views
SmartAsset’s editorial mission is to provide the web’s best personal finance news and insights. This includes original data-driven journalism that analyzes economic trends; news coverage of legislation, retirement strategies, and finance; and informative articles on financial planning and investing topics.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.