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High Cost of Living Surpasses Retirement Preparedness as Top Financial Concern, Study Says
A recent survey of employers from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) uncovered a major shift taking place among American companies and their workers. Instead of putting retirement readiness at the top of their list of financial concerns, they're increasingly becoming more worried about cost of living. This shouldn’t come as a total surprise, considering […] The post High Cost of Living Surpasses Retirement Preparedness as Top Financial Concern, Study Says appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: I'm 70 With $1.4 Million in IRAs. Should I Convert $160k Per Year into a Roth to Save on RMDs Later?
I am 70 and I have $1.4 million in traditional IRAs. Is it best to do $160,000 in Roth conversions for the next 1-3 years to reduce my high RMDs in about 5-10 years? That would put me in the 24% tax bracket and $330 Medicare premium rate. Please give me advice. – Dennis I do […] The post Ask an Advisor: I’m 70 With $1.4 Million in IRAs. Should I Convert $160k Per Year into a Roth to Save on RMDs Later? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
How to Open a Margin Account With Vanguard
Margin trading is the practice of buying securities with borrowed money. Like most brokers, Vanguard offers this feature to qualifying clients. No matter what broker you use, margin trading can be extremely risky. You may want to avoid this practice if you are an inexperienced investor, and especially if you do not have the assets […] The post How to Open a Margin Account With Vanguard appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
‘Upstream Gifting' Can Help You Avoid Estate Taxes and Preserve Your Stepped-Up Basis
Estate planning usually involves determining how to pass assets on to younger generations. But instead of leaving a piece of real estate, bank account or burgeoning stock portfolio to your children, the smarter tax move might be to leave those assets to your parents. That's the crux of a clever tax minimization strategy known as […] The post ‘Upstream Gifting’ Can Help You Avoid Estate Taxes and Preserve Your Stepped-Up Basis appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Stock Market Losses: This Tax Break Could Save You Money Throughout Your Lifetime
Losing money in the stock market stings, but capital losses don't have to be all bad news for your finances. A tax rule known as the capital loss carryover offers a major long-term tax break investors can use strategically to reduce what they owe the IRS for years, or even decades, into the future. The […] The post Stock Market Losses: This Tax Break Could Save You Money Throughout Your Lifetime appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Cities Where Population Has Decreased the Most – 2023 Study
When a city's population declines – whether birth rates go down, deaths increase, or people simply move to another area – it can affect the housing market, small businesses, employment and other factors. Paying attention to demographic changes can help residents, governments and businesses understand new trends and inform how to best position themselves. With […] The post Cities Where Population Has Decreased the Most – 2023 Study appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
This New Federal Proposal Could Give You a 5% Match on Your Retirement Contributions
Low- and middle-income workers who aren't covered by a workplace retirement savings plan would get access to the federal Thrift Savings Plan, under a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate recently. "Americans who work hard their entire lives deserve to retire with dignity," Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-CO, said in a statement. "This bill helps […] The post This New Federal Proposal Could Give You a 5% Match on Your Retirement Contributions appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I'm 65 With an IRA Worth $250k and a $75k Mortgage. Should I Withdraw From My Investment to Pay Off My Debt Before Retiring?
Do you prioritize debt or investments? This is a common questions in personal finance, with debt positioned as investment's evil twin. While your investments grow and make you steadily wealthier, growing debt can make you steadily poorer. You want to hold investments for as long as possible. You want to pay off debt as quickly […] The post I’m 65 With an IRA Worth $250k and a $75k Mortgage. Should I Withdraw From My Investment to Pay Off My Debt Before Retiring? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
How to Open a Margin Account With Schwab
Margin trading is the practice of investing with borrowed money. It is a high-risk strategy and should only be conducted by experienced investors, which is why most brokerages require you to apply for special permissions for a margin account. If you are interested in opening a margin account with Schwab as your broker, here's what […] The post How to Open a Margin Account With Schwab appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
I Have $250k in an IRA and Will Receive $3,000 Monthly From Social Security. Can I Retire in 5 Years at 70?
If you're in your mid-60s and still working, it may be time to start seriously planning for retirement. That doesn't mean you need to leave work immediately, but retirement is likely on the horizon. Imagine you're 65 years old, you have $250,000 in an IRA and expect to receive $3,000 per month from Social Security. […] The post I Have $250k in an IRA and Will Receive $3,000 Monthly From Social Security. Can I Retire in 5 Years at 70? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: I Have $1 Million and Want It to Work for Me. How Do I Maximize Passive Income and Minimize Taxes?
I have a million dollars and I want to put it to work for me. Where can I put it to make the most amount of passive income from it? Also, how can I minimize taxes on that to be able to keep more of that money? – Andrea While today's high-interest rate environment has […] The post Ask an Advisor: I Have $1 Million and Want It to Work for Me. How Do I Maximize Passive Income and Minimize Taxes? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Cities Where Housing Vacancy Rates Are Highest – 2023 Study
For five years up until 2022, the housing vacancy rate in the largest U.S. cities fell from 9.3% to 7.3%. During that same period, the median sale price of a home in the U.S. jumped from $322,425 to $457,475, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Vacancy rates may indicate an inefficient use […] The post Cities Where Housing Vacancy Rates Are Highest – 2023 Study appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
How to Get Options Trading Permissions With Vanguard
Vanguard offers self-directed investors the ability to trade options, but you’ll first need special permission. Options provide unique opportunities to hedge risk or generate income, but they can be highly risky. For this reason, Vanguard requires brokerage account holders to complete applications providing details on employment, income and investing experience. After evaluating an application, Vanguard […] The post How to Get Options Trading Permissions With Vanguard appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Save More in Your 401(k) or IRA in 2024: IRS Announces New Contribution Limits Up to $23,000
Contribution limits for 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement accounts are going up in 2024. The IRS, which regulates annual contribution limits on qualified and tax-advantaged retirement accounts, announced the 2024 contribution limits for various plans on Wednesday. A contribution limit demarcates the amount an employee can contribute to their respective retirement plan in a given […] The post Save More in Your 401(k) or IRA in 2024: IRS Announces New Contribution Limits Up to $23,000 appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Ask an Advisor: We're in Our 60s and Have $2.4 Million in an IRA. ‘Do We Really Need a Financial Advisor?'
My wife (62) and I (60) have $2.4 million in our Edward Jones IRA account and have no mortgage payment and our children are out of the house. Do we really need a financial advisor (at 1%) or could we go with a less expensive option like Vanguard? We don’t see any adjustment with our […] The post Ask an Advisor: We’re in Our 60s and Have $2.4 Million in an IRA. ‘Do We Really Need a Financial Advisor?’ appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Can a Nursing Home Take Our Assets? We Have a $500k IRA and a Trust to Protect Us
Can a nursing home seize your savings? What if your money is in a trust or a Roth IRA? For married and single retirees alike, these are important questions with nuanced answers. First for the good news: A nursing home cannot simply take your retirement accounts or savings. Short of legal action due to an […] The post Can a Nursing Home Take Our Assets? We Have a $500k IRA and a Trust to Protect Us appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
My Wife and I Have $1 Million in a 401(k) and Fully Own a $500k Home. Can I Retire in 5 Years at 60?
With $1 million in a 401(k) and no mortgage on a $500,000 home, retirement at 60 may, in fact, be possible. However, retiring before eligibility for Social Security and Medicare mean relying more on savings. So deciding to retire at 60 calls for careful planning around healthcare, taxes and more. At any age, deciding whether […] The post My Wife and I Have $1 Million in a 401(k) and Fully Own a $500k Home. Can I Retire in 5 Years at 60? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Americans Are 3x Likelier to Take a Hardship Withdrawal. But Fidelity Says Doing This Can Protect Your Retirement Savings
Americans are, in growing numbers, relying on their retirement accounts to pay the bills. More specifically, hardship withdrawals from 401(k) and related plans are up. This is shown as a result of numerous studies conducted over 2023, including a new report issued by Fidelity. To address this, Fidelity urges employers to help their employees prepare for […] The post Americans Are 3x Likelier to Take a Hardship Withdrawal. But Fidelity Says Doing This Can Protect Your Retirement Savings appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
It's Official: Your Social Security Benefits Will Increase This Much in 2024
Over 70 million Americans who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will see a 3.2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2024, the Social Security Administration announced recently. For instance, that means the September 2023 average retiree benefit of $1,793 will increase by $57 starting in January 2024. This increase is smaller […] The post It's Official: Your Social Security Benefits Will Increase This Much in 2024 appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
Cities Where Population Grew the Most Over Five Years – 2023 Study
Population growth can have a ripple effect throughout a local economy. As people move into an area and families grow, demand on housing, local businesses and infrastructure can be unexpectedly impacted. Examining shifts in populations and their dynamics can help residents understand the greater economic picture and inform their financial decisions. To find where population […] The post Cities Where Population Grew the Most Over Five Years – 2023 Study appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
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